Alumni Spotlight: Taylor Gissell '16

Taylor Gissell graduated from UHLC in May 2016 and is currently employed as a Senior Manager of Risk in the U.S. Compliance and Ethics Department located in Bentonville, Arkansas for Walmart Stores, Inc. Taylor's role at Walmart is to evaluate where regulatory, reputational, and operational risks lie and determine ways to mitigate those risks to ensure Walmart complies with all state and federal regulatory requirements. She took some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions:

1. How did you obtain your first job out of law school?

I earned my job at Walmart by obtaining a summer internship through Symplicity. My 1L summer, I began working as a Law Clerk for R. McConnell Group, a Houston-based boutique law firm that served as Walmart’s outside counsel for its International Compliance Division. Through this clerkship, I gained exposure to the client almost immediately, traveling to five countries to work hand-in-hand with compliance executives. When a position opened in the U.S. Compliance area at Walmart, clients I worked with in the past thought of me for the job.

2. What experiences/internships did you have that you found to be helpful or beneficial in your job search and career thus far?

It was at my summer internship for R. McConnell Group that I learned the nuances of corporate compliance and how to interact with the client. The summer of my 2L year, I worked in-house in the Legal Compliance and Ethics Department at Quanta Services, a Houston-based energy construction company. This experience helped broaden my knowledge of corporate compliance and provided me with the conviction I needed to know that working in-house after law school was a career path I wanted to pursue. 

3. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to current law students?

The best advice I can give is to get as many people on your team as possible. Getting the legal job you really want isn’t always easy and having a team of people who will take the time to help you or recommend you for a position is by far your biggest asset.

Treat every opportunity as if it’s a job interview. By working hard on every project that comes your way, people around you will notice. The people who ultimately made the decision to hire me weren’t people I expected could do anything for my career when I met them.  But by treating every task and every interaction as though it was the most important item on my schedule, I was able to obtain a career from an unlikely source, through what I assumed was just a fleeting 1L internship.

Be intentional about expanding your network. Some people come into law school with strong ties to the legal community, and some of us don’t. Being the first lawyer in my family, I knew very little about the legal community and had no legal connections before starting law school. By my 3L year, I learned that professional connections must be intentionally made, and that wouldn’t happen without effort on my part. With this in mind, I got the business card of the man sitting next to me on a plane who turned out to be a partner at a prominent firm in Houston. I also attended a birthday party for a man I didn’t know, to meet a partner at a firm I knew would be there. It may be awkward at times, but you’ll never regret putting yourself out there and taking active steps to broaden your potential job market.

Take advantage of the CDO. Navigating through the labyrinth of the legal world is often confusing and intimidating, and the CDO is on your team from day one. By maintaining a relationship with my CDO officer, I was able to acquire honest and practical advice to help me deal with the everyday issues that arise when first entering the legal profession. Whether the CDO is sending job opportunities your way or simply being there to listen when you need to talk, they can be a great resource that you shouldn’t forget to utilize.

Alumni Spotlight: Olivia Mathias '14

Olivia Mathias graduated from UHLC in May 2014 and is currently employed as an Equal Justice Works Fellow, sponsored by the Texas Access to Justice Foundation, at the Cabrini Center for Immigrant Legal Assistance - Catholic Charities. Many victims of human trafficking in the Greater Houston area lack access to the full range of legal assistance to meet their varied legal needs that extend beyond immigration relief, so her project will provide holistic legal representation to victims of human trafficking in Houston and create a framework in which non-profits and pro bono attorneys can meet clients’ wide-ranging legal needs.  She took some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions:

1. How did you obtain your first job out of law school?

I started law school knowing that I wanted to practice public interest law. As such, an Equal Justice Works Fellowship was on my radar from the beginning. During my 3L year I worked with the supervising attorney of the Crime Victims Program at Cabrini to develop my project and then went through the steps of the Equal Justice Works Fellowship application process.

2. What experiences/internships did you have that you found to be helpful or beneficial in your job search and career thus far?

My work with immigrant populations quickly exposed me to the human trafficking crisis in Houston. That exposure came from my internships during law school with Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), Children at Risk, and at the Mexican Foreign Ministry. As a firm believer that freedom is a precursor to the exercise of any other right, I became interested in representing victims as they seek to avail themselves of the rights and remedies for which they qualify. As an Equal Justice Works Fellow, I have been able carry out my work in advancing fundamental human freedoms as part of larger network of public interest attorneys with similar goals. Because of the internships I had throughout law school, those partnerships were easier to cultivate. As a Fellow, I am also supported by the experience and vision of my host organization, Catholic Charities’ Cabrini Center, and my sponsor, Texas Access to Justice Foundation.

3. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to current law students?

