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OCU LAW Professional and Career Development Center
Mission & Purpose
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You wouldn't be thinking about law school unless you have your sights set on a career after college. Your first position following law school graduation just might be the most important, as it will be the catalyst
for momentum throughout your career. The effort you put into finding -
and landing - that first job will be effort well spent. The Professional and Career Development Center strives
to identify opportunities, develop information
and resources, and provide professional
guidance to students and graduates who are
engaged in the process of developing plans
and strategies to fulfill career aspirations.
Our aim is to equip and educate students
and graduates to successfully manage their
careers for a lifetime. These career paths
are not solely relegated to traditional
legal positions, but include a wide variety
of occupations and roles in every sector
of the economy.
In addition, we work to identify and develop
relationships with employers that will serve
to aid them in their hiring objectives and
raise visibility of OCU LAW.
Resources and Services
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We assist students and graduates to develop
and implement professionalized career plans through a broad
array of services and offerings that include
individual counseling, informational programs,
job listing databases, career development
networking and mentor program (with alumni and other legal
professionals), hands-on skills building
workshops, mock interview programs, online
resources, computer lab, and traditional
printed resources such as informational
brochures and books. The level and frequency
of attention is up to the individual, but
can span from their status as a prospective
student through graduation and beyond. Employers
looking for qualified candidates or seeking
information about hiring trends and statistics
will experience professional and courteous
service.
Because there are so many choices for new
lawyers today, we provide information and
advice to help students narrow the field
of interest. Whether you choose to explore
future work in government, the judiciary,
public interest, academia or the many variations
of private practice, we are here to help
you make the best, most informed decision.
Staff
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Gina D.
Rowsam, Assistant
Dean
growsam@okcu.edu
Dean Gina Rowsam is responsible for providing
administrative leadership and oversight
to the overall operations of the Professional and Career Development Center and Licensed Legal Intern
Program. This includes counseling students
and alumni; cultivation of employer relationships
and job opportunities; production of jobs
database and job data mine resource; organization
of on- and off-campus interview programs
and job fairs; developing and presenting
workshops, panels, and other programs; career
development mentor program; representing
the law school to allied career associations
and other legal organizations; maintenance
of student, graduate and employer information
databases; development of career tools and
resources and serve as advisor to public
interest and pro bono students organizations.
Vacant, Pro Bono and Public Interest Law Coordinator
lawcareers@okcu.edu
Responsible for discovering and generating opportunities in local and outlying legal communities for law students to assist attorneys doing pro bono work, e.g. working with the private bar involvement coordinator at Legal Aid, and working with other public interest/legal services entities providing legal assistance to people of low or moderate means. Develop new initiatives for promotion of law students and alumni in the public interest / public sector legal markets. Develop and revise public interest resource and marketing materials for internal and external constituents. Provide oversight for the school’s pro bono and public interest law web pages. Serve as staff liaison to student, local and national pro bono and public interest organizations. Assist students in applying for national conferences, career fairs, awards and fellowships/scholarships.
Carol Kinser, Data Analyst and Systems Manager
ckinser@okcu.edu
Carol Kinser administers the overall systems management of the Professional and Career Development Center for the law school. She is responsible for developing, collecting, maintaining, reporting and analyzing student, alumni, employer and employment data and serves as the office leader in conversion to integrated systems software. Develops and administers E-marketing activities with respect to on- and off-campus interview programs, judicial clerkship and externship programs, and job fairs.
Contributes to web site design, management and content development. She is also responsible for law school administration of Oklahoma’s Licensed Legal Intern program where she serves as a liaison to the Oklahoma Bar Association's Licensed Legal Intern Committee.
Debbie
Boles, Law
Career Counselor
dboles@okcu.edu
Debbie Boles’ primary responsibility rests in counseling students and graduates; individually and at the group level to provide quality information, service and advice in the areas of career strategizing, professional development, and resume and cover letter preparation; and assists in the development and presentation of programs, workshops, career tools and resources and web site content development.
Robin Christian, Administrative Assistant I
rchristian@okcu.edu
Robin Christian serves as the office receptionist,
provides general office and clerical support
and maintains the jobs database.
Office Hours and Contact
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OCU LAW Professional and Career Development Center
2501 N Blackwelder Avenue
Oklahoma City OK 73106-1493
(405) 208-5969 fax
(405) 208-5332 phone
web: www.okcu.edu/law
email: lawcareers@okcu.edu
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday - 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Other hours, including off-site, may be
arranged by appointment to accommodate evening
division students.
Employment
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Employment opportunities for OCU students
and graduates span the entire spectrum of
practice and geographic areas. Most Oklahoma
City University School of Law graduates
are employed within six months of graduation.
Legally related employment options while
in school and during intervening summers
are available to all law students. Being
situated in the state's capital provides
ample opportunities for students to obtain
legal experience in many different venues.
Because of OCU LAW’s close proximity
to downtown Oklahoma City and state and
federal agency offices, we are continually
called upon by employers to assist them
with their hiring needs. Employers regularly
remark on how important it is to have OCU
students close by to fill positions. OCU
students also remark on the importance of
being able to receive live, legal experience
through a venue other than a school-sponsored
legal clinic.
Geographic distribution of graduates on
average annually sees graduates from Oklahoma
City University School of Law secure employment
in approximately 20 to 25 states, two-thirds
of which represent states other than their
home states. The specific states vary from
year to year. First and second-year students
also are successful in securing employment
in states beyond Oklahoma. Oklahoma City
University alumni practice law in nearly
every state. Geographic areas chosen by
recent graduates have shown steady diversification.
The largest percentage locate in the West
South Central region, followed by the West
North Central and South Atlantic regions,
with virtually equal numbers locating in
the Mid Atlantic, Midwest and West/Southwest.
Major cities attract 70 to 80 percent of
all graduates.
Employer type distribution will typically
see a graduating class from OCU LAW pursuing
employment in the following employer types:
75 to 85 percent will enter private practice,
although initially 3 to 5 percent will accept
judicial clerkships prior to entering private
practice. Business and industry typically
attract 10 to 20 percent, and 10 to 15 percent
will join a government or public interest
agency. The remainder will establish solo
practices, attend graduate school, enter
the teaching profession, fulfill military
obligations, or enter a non-practicing or
non-traditional field. A significant majority
of students entering private practice are
in small to medium-sized law firms.
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