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Brandon, Of Counsel at Best Best & Krieger, LLP: Advize Career Interview
An exciting legal career journey begins with impactful internships and a foundation built on strong connections!
This professional's path, from research assistant to Of Counsel at Best Best & Krieger, LLP and adjunct professor at UC Davis, reveals the multifaceted nature of law, encompassing civil litigation, municipal law, and environmental review.
Each day is a new adventure, from court appearances (often via Zoom) to meticulously crafting legal arguments. Success in this field demands critical thinking, persuasive communication, and ethical practice.
The ability to solve client problems and mentor aspiring lawyers offers immense satisfaction.
However, knowing one's limits and prioritizing work-life balance are crucial, alongside recognizing the considerable time and dedication required to truly practice law.
Entry-level opportunities such as paralegal positions provide accessible pathways into the legal world, and GPA reigns supreme for law school admissions.
A successful career benefits from early networking, a passion for public service, and embracing challenges, ultimately driven by the desire to improve the legal system.
A Sac State connection, most notably a personal one, and impactful programs like the California Executive Fellowship can prove indispensable.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Brandon Kline
Of Counsel
Best Best & Krieger, LLP
California State University, Sacramento
Lewis & Clark Law School, JD/LLM
Economics, Political Science, American Studies
Law
Legal
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Greek Life Member, Student Athlete, First Generation College Student
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Career Path Of An Of Counsel At Best Best And Krieger
Brandon highlights the importance of internships in career development, citing experiences as a research assistant at the California Energy Commission, a California executive fellow in Governor Schwarzenegger's office, and a clerk at the Governor's Office of Planning and Research, emphasizing that "internships have been an essential ingredient" to career success after working at the University of California, San Francisco State, and as a Deputy Attorney General, before transitioning to private practice at Best Best & Krieger.
Main Responsibilities of an Of Counsel at Best Best and Krieger
Brandon's responsibilities at Best Best & Krieger, LLP encompass civil litigation, including court preparation and associate guidance, while also serving as a municipal attorney for cities and planning commissions, acting as a "mobile quarterback" by blending transactional and litigation practices. In addition, Brandon reviews environmental documents, and leverages professional experience as an adjunct professor at UC Davis, teaching CEQA and land use planning law, further enhancing expertise and informing current legal practices.
A Day In The Life Of An Of Counsel At Best Best And Krieger LLP
Brandon, Of Counsel at Best Best & Krieger, LLP, says that there's really "hard to say that there is a typical day" for an attorney, but that a day can range from providing city attorney services to appearing in court (often via Zoom), or a significant amount of time can be spent "writing, revising, editing and, and reading" to prepare briefs or arguments. He notes that the shift to online court appearances has been a "blessing" for being able to accomplish more in a day.
Most Important Skills For An Of Counsel At Best Best And Krieger
For an attorney, the ability to "think like a lawyer" is paramount, requiring one to simultaneously consider multiple perspectives, anticipate counterarguments, and recognize vulnerabilities while remembering they are an officer of the court and must act with good character. Strong writing and speaking skills further contribute to success in this profession.
Favorite Parts Of Being An Of Counsel At Best Best And Krieger LLP
Brandon enjoys being able to solve problems for clients, providing them relief from situations they thought were insurmountable. Furthermore, Brandon enjoys teaching law school, and "plant[ing] that seed and then watch[ing] it grow throughout the term" as students develop their understanding of the law.
Biggest Challenges Faced by an Of Counsel at Best Best and Krieger
Brandon's biggest challenge as Of Counsel at Best Best & Krieger is "knowing when to say no," as the desire to help new clients and participate in interesting cases often clashes with the need to exercise "good judgment" about bandwidth and capacity. This highlights the constant balancing act in law between professional ambition and the practical limitations of time and resources.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Law Industry As An Of Counsel
Brandon enjoys being in the legal industry because "law runs through every facet of...American life," providing an understanding of how things are wired, similar to how an engineer understands electricity. While recognizing the litigious nature of society and jokingly advising people to "avoid lawyers," Brandon ultimately believes it's a noble profession where individuals are driven by goodwill and a desire to improve the system, which they pursue throughout their careers.
What Type of Person Thrives in a Law Career, According to An Of Counsel at Best Best & Krieger
Brandon from Best Best & Krieger, LLP believes that people who thrive in the legal industry are driven by a deeper personal reason beyond financial gain, such as a passion for public service or a desire to help others solve problems, as Brandon was inspired by a lawyer who assisted Brandon's family when Brandon was young. If one is "pursuing some sort of a deeper passion," then they are more likely to find fulfillment and be willing to put in the hard work required, even if it means "perfecting a brief" at 2:00 AM.
What an Of Counsel at Best Best and Krieger wishes they had known before entering the Law industry
Brandon, an Of Counsel attorney at Best Best & Krieger, wishes someone had emphasized the sheer amount of reading involved and, more significantly, the unexpectedly long and arduous journey to actually practicing law, noting that "the finish line kept changing" throughout law school and the early stages of a legal career. The amount of resource and time it would take to cross that finish line and to "actually practice law" was something that Brandon wished he was more aware of at the beginning of his career.
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Attorneys at Best Best and Krieger
Brandon from Best Best & Krieger, LLP suggests that aspiring legal professionals consider starting as paralegals, emphasizing it as a "really accessible path" and highlighting how a good paralegal can transition into becoming a "great attorney"; he also mentions legal secretary positions and internships/summer associate roles, but those assume the candidate is in law school.
Significant Career Lesson from an Of Counsel at Best Best and Krieger LLP
Brandon from Best Best & Krieger, LLP highlights the importance of establishing good habits early in a legal career, particularly regarding work-life balance, noting that "work life balance is not, um, something that lawyers are famous for". Brandon wishes they had earlier adopted stress-management techniques like running to "clear [their] mind" and maintain well-being amidst the demands of the profession.
College Experiences That Helped An Of Counsel At Best Best And Krieger LLP Succeed
To set up for career success, the interviewee highlights the importance of building connections and networking by "making friends with people who are successful," as a fraternity brother secured the first job. Critically, for aspiring lawyers, GPA is paramount for law school admissions, outweighing the significance of major or extracurricular involvement like student government, because "law schools want their...classes that they admit to have great GPAs because the American Bar Association tracks those numbers, and that's how rankings are...driven off of numbers."
Working as Of Counsel at Best Best and Krieger LLP
Sac State provided Brandon with the foundation for success, most importantly through meeting his wife Rosalyn, which he calls indescribably important and the basis for his success. Sac State also led to joining the Sigma Kai fraternity, which created bonds with successful people, and the California Executive Fellowship, which launched a career trajectory he believes would have been unattainable otherwise by putting him on a "fast track" in the governor's office of Legislative Affairs.
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