Experienced DOJ prosecutor joins Lawyering Program as Visiting Professor

Cecil VanDevender joins Lewis & Clark Law School as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Law following a distinguished career at the U.S. Department of Justice. He joins the faculty in the Lawyering Program.

Professor VanDevender has worked as a government attorney for over a decade. Most recently, he served as Assistant Special Counsel in the office of Special Counsel Jack Smith, where he worked on the two federal criminal cases involving the investigation and prosecution of then-former President Donald J. Trump from 2023 - 2025. From 2013 to 2023, he served in numerous roles in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, including as First Assistant U.S. Attorney, Appellate Chief, and Assistant U.S. Attorney. In those roles, he briefed, argued, and supervised dozens of cases in the U.S. Court of Appeals, and investigated and prosecuted cases involving public corruption, fraud, and organized crime.

“We are delighted to welcome Professor VanDevender to our faculty,” said Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Sandy Patrick. “With his experience as a federal prosecutor and judicial clerk, Professor VanDevender brings a rare combination of extensive legal experience and practical wisdom to the classroom. His commitment to fostering critical thinking, excellent writing, and ethical practice will help prepare our students to be well-rounded advocates who are equipped to meet the challenges of a changing legal landscape.”

Prior to his work for the Department of Justice, Cecil spent two years in private practice, at Bass, Berry & Sims LLP, and, prior to that, clerked for the Honorable Richard J. Sullivan, on the U.S. District Court for Southern District of New York, and the Honorable Gilbert S. Merritt, Jr., on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Cecil received his bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Princeton University, and his juris doctor, magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center.

“As a new law professor, I’m excited for the opportunity to join a community of scholars while helping the next generation of lawyers develop the knowledge and skills they’ll need to succeed in this profession,” VanDevender says. After years of advocating for justice in courtrooms, he looks forward to guiding students through complex legal concepts, sharing practical insights, and fostering the critical thinking and ethical judgment essential to effective advocacy.