Deborah Foley: Director of Placement, Mississippi College School of Law, Jackson, MS
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published September 25, 2006
Judith Earley
<<"In order to represent them to the best of my ability I find that I need to know as much about them as possible," said Foley. "This includes learning about their family, their friends, their likes and dislikes, and things they are passionate about. Law firms have personalities just like the students do and knowing the students on a personal level makes finding a good fit for them much more likely."
According to Foley, law students need to understand that the career services office is there to help all students, not just the top 10 percent. "The top 10 percent typically do not need the career services office after their first year," said Foley. However, if second or third year students are not in the top 10 percent of the class, then those students need to be in the career services office getting up close and personal. "We cannot recommend a student for a job if we don't know the student."
And there are considerable challenges facing the career services staff at Mississippi College School of Law. The Mississippi legal market is extremely tight. Said Foley, "Not only did Hurricane Katrina affect the market, but the passage of tort reform legislation and changes in the bankruptcy laws have caused shifts in [the] practice [of law]." Because of this, Foley said they have to work much harder to bring new law firms to the school to interview, to expand the geographical reach of our career services office, and to counsel students about opportunities in business, finance, and government.
However, Foley has nothing but admiration for the students with whom she works every day. "I honestly believe that law students are our nation's best and brightest. They are passionate not only about the law, but about causes and about making a difference. I am in awe of who they are, who they become, and the impact they have on society," said Foley.
Dean Michael J. Maloney was Foley's predecessor and the person she said had a major impact on her and how she conducts business. "One of his best pieces of advice was that no matter what you are doing, if a student comes in to see you, whether for advice or just a casual visit, drop everything and give that student your full attention. No paper work is more important than the student sitting in your office," said Foley.
Two issues that Foley considers to be the most important facing the law community today are the cost of a legal education and the expectation that law graduates should be ready to produce and contribute the minute they walk into a law firm. To help address the latter, Mississippi College School of Law has instituted a "lock-in" tuition through which it guarantees students that their tuition will not increase while they are in law school. Additionally the school has implemented active extern and skills training programs to prepare the students to be productive from day one.
Her advice to law students is: network, network, network! "Everyone you know, and everyone you meet along the way, needs to know what you are doing. You never know when someone who can help you land that dream job might come along," said Foley.
Foley is the proud mother of two children, a son who is a college senior and art major, and a daughter who is a college freshman studying nursing. In her free time, she enjoys travel, the arts, and outdoor activities of all kind.
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