Working as Public Defender in a Legal Firm : By Carla DeVelder, Career Services Director, University of Nebraska Law School

Summary

Carla DeVelder, Career Services Director of the University of Nebraska Law School, is a passionate advocate for the legal profession. She works closely with students and alumni to ensure they are finding success in their chosen law careers. DeVelder has strived to make career service offerings more comprehensive and user-friendly for students.


DeVelder began her professional career in career counseling and has since then moved on to the legal field. She had a passion for helping law students develop professionally and move forward in their legal careers.

DeVelder also conducted employer outreach to bring more employment opportunities to students. She has built strong relationships with licensed practitioners and local employers to provide more detailed career advice to students.

At Nebraska Law, DeVelder works to provide students with the tools and resources they need to prepare for and land the job of their dreams. She helps them to create and maintain a competitive resume, connect to career resources, network with potential employers, and assess career paths.

DeVelder is also the director of the Internship Program at Nebraska Law. The purpose of the program is to provide students with legal experience, build resumes, and teach the fundamentals of how to practice law. DeVelder is dedicated to making the program as comprehensive and successful as possible.

She is an advocate for the legal profession and continues to provide support and guidance to students as they pursue their legal career. Carla DeVelder is the Career Services Director at the University of Nebraska Law School and is an invaluable asset to the university and its students.

Carla DeVelder is a passionate advocate for the legal profession and is the Career Services Director at the University of Nebraska Law School. She works closely with students, alumni and licensed practitioners to help them achieve their goals in the legal profession. DeVelder helps students to create and maintain competitive resumes, connects them with career resources, networks with potential employers, and assesses career paths. She is also the director of the Internship Program at Nebraska Law which provides students with legal experience, builds resumes, and teaches the fundamentals of how to practice law. DeVelder is committed to providing the students with the tools and resources necessary to prepare for and land the job of their dreams.
 

Carla DeVelder, Career Services Director at University of Nebraska Law School

Carla DeVelder is an experienced professional in the legal field and serves as the director of career services for the University of Nebraska Law School. She is known for her dedication and commitment to the school, offering counseling and guidance to its law students on a variety of topics related to their careers. Carla DeVelder has also been instrumental in establishing several successful networking and job search programs for students.

In her role as Career Services Director, Carla DeVelder works to provide guidance and support to law students in the areas of job search strategies, interviewing techniques, networking, cover letter and resume preparation, and more. She has also forged many relationships with top law firms in the area and works with them to create job opportunities for students. Additionally, she has organized a number of career-related events and workshops for students which provide valuable insights and assistance for navigating the legal job market.

Carla DeVelder has been working in the legal field for over 20 years. During this time, she has held a variety of positions, from an assistant in a law firm to her current role as Career Services Director at University of Nebraska Law School. Through these experiences, she has gained extensive knowledge and understanding of the legal job market and the professional development needs of law students.

Carla DeVelder's long career in the legal field began in 1997 when she joined a law firm as an assistant. She quickly moved up the ranks and was promoted to a more senior position. During this time, she developed a deep understanding of the legal profession, gaining an appreciation for the complexities of legal practice and the importance of networking within the legal community. She also gained valuable insights into the legal job market and the skills needed to be successful in the field.

Since joining the University of Nebraska Law School in 2014, Carla DeVelder has been at the forefront of providing students with must-have legal career advice and networking opportunities. She has established numerous job placement initiatives and helped countless students transition into successful legal careers. As Career Services Director, Carla DeVelder continues to be a valuable source of career guidance for the law school's students, aiding them in navigating the complexities of the legal job market.

"I think this was easier for the professors than for me," she offered. "I had just become Nebraska Law School's new Career Services Director and doing so after having been a student at the same place was slightly surreal. Almost the entire faculty was the same from when I was a student! It was an adjustment for me to look at my former teachers as colleagues and peers. Everyone was very gracious, however, and went out of their way to help me ease into my new role. The transition has been very comfortable."

Carla was born in Parkston, SD, and majored in Criminal Justice at the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. It was during these formative years that she decided to spend her life in public service helping others.

At law school at the University of Nebraska, she began working in the Career Services Office answering phones, filing, and doing other useful jobs for the Career Services Director. After Carla graduated and became a public defender in the Douglas County Public Defender's Office in Omaha, she and her old Career Services Director continued to keep in touch.

"I loved public defender work," Carla confesses. "The first week in my position, I found myself in court. The pace was fast and relentless, which can be both invigorating and grueling."

When asked why she left, she laughed. "I don't think I consciously thought about leaving, but during one of my conversations with my old Career Services Director, she mentioned she was going to run for political office and that if she won, I should apply for the job."

We asked what happened.

"She won. I sent a letter to the Dean, was interviewed, and got the job! At about the same time, I got pregnant, and the new position fit perfectly with the changes in my family. It definitely was a memorable and happy point in my life."

We asked how Carla was faring with the new job and new child.

"Great," she said. "I guess I gravitate naturally to fast-paced, service-type jobs. There is just myself and an assistant in my office, so we keep very busy coordinating the on-campus interview seasons, career-related programming for the student body, individual counseling and resume review, outreach to students, plus helping alumni. We have a saying in our office: once a student, always a student. This means that alumni can access almost every service that we offer for current students. That includes help with resumes, cover letters, job referrals, and the like. It keeps us busy, I can assure you!"

Carla says that the University of Nebraska Law School just the right size for a law school: big enough to offer a diverse curriculum but small enough to be a real community. That is a benefit to her, as she tries to get to know every student and to provide assistance to all who seek it.

The school graduates approximately 120 students per year, with roughly 70% staying in the Midwest region. For those going out of state, alumni are important connections. "We have an extensive alumni base that is very generous with its time and expertise. Part of the job of this office is to maintain contact with our alumni and, when possible, utilize them to assist current students."

We asked about any initiative she has started which seems to be working, and she was quick to respond.

"Technology is wonderful. I've started emailing students individually to find out what they need from us. I have a form for each of them to fill out to describe their job-search criteria. Based on what I learn, I respond with jobs for which they might apply, plus suggestions of other places they might look. For the third-year students, I email the class to determine who is still looking for a job. Once I can pinpoint those students, I go to work to help them as much as I can. Some students have the perception that their Career Services Office is supposed to find them a job. By the third year, they understand that this is their quest, not ours. However, it is our job is to help make their job easier, and at Nebraska we do everything we can to help."