The easy part was recognizing and knowing that a legal career was something they both wanted to do. The hard part was making sure it could work for them; given that they both came from management positions, making good salaries, and working around family life and the day-to-day responsibilities that go along with it.
Elizabeth Devolder described the challenge. “People usually wait to make a change until they are: 1) unhappy, 2) unhealthy, 3) unsafe, or 4) insecure. And by then, financial and emotional resources may be too low to jump to the next adventure. Think about what you can gain.”
Another good question to ask yourself according to the Devolders: What happens if you do nothing? Could you be laid off, downsized, marginalized or forced to work in a job or environment, or for a boss, that you find unpleasant? The Devolders took control of their destiny by adding marketable skills that would improve their ability to compete for any job, and provide an opportunity to strike out on their own.
“It’s scary to go back to school at nearly 40 years old,” stated Elizabeth Devolder. “When I made the mid-career decision to stay home for a few years and have babies, I found that I could also use this time to improve my skills for when I return to work. I even had a baby while in school. I didn’t want career to get in the way of family, so we have been doing it all. There are certainly days where it is hard, but I am so excited to show my children that learning is a lifelong activity. I’m creating better opportunities, not only for me, but for them as well.”
According to Bryan Devolder, what really connected the dots for him was the chance to take everything they had learned in law school and then doing it for real – an opportunity they didn’t feel they would have had anywhere else. Participating in Cooley’s client competition while in law school gave both Bryan and Elizabeth the kind of experience you only see as an attorney. In their mind, it is the client interaction and relationship building that is going to make you a successful attorney.
The coaching was nothing short of amazing, according to the Devolders. “It felt like she (Dean Christine Church) told us exactly what we needed to know right before we needed to know it,” proclaimed Elizabeth Devolder. “Many other schools didn’t even send coaches to the competition; Cooley’s faculty investment shows how much they value practical application of skills that lead to real success.”
Team Devolder also thought their teammates were really great and supportive, despite the fact that they were from other campuses in Michigan. “We could see them, they could see us (using the technology available today), we would do a role play, they would be able to critique us, we could do the same for them. There was absolutely no barrier. It was nice to see that you could establish that close of a relationship with other students, even across the country.”
The Devolders competed against the top 12 teams in the country – one from each region, and represented Cooley in its region. They took first place at the American Bar Association (ABA) Law Student Division Client Counseling Competition National Finals. Bryan thought the competition was very challenging and it felt like the real deal. “We got some very unique training, and some very unique practice, that we wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else,” stated Bryan Devolder.