Mary Patrice McInnis

Dean of Career Services, Saint Louis University School of Law

St. Louis

Mary Pat McInnis graduated from law school nearly 40 years ago and has since built a career at the intersection of law and higher education. She describes her decision to leave legal practice for legal education as her proudest accomplishment — a choice that allowed her to align her work with her values and be more present for her family.

In her role overseeing career services at Saint Louis University School of Law, she leads collaboratively within the Ignatian tradition, guided by cura personalis — care for the whole person — and a belief that mistakes are learning opportunities rather than failures.

She has observed that student debt, accelerated recruiting timelines and rising employer expectations of practice-ready graduates have reshaped how law students approach career planning. She has also found that mental health and self-care are not separate from professional performance — they are foundational to it. She said “‘We’ve always done it this way’ is not a mindset that fosters growth.”