I would advise all students working towards a career in public interest law to apply for an Equal Justice Works Fellowship. The Equal Justice Works Fellowship is a unique opportunity because it allows applicants to create projects that are unique to their interests and aspirations and addresses a pressing need in an underserved community that would otherwise be unmet.  Because of the intimate role I had in developing the project, I am profoundly committed to its success and sustainability.

An Equal Justice Works Fellowship allows a Fellow to launch her public interest career with a dream job the applicant designed.  The Fellow is expected to own the project, accomplish its goals within the two-year span of the Fellowship, and develop plans for sustaining the work.  An Equal Justice Works Fellowship is designed to cultivate the Fellow’s growth and development as a future public interest leader with training and access to an incomparable nationwide network of public interest leaders and experts in wide-ranging fields.

If you would like to connect with Olivia to learn more about her career path, please see your counselor in the Career Development Office. To learn more about Equal Justice Works Fellowships, go to: http://www.equaljusticeworks.org/post-grad/equal-justice-works-fellowships.

Alumni Spotlight: Farrah Usmani '12

Farrah Usmani is an associate at Marcus & Colvin, LLP, a Nashville-based entertainment law firm. Through Marcus & Colvin, she acts as an of-counsel “bridge” to the New York and Los Angeles-based entertainment law firm, Carroll, Guido & Groffman, LLP.  Her practice focuses exclusively on entertainment transactions; more specifically, she represents music talent. Farrah has made amazing strides in just a few short years and shares her insight with us here:

How did you obtain your first job out of law school?

Two words best describe how I got my first job out of law school: relentless networking.  A year before graduation, I began identifying all the places I thought would provide me with the most ideal jumpstart for a career in entertainment.  I did this by reading trade publications, and making notes of law firms and companies that looked like they were geared toward expansion and innovation.  From there, I spent lots of time figuring out how to get my resume into the hands of the people already working at those companies.

I had the most success by shamelessly asking for informational interviews.  (Something I learned is that people are much more willing to give you advice when you're still a student, and not yet their competition).  For the most part, people are happy to help, and they enjoy the opportunity to reflect on their experiences.  Informational interviews are a great way to get your name out there in a relaxed and conversational environment.  Each time I met with someone, I’d ask to be kept in mind if any new positions opened in his/her legal department.

A month after graduation, it paid off.  I was offered a job at Creative Artists Agency (CAA), one of Hollywood's top talent agencies.  I worked for the Executive of Business & Legal Affairs in CAA’s Music Department for two years before I transitioned into private practice.

Describe what led you to your current position. 

CAA and my current law firm share several clients; each represents talent in a different facet of the music industry.  I was introduced to the partners of my current firm while working together on a deal for Kings of Leon.  The firm was expanding at the same time I was looking to move into private practice, so it was a very organic transition.

What experiences/internships did you have that you found to be helpful or beneficial in your job search and career thus far?

During my 2L year, I wrote my seminar paper on privacy torts (7310 SEM: Advanced Torts); specifically, my topic addressed rights of publicity as applied to celebrity estates.  Taking this class opened a lot of doors for me.  While doing my research, I contacted a woman in Beverly Hills who is an expert in the field of celebrity rights management to see if she’d give me some insight about the topic.  This phone call turned into my first entertainment law internship.  Needless to say, I spent my 2L summer in L.A., which was a huge resume builder.  Choosing coursework that strategically demonstrated my interest in entertainment law, while not being afraid to take an internship outside of my home market was very helpful and beneficial in pitching myself to employers after graduation.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to current law students?

Network, network, network! Use your resources as a student to connect with professionals in your desired field, and ask as many questions as you can.  Take chances, and be willing to look outside your comfort zone for the right opportunity.

If you'd like to connect with Farrah to learn more about her career path, talk to your counselor in the Career Development Office.

Alumni Spotlight: Aaron Blair '14

Aaron graduated from UHLC in May 2014 and is currently employed as both an Independent Landman with Tiger Stripe Resources, LLC and a Law Clerk with Landrith, Lehrbass & Suazo, LLP. In both of these positions, he is gaining the experience necessary to pursue his goal of becoming a title attorney. He took time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions for us:

1. How did you obtain your first job out of law school? Probably through a mixture of luck and persistence. What’s the saying? 99% perspiration? That’s about right! I reached out to everyone I knew, from family to friends to classmates, and created my own network. I never sent cold resumes; instead, I always had someone vouching for me wherever I applied. I attended as many networking events as possible and made it a priority to engage with people face-to-face. I regularly set up informational interviews over breakfast or lunch to learn more about promising companies and firms. After meeting someone new, I followed up with an email or phone call to start building a relationship with that person.

