An Inside Look at the New Face of Career Services

From helping students locate jobs to sharing candid advice and expertise, L&C’s Career Services Office is a treasure trove for students and alumni alike. And now, it has a new face: Alice Emerson, the new Assistant Dean for Career Services, along with her carefully selected new team. Emerson earned her JD from University of Texas and practiced child welfare law for over a decade before relocating to Oregon where she practiced complex civil litigation. After approximately 19 years of legal practice, Emerson joined Lewis & Clark.

Her first actions in her new role have been rebuilding a Career Services team dedicated to assisting students - and alums - with finding employment, and creating a welcoming office.

“My goal is to establish the Career Services Office as a location where all students feel welcome and are supported and empowered to work towards their desired outcomes,” said Emerson.

L&C Law alum Kyle Johnson ’15, joined the team in early 2024 as the Director of Public Interest Law. Johnson has legal experience in public service areas, including serving as a legal aid attorney, a judicial clerk, and as an intern deputy prosecuting attorney.

Career Services also recently welcomed Tracy Sullivan ’97 into the role of Director of Student and Employer Engagement and Eileen Sterlock ’09 joined the team as Director of Career Services.

Sullivan, who is returning to serve the Career Services Office as an alumna of Lewis & Clark Law School and a former L&C Career Services Director (2012-2017). In her career, she has served as a federal judicial clerk to The Honorable Magistrate Judge Ashmanskas and The Honorable Judge Frye, in addition to practicing civil litigation for several years. She has worked in law school administration for over 13 years, with over 8 years in Career Services & Professional Development.

Sterlock focused her career in humanitarian immigration law, working at nonprofits in Portland and Arizona, as well as operating her own solo practice. She was an active volunteer in the American Immigration Lawyers Association, as well as the law school’s Jessup International Law Moot Court program.

Even with a shifting legal job market, employment statistics for recent graduates are high. Out of the 178 Class of 2023 graduates, over 90% were employed within 10 months of graduation, the highest post-grad employment rate of Oregon law schools that year. “The whims of the market and shifts in hiring practices are significant challenges when supporting students and grads in identifying, pursuing, and landing jobs that further their career aspirations,” said Emerson. “With so many moving pieces, we must adapt and exhibit flexibility to support our students in pursuing their chosen path and/or navigating stepping stones towards their goals.”

For Career Services, this adaptability and responsive counseling has taken the form of new program development, expanding career events, and improving student access to career resources. Emerson cites the implementation of student surveys as a key factor in improving career accessibility to help students get the most out of the services they provide.

Whether you know exactly what you want for your professional experience or are still navigating your options, Emerson encourages students to take the plunge with Career Services and schedule an appointment. “There are so many opportunities in the law,” said Emerson. “Being open to the varied pathways you can take and exploring the people and the practice involved opens doors.”

To learn more about Career Services, visit our website here.