College Experiences That Helped A Law Clerk At State Government District Succeed
Erica's UCLA experience highlights the value of diverse work experiences, noting that "every work experience is beneficial," even seemingly unrelated roles like social media marketing at Paramount Pictures, which unexpectedly developed concise writing skills applicable to a legal career. Developing relationships with professors and remaining open to diverse opportunities were also key factors in preparing for a successful legal career.
Communication, Networking, Career Exploration, Work Experience, Professional Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Erica Roberts
Law Clerk
State Government District
University of California, Los Angeles. Graduated 2018
The University of Texas School of Law
Economics
Government & Public Sector, Law
Legal
Greek Life Member, LGBTQ
Video Highlights
1. Gain diverse work experience to understand various organizational dynamics and work environments
2. Develop strong relationships with professors to seek guidance and mentorship
3. Be open to diverse opportunities, even if they are outside your initial career path, as skills are transferable
Transcript
Erica, taking you back to your time at UCLA. What did you do in undergrad that set you up for success in your career?
I didn't know for sure that I wanted to go to law school until my senior year at UCLA. I think every work experience is beneficial, no matter what you end up doing. It helps you understand the dynamics of different companies and organizations, and what it's like working for different bosses.
I think it's important to understand the personality of the office you're going to work for because it can make a big difference. I worked in social media marketing, which maybe doesn't seem transferable to law, but I always sell it as I was writing tweets and LinkedIn and Facebook posts, so I can say things pretty concisely.
My judge here actually always jokes that sometimes I'm too concise because she feels like she's missing something. But anyway, all the skills are transferable, no matter if you end up continuing on the same path that you started in or switching careers in some way.
So I think getting as much work experience as you can is important. I also think developing relationships with professors who teach subjects that you're really interested in is beneficial. I know they're always really happy to talk to interested students. I worked as a research assistant in undergrad, and that really helped.
I think just being open to all the different opportunities that you have is key, even if it's something that you might not have thought of originally. I worked for Paramount Pictures, and I had no interest in the entertainment industry. I just thought it would be kind of cool to work at Paramount, and I was right; it was pretty cool. But even the experience there editing YouTube videos and doing social media marketing was beneficial to my career now.