How Identity Has Influenced A Partner At Seyfarth Shaw LLP's Career
Josh's undergraduate philosophy studies unexpectedly shaped their legal career; the skills honed in "making very subtle distinctions between different concepts" and crafting "really solid, persuasive analytical writing" proved invaluable in their current practice at Seyfarth Shaw LLP. This rigorous training in philosophical argumentation and writing translated directly into the analytical and persuasive writing demands of a successful legal career.
Analytical Skills, Writing Proficiency, Legal Reasoning, Communication, Higher Education
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Josh Rodine
Partner
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
University of California, Santa Barbara (1996)
University of Maryland, College Park (MA, Philosophy 1999); University of Illinois College of Law (JD, 2002)
Philosophy
Law
Legal
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Josh's undergraduate philosophy studies honed his ability to make subtle distinctions between concepts and information, a skill crucial for articulating legal arguments and recognizing the significance of seemingly minor differences in legal cases. This analytical thinking is highly valuable in his current legal practice.
2. His philosophy coursework emphasized persuasive analytical writing, providing him with significant experience in crafting well-reasoned and impactful legal documents. This skill is directly transferable and highly valued in his profession.
3. Josh's experience highlights the unexpected value of a humanities-based education in a law career. His success demonstrates that skills developed in philosophy, such as analytical thinking and persuasive writing, are highly transferable and beneficial in a legal setting. This is encouraging for students considering careers in law but not necessarily following a traditional pre-law path.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
As I mentioned earlier, I hadn't really been planning on this career. I don't know that I can say I did this with the intent of it setting me up for success. But there are some things I learned as an undergraduate that have contributed to my success in my career.
These things came out of my work in philosophy. There are two main points. First, I learned to make very subtle distinctions between different concepts, pieces of information, and arguments. This serves me well in my current practice because I can articulate why a prior holding or case isn't applicable to the circumstances I'm dealing with.
This fostered an ability to recognize the significance of what might otherwise seem like small or insignificant differences between factual scenarios or legal arguments. My work in philosophy really provided me with this skill.
The other thing my work in philosophy provided was getting really good at writing. There are few disciplines in undergraduate education oriented towards writing. This isn't about drafting colorful prose, but rather doing solid, persuasive analytical writing around a topic.
You get this in most humanities disciplines, but not in STEM classes. My work in philosophy was mostly oriented towards writing papers. We didn't have too many tests, like midterms or final exams. For the most part, I was spending my time writing. Since that's what I spend a lot of my time doing now, having had that experience as an undergrad really helped set me in the right direction professionally.