College Experiences That Helped an Associate at Latham And Watkins Succeed
Shawna's undergraduate success stemmed from four years in mock trial, providing "exposure to the legal way of thinking," and a law firm internship. The insightful advice offered is to also sit in on law school classes to truly gauge compatibility with both the academic and professional aspects of a legal career, because "law school is quite a different experience than being an actual lawyer."
Networking, Career Exploration, Overcoming Challenges, Communication, Real-World Examples
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Shawna Strecker
Lawyer/Associate
Latham & Watkins
University of California Los Angeles, 2018
UCLA School of Law; Juris Doctorate
History, Art History
Law
Legal
Video Highlights
1. Participate in extracurricular activities like mock trial to gain exposure to legal thinking and network with professionals.
2. Complete internships at law firms to gain practical experience and learn about the day-to-day life of a lawyer.
3. Actively seek out and engage with lawyers to learn about their career paths, challenges, and what aspects they find fulfilling, including considering sitting in on law school classes if possible to better understand the academic and professional aspects of the field before committing to law school
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
As I mentioned earlier, I participated in mock trial for all four years. Even though it was a fake case and felt more like the movie version of the legal world, it was still very helpful. It exposed me to the legal way of thinking and allowed me to meet with mock trial coaches, who were often attorneys or judges.
I also completed an internship at a law firm. During that time, I asked many practicing lawyers questions about their daily lives. I inquired about how they felt about their careers, the challenges they faced, and what they enjoyed most.
If I could change one thing, I would have sat in on law classes when I was an undergrad at the law school. I think it's very important, even though I got a sense of whether I would enjoy and feel fulfilled in an actual legal career. Law school is quite a different experience from being an actual lawyer. It's important to ensure you enjoy both aspects, whether you thrive in law school and in the legal career; both are equally important.
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