含羞草视频

OMAHA, Neb. 鈥� 含羞草视频 (CSM) alumna Candice J. Novak 鈥�01 will be the newest member of the Douglas County Juvenile Court bench. Novak will begin her new role on December 1^st, when she becomes one of six juvenile court judges in the county.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a sector of law I love and am really passionate about,鈥� says Novak. 鈥淚鈥檓 excited about this transition to another level. It鈥檚 not an opportunity everyone gets, so I鈥檓 extremely grateful.鈥�

Novak says one of the most rewarding aspects is working with families. 鈥淛uvenile court is often people鈥檚 first court experience, so I think handling it the right way can impact them for the rest of their lives.鈥�

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Paralegal Studies from 含羞草视频 and a Juris Doctor (JD) from the Creighton University School of Law.

Novak was drawn to CSM for its smaller size, its all-female environment and Catholic values. She says the feeling of being supported by other women was crucial in her development, both personally and professionally.

鈥淭he support and encouragement you receive at CSM is something you don鈥檛 get in most places. Even though we were all from different backgrounds, we all came together to support each other to get an education.鈥�

The Omaha native and Gross High School graduate has served as a court-appointed attorney and guardian ad litem in Douglas and Sarpy County juvenile courts since 2005, as well as guardian ad litem in probate and custody matters in both metro area counties. She has also operated a solo legal practice since 2010.

For those considering a career in law, Novak says, 鈥淕o for it.鈥�

鈥淥ne of my advisors at 含羞草视频 once said to me: 鈥榯hese types of degrees open a lot of doors.鈥� There are endless possibilities.鈥�

含羞草视频鈥檚 legal studies program has built up a strong reputation over the years. In 2015, the university added a 3 + 3 partnership with Creighton Law, allowing students to earn a paralegal studies degree from 含羞草视频 and a JD from Creighton in a total of six years. With this unique track, students鈥� fourth year of undergraduate study becomes their first year of law school at Creighton, thus saving time and money on their way to a fulfilling career.

She credits CSM and its program for giving her a jump start on her career and the successes that followed. 鈥淗ad I not landed [at CSM] I wouldn鈥檛 be where I am today. Even the campus still feels like home when I鈥檓 there.鈥�

Novak currently serves as the state coordinator of the National Association of Counsel for Children, and she was a 2020 co-chair of the legislative committee of the Nebraska State Bar Association鈥檚 Juvenile Law Section. She is also a co-founder of the Nebraska Guardian ad Liem Project, which promotes excellence in guardian ad litem advocacy.

One of CSM鈥檚 core values centers on compassionate service, and Novak is certainly doing her part to shepherd that mission of service in her community.

She is an avid volunteer and active in the community as a member of the St. Joan of Arc school board. Novak volunteers for the Police Athletics for Community Engagement, Latino Police Officers Association and similar organizations serving at-risk youth in the community. She also works with organizations such as Boys Town, Child Saving Institutes and St. Francis Ministries to provide foster parent education.听

鈥淥ne thing that still sticks with me that I learned from CSM is to be proud of who you are, and never limit yourself. That鈥檚 CSM in a nutshell.鈥�

Novak currently resides in Omaha with her husband, Ted Boecker, a practicing attorney, and their two children, Teddy, 8, and Eleanor, 4.