Lauren Parker '08, a former commercial litigation and antitrust attorney, has joined the University of Virginia School of Law as a director of career services.

Parker, who participated in on-Grounds interviews as a student and later as an employer, now will help prepare students to launch their own careers.

"I'm excited to return to the University, be part of the Law School community and come home to Charlottesville," said Parker, a Baltimore native who also received her undergraduate degree from UVA, in 2005. "I know the opportunity to work one-on-one with students will be really rewarding."

In her new position, Parker will advise students and alumni on private-sector positions; help them evaluate practice areas, firms and legal markets; and assist them in developing strategies to compete effectively for the positions they target. Parker will also aid students as they create resumes and cover letters, and prepare for interviews.

Kevin Donovan, senior assistant dean for career services, said Parker will be an asset to the office.

"We are thrilled to have Lauren on the team," Donovan said. "As in the past, we focused on hiring an attorney with extensive legal experience and strong interpersonal skills. I am confident that our students and alumni will enjoy working with Lauren and that she will bring great insights to their career-related decisions."

Prior to joining Career Services, Parker was a senior associate in the Washington, D.C., office of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. During her seven years at Orrick, she was a member of the firm’s Antitrust and Competition group, where her practice focused on complex commercial and antitrust litigation in state and federal courts, and in investigations by the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the European Commission. Parker also served as a member of the office’s Recruiting Committee, the Associates’ Committee and the Women’s Affinity Group.

Parker also worked pro bono with the ACLU of Maryland and with the Legal Counsel for the Elderly, representing clients in diverse matters. 

During her time as a student at the Law School, Parker participated in the William Minor Lile Moot Court Competition, the North Grounds Softball League and the Raven Society. As an undergraduate at UVA, she was a Jefferson Scholar and a counselor for the University Judiciary Committee.

Founded in 1819, the University of Virginia School of Law is the second-oldest continuously operating law school in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top law schools, Virginia is a world-renowned training ground for distinguished lawyers and public servants, instilling in them a commitment to leadership, integrity and community service.