Deborah Atlas
About Deborah Atlas
Deborah Atlas serves as the Director of Attorney Recruiting at Ice Miller LLP, where she develops professional development programs for law students and manages recruitment initiatives. She has a diverse background in legal education and career services, with previous roles at Goodwin Procter LLP and Indiana University Bloomington.
Current Role at Ice Miller LLP
Deborah Atlas serves as the Director of Attorney Recruiting at Ice Miller LLP, a position she has held since 2018. In this role, she is responsible for managing the attorney recruitment process, which includes overseeing on-campus and Chicago on-site interviewing programs. Each year, she successfully recruits over 50 employers, ensuring a diverse range of opportunities for law students. Additionally, she supervises three student fellows who provide peer advising to law students, enhancing their professional development and career strategies.
Education and Expertise
Deborah Atlas has an extensive educational background that supports her career in legal recruiting and professional development. She earned her Doctor of Law (J.D.) from the University of Michigan Law School, where she studied from 2002 to 2004. Prior to that, she obtained a Master of Social Work (MSW) from Washington University in St. Louis, studying from 2000 to 2002. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Sociology from Emory University, where she studied from 1995 to 1999. This diverse educational foundation informs her expertise in advising law students on career strategies.
Previous Experience in Legal Recruitment
Before her current role at Ice Miller LLP, Deborah Atlas accumulated significant experience in legal recruitment and professional development. She worked at Goodwin Procter LLP as Manager of Staffing and Professional Development from 2005 to 2014, where she focused on staffing and professional development initiatives. Following that, she served as the Director of the Career Services Office and Adjunct Faculty at Indiana University Bloomington from 2014 to 2018, further enhancing her skills in career advising and student support.
Professional Development Initiatives
Deborah Atlas creates and delivers professional development programming tailored for incoming law students. Her initiatives include workshops that focus on core professional skills and various legal practice areas. She has published a 2L job search guide and contributed sections to a 1L career resource guide, showcasing her commitment to equipping law students with the necessary tools and resources for successful careers in law.
Career Background and Early Roles
Deborah Atlas began her career in communications, serving as the Communications Director for Americans for Democratic Action from 1999 to 2000. She transitioned into the legal field as a Summer Associate at Paul Hastings in 2004. Her diverse career path has provided her with a unique perspective on the legal profession, enabling her to effectively advise law students on career strategies, particularly for positions in large law firms and federal government roles.