2. Describe what led you to your current position. Believe it or not, I ended up at one of my current jobs by attending a Dane Cook comedy event! An attorney from one of the firms where I summered invited me to the show, and we built a rapport from there. When this attorney started his own law firm, he immediately brought me on. I came to Tiger Stripe via a more traditional path, that is, through the dedication and excellent work of the UHLC Career Development Office staff.

3. What experiences/internships did you have that you found to be helpful or beneficial in your job search and career thus far? Experience in my field of choice provided me with a significant advantage during the job hunt. For almost two years, I worked part-time under title attorneys while I was in school. It was about half-way through my law school career that I decided to focus on energy law. Before that, I filled my summers with internships in everything from estate planning to in-house work at an energy company. Getting my feet wet in a variety of areas and working under the attorneys in those fields helped me determine the right path for my career. If you’re interested in an area of the law, get out there and try it!

4. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to current law students? I imagine you’re all tired of hearing it, but focus on your grades – they are so important. Make sure you seize opportunities that will allow you to stand out. If no opportunities come knocking at your door, make your own. Get involved with a journal or other organizations on campus, such as mock trial and moot court. Figure out ways to get experience, either through internships or writing in your practice area. Build relationships. Amidst all of the studying, take the time to get to know your classmates, teachers, bosses, and co-workers. Most importantly of all, blaze your own trail. Don’t worry about how everyone else is doing it, or “how it’s done.” Assess your talents, skills, and interests, and follow a path that’s entirely your own. Be true to yourself, and your career will enrich your life.

If you'd like to connect with Aaron to learn more about his career path, talk to your counselor in the Career Development Office.

Alumni Spotlight: Sireesha Chirala '13

Meet Assistant Attorney General, Sireesha Chirala '13. Sireesha works in the Environmental Protection Division at the Office of the Attorney General in Austin, Texas and was kind enough to answer a few questions about her job search and career path. She practices civil litigation and environmental law and represents the State of Texas in environmental enforcement matters involving violations of State waste, air, and water laws.

How did you obtain your first job out of law school?

At the end of my 3L year, I secured a law clerk position in the Environmental Protection Division at the AG’s office and applied for the UHLC’s Graduate Fellowship program. After graduating and taking the bar, I moved to Austin and completed my fellowship. I tried to develop a relationship with as many lawyers in the division as I could, found some amazing mentors, and worked hard to impress the attorneys who gave me assignments. About a month after I passed the bar, a position opened up in my division. Since I had already been there for three months (I stayed past the official time period for the fellowship) and made a positive impression on the attorneys, I was interviewed with the endorsements and support of almost everyone in the division. I was in the right place at the right time.

Describe what led you to pursue your current position/practice area:

I was drawn to environmental law in law school. I took several classes in this area, wrote my journal comment on this topic, and tried to intern at places where I could develop the skills and experience necessary to start my legal career as an environmental lawyer. Through my internships, I also realized that I wanted to work in the public sector.

I knew that the practice area I wanted to specialize in was smaller and very competitive and that typically a law license is required to be hired in the public sector. But I decided I would give it a shot. Because of the successes that my friends who graduated the years before me had in obtaining positions through their UHLC Graduate Fellowships, I decided that a fellowship would be the best option. The fellowship allowed me to work at the place I wanted to work without the employer (or me) having to worry about pay.

What experiences/internships did you have that you found to be helpful or beneficial in your job search and career thus far?

Definitely my judicial internships. Potential employers always asked me about my judicial internships. Working for judges is an incredible experience and really links together what we study in law school with the practice of law. I was able to see how judges view cases and pleadings; interact with judges on a day-to-day basis; observe a lot of different practice styles, hearings, trials, and courtroom procedures; and hone my legal research and writing skills. My judicial internships have proven invaluable as a new lawyer.

Another thing that was helpful in my job search was the variety in my internship experiences. After 1L year, I interned or did research for a professor every semester and summer. As a result, I worked in the public and private sector and in criminal and civil law. This made choosing a practice area to specialize in, and basically my career path, a lot easier.

Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give to current law students?

Try hard not to compare yourself to other people. It is almost impossible not to do it because of the nature of law school, but you will find the job/career path that is right for you if you pay attention to yourself instead of measuring yourself against others. Most of my friends went into the private sector, but I knew that I wanted to work for the government. Instead of following suit, I followed my interests and luckily, found my dream job.

I also think that varied internships are incredibly important because of the relationships you build with other lawyers from a broad spectrum of practice areas, the work experience you can discuss in interviews, and the exposure to the practice of law that comes with it. So intern or research with different professors while you are in school and if your schedule allows it.
And remember, it’s not a matter of if you’ll find a job; it’s a matter of when.

If you'd like to connect with Sireesha to learn more about her career path, talk to your counselor in the Career Development Office.