As the Class of 2011 bustled about Pierce Law with excitement last fall, Emily Lawrence was taking the reins as the school's Assistant Director & International Graduate Student Career Counselor. Now with several months of experience under her belt, Emily shares some insights about the position and how she can help students.

After graduating from New England School of Law, Lawrence spent some time working for Suffolk University's Career Development Office. It was there that she recognized her affection for counseling students and helping them realize their goals. Her tenure with the office was short-lived when an opportunity to serve as a law clerk for the New Hampshire Superior Court presented itself.

The transition from career services to the fast paced world of Superior Court was thrilling. Lawrence was exposed a wide variety of cases each with their own nuances and dynamics. She was also able to indulge her interest in criminal law. The birth of her daughter in 2006 caused Emily to consider a career change. Her desire to have more time with her family and still do something she loved weighed heavily on Lawrence. Perhaps it was fate then that a position with Pierce Law's Office of Career Services opened up shortly thereafter.

Emily's primarily responsible for working with international students. She mentioned that many international students like to spend a few years working in the United States before taking their experience back to their home countries. The job hunting process is similar to those of American students but involves additional dimensions when it comes to visa requirements. Overall, the process greatly influenced by the student's goals and what type of placement their seeking.

J.D. and master's students alike can benefit from the Career Services office. Emily articulated her hope that students, who are unsure of what the office has to offer them, will speak with a counselor in the office to see how they can help. To showcase the career opportunities available to students, Emily and her collegeaues design programming initiatives including panel discussions and lunch and learn's. In some respects, it's about showing that just because you're a lawyer doesn't mean you are relegated to working in a law firm.

Emily's position is very hands-on and many of her pragmatic strategies are developed through experience. It's experience that will inform the upcoming program for first-year students about the 2L On-Campus Interview (OCI) process. The initial weeks of a law student's 2L year are typically spent securing a job for the following summer. Law schools, including Pierce, host legal employers on designated days for on-campus interviews with students. It's an important opportunity because it can eliminate a great deal of the stress associated with securing a summer 2010 position.

Working at Pierce Law allows Emily to devote more time to her family. When she's not dotting on her two-year old daughter, Emily enjoys keeping up with her interest in criminal law. She has an affinity for reading precedent-setting cases.