SCHOOL OF LAW

CAREER SERVICES OFFICE

Our dedicated staff, which includes seven experienced career counselors, is available to help students, alumni and employers connect with each other.

David A. Montoya, Assistant Dean for Career Services
dmontoya@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-1155

Counseling specialties: Law Firms (particularly large firms)
Assistant Dean since April 2004, David heads the CSO, overseeing day-to-day operations, managing and developing resources for student career assistance, developing policies and procedures, conducting employer outreach, and counseling students. A native of Santa Fe, New Mexico, David earned a bachelors degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame in 1985, where he was designated a Notre Dame Scholar, and received his J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 1995. Before attending law school, he was a CPA and worked for one of the largest international CPA firms and a Fortune 200 company. David worked for Jackson Walker, LLP for seven years, and was most recently a partner in the Commercial Litigation and Corporate Reorganizations/Restructuring sections, primarily serving the telecommunications, technology and financial services industries. He served on the Recruiting and Hiring Committees of Jackson Walker, LLP and other previous employers, and has conducted hundreds of on-campus and office interviews.

Angélica Salinas Evans, Associate Director for Career Services
aevans@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-1159

Counseling specialties: Corporate/In-house and Nonpracticing/Alternative
As Associate Director, Angélica works directly with the Assistant Dean in developing policies and procedures for students and employers, and works towards technological enhancements to connect students and employers with the CSO. In addition, she counsels students interested in corporate or nonpracticing/alternative careers. She also oversees the online UT Law Mentor Directory and supervises the student-based Action Committee for Career Services. Prior to joining the CSO in 2008, Angélica spent seven years at the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) as the Counsel and Assistant Director to the Fraud Unit.  She has a wide range of legal experience, also having served as In-House Counsel to the Center for Health Care Services in San Antonio, Staff Attorney for TDI’s Enforcement Division, Contracts & Credentialing Director for Austin-Travis County MHMR Center and as a solo practitioner who focused on family and criminal law matters. She received her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 1995 and her B.A. in History from Texas A&M University in 1991. Angélica also serves as liaison to UT Law's Nonpracticing Alumni Advisory Council.

Mary Emma Civins, Career Counselor & Director of Public Service Programs
mcivins@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-1162

Counseling specialties: Government
Mary Emma advises students who are interested in working in the public sector, particularly those who are considering government jobs. She creates materials and presents panels and workshops on government-related topics and coordinates Public Service Table Talk and Public Service Career Day along with Nicole Clark. Mary Emma earned her B.A. in English and Art History from Emory University in 2000 and her J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law in 2003. After graduation from law school, she practiced as an Assistant District Attorney for Dallas County. During her time there, she handled a broad range of cases, working her way from prosecuting misdemeanors to murder. Mary Emma has been with the CSO since 2005.

Nicole S. Clark, Career Counselor
nclark@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-1160

Counseling specialties: Public Interest
Nicole advises students who are interested in working in the public sector, particularly those who are considering public interest jobs. In addition, she advises students interested in large law firms. She creates materials and presents panels and workshops on public interest-related topics and coordinates Public Service Table Talk and Public Service Career Day along with Mary Emma Civins. Nicole earned her B.B.A. in Management with honors from Texas A&M University in 2004 and her J.D. with honors from The University of Texas School of Law in 2007. After law school, she practiced as a banking and finance associate at Mayer Brown LLP in Houston. During her time there, she represented lenders and borrowers in a variety of finance transactions, including secured and unsecured commercial finance and acquisition finance. Nicole joined the CSO in the summer of 2008. 

Simone Leavenworth, Career Counselor
sleavenworth@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-1157

Counseling specialties: Small and Midsize Law Firms
Simone advises students interested in small and midsize law firms as well as a wide range of other employers. She also coordinates several career panels throughout the year and conducts employer outreach to small and midsize firms. Simone earned her B.A. in Government with honors from The University of Texas at Austin and her J.D. with honors from The University of Texas School of Law. After law school, she worked for the Consumer Protection Division of the Office of the Attorney General. She then went into private practice as an associate, and later as a partner, at law firms in Houston and Galveston. She practiced law for 16 years, specializing in litigation. She also has experience in real estate, bankruptcy, insurance, corporate, and family law. Simone has been with the CSO since 2004.

