On Tuesday I start my last semester of law school (and school in general) ever. It’s surreal to think that my law school journey will come to an end in several months but for now, I’m in the mood to reflect on the journey and share what the road has looked like for me. So let’s take it all the way back to the very beginning.
My Law School Journey: The Early Years
Yes, I was one of those kids that wanted to become president when I grew up, and at the time it seemed to be the case that the way to do that was to first become a lawyer. That’s not necessarily the case for political careers today, but at the very least as a young child, I was drawn to being a lawyer based on my perception of what they did —talk lot, persuade and argue (productively), and help those who needed it. But of course, I knew that before a law school journey could even be an option I would have to go to college.
At Harvard
I thought I would go the traditional route for those who wanted to go into politics: major in Government and minor in Economics. But I didn’t even get as far as taking the introductory econ class, so those plans quickly changed. I ultimately double majored in Sociology and Government. Sociology, I later realized, was my true academic love. If I could do my college experience over again, I would major solely in that. If you want to know more about why you can read what I’ve shared about that here. But the takeaway is to do what you want to do, not what you think you’re supposed to do. But to cut a long story short, both studying sociology (and not government) and interning at the Civil Rights Bureau of the NY Attorney General’s office under Kristen Clarke, a Prep for Prep, Harvard, and Columbia Law alum who was the head of the bureau at the time.
The Post Grad Job Search
During senior year, I still knew that I wanted to go to law school, but I decided it would be best to take a couple of years off before going to work. I talk a bit about why that was a decision that made sense for me here, so check that out if you’d like to hear more about taking time off between college and law school. I generally thought it would be a good idea to work at a law firm before going to law school, not because I necessarily wanted to but because I thought that was what made sense for someone who wanted to become a lawyer. But the search for a legal analyst position was tough and I got rejected or ghosted from every law firm I applied to. I made it to the final round for a position at one New York City entertainment law firm, but they ultimately told me that their hiring needs had changed so they would not be able to extend an offer.
At some point during the process, a recruiter from Success Academy, a charter school network in New York City, reached out by email to discuss post-graduate employment options. After interviewing with them on campus, I received an offer to work as a middle school teacher. While it wasn’t what I had originally set out to work in, I knew I was up for the job. I had worked with kids of middle school age in the past through Prep for Prep, and I generally felt a passion for working with kids that I knew would transfer over to my role as a teacher.
Stick with teaching or take the offer from the entertainment law firm?
A few weeks after I signed my offer accepting a position at Success Academy, the law entertainment law firm that originally could not hire me, informed me that unexpectedly a position was opening up and that they would love to still consider me. I completed the final round of interviews and received an offer shortly thereafter. This left me with a decision to make: stick with teaching at Success Academy as planned, or take the offer to be a legal assistant at an entertainment law firm?
I knew that if I were going to law school there would be plenty of time in my life for me to work at a law firm, but working as a teacher seemed like an opportunity I wouldn’t come by again.
Ultimately, as you may already know, I decided to stick with teaching. Surprisingly, the pay as a teacher was higher than what the law firm was offering me as a legal assistant (though I knew I would probably make more in overtime, but at what cost?) Teaching felt like a way to give back, especially as a young Black woman who knew that young Black and brown kids likely didn’t have many teachers of color at the front of the room. On top of that, teaching seemed much more conducive to preparing for law school than working at a law firm did. I would get paid summers off which I could use to study for the LSAT, and even though the hours as a teacher are long too, they weren’t as unpredictable as the hours I’ve heard paralegals at law firms have. Most importantly I knew that if I were going to embark on a law school journey there would be plenty of time in my life for me to work at a law firm, but working as a teacher seemed like an opportunity I wouldn’t come by again.
The Student Becomes the Teacher
Teaching was a truly remarkable experience that I would choose over and over again if I could. For the sake of brevity, I will keep this section limited to how it pertains to my application process and timeline. If you want to read more on how teaching prepared me for my law school journey you can check out the post I’ve written on that here. I’ve also gone into more depth about the highs and lows of my teaching experience if you’re interested in checking that out. Overall, teaching, especially teaching middle school history at an NYC charter school, how so much of what I felt passionate about doing would better served by me going to law school.
I told almost no one that I was taking the LSAT again because I was embarrassed and disappointed in myself. Looking back I know that those feelings were truly not necessary.
I took the first year out of undergrad and as a teacher to take a break from all things applications. It was truly a time for me to relax and enjoy a time in my life where for once I was not applying for a job, updating my resume, or preparing for an interview. I began studying for the LSAT during the summer of 2018. I took an in-person course, Blueprint LSAT, that required me to go in on Sundays and Wednesdays. This was all feasible seeing as I was on summer vacation. I took the September LSAT, but was unsatisfied with my score and ultimately self-studied between September and November to take the November LSAT. I ended up having to take the November LSAT in Boston because the test fell on Harvard Yale game day which I had plans to attend before going on an already booked flight to Amsterdam. It was mayhem and truthfully I told almost no one that I was taking the LSAT again that day because I was embarrassed and disappointed in myself. Looking back I know that those feelings were truly not necessary.
I ended up asking my direct manager (my assistant principal) to provide a letter of recommendation for my law school application. Obviously, this meant letting her know that I did not plan to continue teaching after my second year, but she was understanding and supportive and I am grateful for that.
Ironically, it was on a February afternoon while I stood at the front of my classroom teaching that I received an email with my acceptance letter to Columbia Law School.
The Teacher Becomes a Student Again
This is the part of the journey where you ride off into the sunset and live happily ever after. Not. Law School is difficult, and while I don’t think it has earned its title as the most difficult academic experience I’ve ever been through (see here for the winner) it certainly has not been no crystal stair. The pandemic was an unimaginably difficult time for everyone, but a particularly tough time to be in law school. I felt like I wasn’t getting the full experience of a law student looking to explore paths beyond what she had only ever been exposed to. In a lot of ways, law school has left me disillusioned and unsure of the exact path I hope my career takes. But I lean into this as someone who has only ever felt like she has had everything figured out because I know there is a lot to learn from being uncertain in some aspects of life.
So… what’s next?
Besides me finishing up my law school journey strong and graduating in May 2022, I plan to take the Bar Exam in July and start working at a New York City corporate law firm as a litigation associate in the fall. Of course, I hope to continue creating content as I’ve done before and through law school. In the long term though, I think I’d like to see myself start a business of some sort in addition to leading a successful career.
One of the things I want to do more as my career develops is to pay more attention to the things that excite me.
One of the things I want to do more as my career develops is to pay more attention to the things that excite me. And in looking back on my academic career thus far I’m realizing that the things that excite me the most usually aren’t even in the classroom. Instead, it’s on the board various organizations that I’ve served on through my time in high school, college, and law school. As a high schooler, I served as my school’s Study Body Vice President and President, during my junior and senior years respectively. In college, I served on the board of the Association of Black Harvard Women for three of my four years, ultimately becoming the president of the organization during my junior year. And at law school, I’ve served on the board of the Black LAw Students’ Association as secretary and the Ad Board of Columbia Law Review as Essays Editor. The truth is I enjoy being a part of discussions to craft the vision and future of an organization and I think maybe, just maybe, that if I can do it, I’d love to make a career out of it.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3: 5-6
