School of Law's Career Development Office welcomes new staff members

This spring, University of Richmond School of Law's Career Development Office (CDO) welcomed two new staff members. Carole Yeatts Timberlake serves as Director of Professional Development Programs, and Valerie L'Herrou, L'06, is Director of Public Sector Careers.

As Director of Professional Development Programs, Carole Timberlake advises law students and alumni on a wide variety of career-related matters. Janet D. Hutchinson, Associate Dean for Career Development, said Timberlake will use her experience as a law firm professional development director to create programs to guide students in refining their professional personas.

Prior to joining the School of Law, Timberlake worked for the Virginia State Bar, served as director of marketing at the McCammon Group, and held positions in the marketing and professional development departments at Troutman Sanders. Dean Hutchinson said, "She is an expert on law firm and lawyer marketing and has consulted with lawyers and firms throughout Virginia. She will use these experiences to help students and graduates effectively market themselves."

Timberlake also founded CYT Consulting LLC, which provides a variety of marketing and professional development services to attorneys and law firms. She received a B.A. in History, Psychology, and Women's Studies from the University of Richmond and her J.D. from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.

Hutchinson added, "Carole also is active in the Richmond bar community and will guide students in cultivating relationships with alumni and other practitioners."

As Director of Public Sector Careers, Valerie L'Herrou advises students and alumni pursuing positions in government agencies and non-profit organizations. She is also the Career Development Office's expert on judicial clerkships and collaborates with the CDO and faculty judicial clerkship committee on the application process.

Since graduating from University of Richmond School of Law in 2006, L'Herrou served as an assistant public defender in Charlottesville, Va. Dean Hutchinson said, "It is wonderful to have an alum join the CDO team. Valerie understands the Richmond Law culture and is uniquely qualified to advise students pursuing public sector careers because of her experience as a non-profit projects coordinator and assistant public defender."

"In the public defender's office, Valerie hired and supervised interns," said Hutchinson. "She will use this experience to help students and graduates secure employment."

Dean Hutchinson added, "Equally as important as her experience is her passion and commitment to helping others." Before law school, L'Herrou worked at Virginians Aligned Against Sexual Assault in Charlottesville, where she coordinated statewide legislative advocacy efforts for coalition and member organizations, wrote and managed grants, and developed new projects. Valerie is also very active in her community, including roles with the criminal bar and other governmental and non-profit boards and organizations.

L'Herrou received a B.A. in Sociology from Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, Va.