Rémi Ratliff, Director of Judicial Programs
rratliff@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-1163

Counseling specialties: Judicial Clerkships and Internships
As the Director of Judicial Programs, Rémi specializes in advising students who are interested in judicial clerkships and internships. She also has experience counseling students interested in alternative and nonpracticing careers, as well as those interested in a wide range of legal employers. She creates materials and presents panels and workshops about the judiciary. Rémi graduated from Wellesley College in 1991 and The University of Texas School of Law in 1995, where she was on Texas Law Review and was Order of the Coif. After law school, she clerked for the Honorable Rose Spector on the Texas Supreme Court and worked for the Public Citizen Litigation Group. She then worked in the General Counsel’s Office of the U.S. Department of Treasury in Washington, D.C. for three years. Rémi has been with the CSO since 2001.

Amanda L. Watkins, Career Counselor
awatkins@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-6056

Counseling specialties: Small and Midsize Firms and International Careers
Amanda specializes in advising LL.M. students and students with an interest in international law. In addition, she counsels students with an interest in small and midsize firms. She also coordinates several career panels throughout the year. Amanda earned her B.B.A. with honors in both Banking and Finance and Managerial Finance from the University of Mississippi and her J.D. from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University in 2002. Following law school, she practiced law at Gwinn & Roby LLP in Dallas where she specialized in litigation. In 2005, she and her husband relocated to Florida where they own and manage several Sonic Drive-Ins. During her time in Florida she practiced law on a contract basis for Texas attorneys and taught business law at a local college. Amanda joined the CSO in the summer of 2008. 

Deb Freeman, Assistant Director for Communications
dfreeman@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-2162

As Assistant Director for Communications, Deb markets the CSO's services and programs to students, alumni, and employers. She serves as the CSO Webmaster by designing and maintaining the CSO's Web site and The Law Consortium Web site. She also designs and co-edits all CSO publications and marketing materials including the CSO Career Development Handbook, Judicial Clerkship Handbook, Public Service Handbook, CSO Annual Report, and The Law Consortium brochure; publishes CSO Law Mail; and coordinates the annual "Cocktails & Conversation" Mentor Reception and Small & Midsize Firm Reception. Deb works directly with the Assistant Dean and Associate Director in developing technological and Web enhancements to connect students and employers with the CSO. A native of Fort Worth, Deb received her B.A. in Sociology from The University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining the CSO in 2001, she worked for the Texas Music Office and then the Texas Film Commission, both part of the Office of the Governor, as Webmaster and editor of the Texas Music Industry Directory and Texas Production Manual respectively.

David Burns, Resource Coordinator
dburns@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-1150

As Resource Coordinator, David greets visitors at the front desk, schedules career counseling appointments, and handles reciprocity requests. He also maintains the CSO's Job Bank on UT Law Symplicity, oversees the CSO Resource Library, and handles additional projects for the Assistant Dean, Associate Director and career counselors as needed. David graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Government and Sociology. He joined the CSO in August 2007.

Drew Carls, On-Campus Interview Coordinator
dcarls@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-7110

As OCI Coordinator, Drew organizes all aspects of the Fall and Spring On-Campus Interview Programs by scheduling employers, collecting and distributing student materials, familiarizing students and employers with the career management system, UT Law Symplicity, and facilitating interview scheduling. He also coordinates the CSO's Mock Interview Program and assists with maintaining the UT Law Mentor Directory. Drew graduated from The University of Texas at Austin with a B.A. in Government and a minor in Communication. He has been with the CSO since 2006.

Victor Garcia, Office Manager
vgarcia@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-1153

As Office Manager for the CSO, Victor handles all accounting and purchasing requests, including graduate job bank subscriptions, and assists with maintaining the CSO's Job Bank on UT Law Symplicity. Born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, Victor retired from the United States Air Force in 1999 after proudly serving his country for 20 years as an Administrative/Personnel Specialist. Before joining the CSO in 2003, Victor worked for four years at the Ford Career Center in the McCombs School of Business.

Delilah Montemayor, Projects Coordinator
dmontemayor@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-9389

As Projects Coordinator, Delilah works closely with the CSO staff on panels and receptions presented in the fall and spring by coordinating catering and media services requests, publicizing events throughout the law school, and facilitating relationships with panelists. She also handles additional projects for the Assistant Dean, Associate Director and career counselors as needed, including compiling graduate employment statistics. Delilah graduated from Texas State University at San Marcos with a B.A. in Political Science and is currently working towards a Masters degree in Environmental Legal Studies. She has been with the CSO since 2005.

Sandra Valencia, Job Fair Coordinator
svalencia@law.utexas.edu | 512-232-1161

As Job Fair Coordinator, Sandra coordinates more than a dozen off-campus interviewing programs including recruiting and scheduling employers, distributing student materials, and scheduling student interviews.She also assists with Public Service Career Day. Sandra graduated from St. Edward's University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice and has been with the CSO since 2005.