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Elizabeth C. Moeller - Career Dean for UCLA School of Law By Donna McGill Wondering what the new ‘’toughest job in the world’’ might be? Ask a career dean at a law school and odds are, they’ll tell you they’re facing some difficult times these days with not nearly enough answers. Struggling to keep law students motivated while also working within the legal community to jumpstart hiring practices can feel more like walking on water than enjoying one’s career choices. Elizabeth C. Moeller is one of those career deans who continue to give it all they have in order to make a difference to law school graduates.
Elizabeth C. Moeller knows all too well the frustrations of not having really good news for a senior who’s just completed his legal education and is preparing to enter the work force. Moeller’s staff of counselors are all attorneys and they too know the less than ideal employment outlook for legal jobs these days. Still, the group moves forward, determined to turn things around as they work with those graduating seniors they know so well and who they’ve seen grow into fine attorneys. Along with the attorney counselors, Moeller also has a recruitment manager who coordinates interview programs on the campus, as well as other personnel whose jobs are to keep legal career listings current, clerkship opportunities available and a current resource library - all to keep students motivated and open to all of the possibilities that come their way. Moeller oversees the administration of her office, as well as serves as a counselor herself. She and her staff are dedicated to the community that UCLA School of Law calls “home” and pride themselves as active members within the legal community. Before filling the role of Assistant Dean of Career Services, Moeller was in private practice at Graham & James as well as Pepper, Hamilton & Scheetz. While she enjoyed private
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practice, it’s evident her passion lies with the college and the opportunities she has to play such an important role on the campus. After graduating with her B.A. from the University of Michigan, she chose Loyola Law School from which to earn her J.D. She also attended UCLA. In 1997, Moeller became a member of the Beverly Hills Bar Association and is currently a member of the San Diego Legal Recruitment Association as well as the University of Michigan Alumni Organization. Moeller just celebrated her fourth anniversary at UCLA and while none of us can be certain of what the future holds for the collective legal sector, there is no missing the degree of commitment she and her staff have both for the school and the students who define the law school. It’s likely that’s enough for now and she remains committed and hopeful for an upswing in the statistics that are so discouraging to many who walk through her doors each day. For more information on Elizabeth Moeller or the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law, visit the college website at Law.UCLA.edu.
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