CAREER COUNSELOR'S CORNER
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Vicki Huebner, Assistant Dean for Career Services and Externships, Chapman University School of Law [7-12-04 by John J. Barnes] Vicki Huebner discusses the mentorship program at her law school and the need for law students to get out into the legal community before graduation.
If your law school, located not far from San
new role at Chapman University Law School.
campus in which students go to lunch with a
Diego, is not 10 years old and already fa-
She has a B.A. in International Relations
lawyer. This program not only gives stu-
mous, you need to take aggressive measures
from Brigham Young University and a law
dents the opportunity to learn more about a
to get news of your school and your students
degree from that same institution. Prior to
practice area, but also to begin a relationship
out into the community. Vicki Huebner, Chap-
pursuing a federal clerkship in Washington
with a legal professional. Often, it is through
man University’s Assistant Dean for Career
D.C., she took and passed the California Bar
the interaction in these small group settings
Services and Externships has managed to
because all of her family lived in California
that students are able to find employment.
combine both missions in the conduct of her
and she wanted to eventually return there.
Then there is the Dean’s Round Table. Dean’s
job and do so in a creative and unusual way.
Following her clerkship, she returned to
Roundtable participants are high-profile
California and joined a solo practitioner
individuals within the legal, business or
“We have a two-fold mission here at the
who specialized in plaintiff’s personal injury
political community. Since its inception, the
Chapman University Law School,” she told
and medical malpractice, which had always
Dean’s Roundtable has become an important
us in a recent interview. “The first mission
interested her. Approximately one year later,
adjunct to the formal curriculum. Round-
is the traditional Career Services one, which
she became Brigham Young Law School’s As-
table participants meet with a small group of
is to help students navigate the job market
sistant Director of Career Services, worked
students over lunch. Although the purpose
by teaching them how to put together an
there four years and then came to Chap-
of the Roundtable is to foster an exchange of
effective resume, conduct a solid interview,
man when the Career Services Director job
ideas in an informal setting, participants do
network effectively and utilize job- search
opened up there.
prepare approximately 20 minutes worth of
vehicles such as Martindale and other on-
remarks with the remaining time devoted to
line resources. This in itself, along with Fall
We asked how the mentoring program was
and Spring on-campus interviews, can be a
going and whether it was helping Chapman
full-time job.
law students get jobs.
“The second mission, Vicki added, “is to
“Yes, it has,” Vicki said, sometimes with the
those who came from the best undergradu-
facilitate connections between our students
mentor’s firm, but not necessarily. What
ate institutions or had prior interesting work
and employers. We do this through a variety
actually happened surprised us. By going
histories; however, the best interactions are
of methods. However, one of our most suc-
to depositions and arbitrations and general
produced by groups consisting of students
cessful means has been our student-attorney
court hearings with mentors, students make
diverse in gender, ethnicity, and age.”
mentor program. Last year, 115 of our 450
connections on their own while they’re learn-
questions and answers. “I’ve experimented with how to select students for the Roundtables. Originally I chose
students agreed to be paired with an attorney
ing the nuts and bolts of law practice. It’s the
who helps them transition into a law-practice
networking and formation of relationships
mode by example. We believe that exposure
that has proven to be most valuable.”
early in a law school career to what attorneys
We asked about future plans. “To keep doing what we’ve been doing,” she said. “Our school will swell from 450 to 500
actually do helps our students focus on what
We asked what else in this area of commu-
students next year despite keeping standards
is and is not important. Additionally, this
nity out-reach she was doing.
very high. We attribute most of this consis-
ing professional relationships early in their
“Plenty,” she answered. “We also have
and profile in the community. Additionally,
career.”
normal career panels on various subjects
the practical training our students receive
scheduled throughout the year. Additionally,
through externships, clinical programs,
we host small group informal sessions off-
lawyering skills courses, and our own career
program helps students develop long-last-
Vicki Huebner has been trained well for her
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tent growth to our rising academic reputation
continued on back
CAREER COUNSELOR'S CORNER
services programs has provided them with necessary skills to compete in the job market. Graduates tell me often how much of a difference all of these programs have meant. We like to think that because of our programs, Chapman lawyers, more than those of most other schools, really do hit the ground running when they join a firm. I think of all the innovations we’ve made in the Career Services Office, the mentoring program makes me the most proud.�
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