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CAREER CORNER
Dawn Rosemond From Student to Lawyer: A Graceful Transition [by Teresa Talerico] If you’ve got it, flaunt it. Although good grades in law school are obviously important, a winning resume also highlights one’s unique life experiences, whether they involve backpacking through Europe or serving one’s country.
Dawn R. Rosemond, recruiting partner at
schools would offer students to prepare them
function. Working is a lot different. The more
Barnes and Thornburg in Fort Wayne, IN,
for interviewing—mock interviews, that sort
you practice, especially for new associates,
says revealing those experiences and accom-
of thing. I think those are good. It allows the
you start getting calls from people who want
plishments are excellent ways to stand out
student to practice being interviewed. It is
things from you. When you’re a brand new
from the crowd.
somewhat of an art. It is an opportunity to
associate, your clients are not necessarily
sell yourself. Things like that help to make
people outside your work environment; they
“I’m not saying everyone should travel
sure you are ready to go. A number of schools
are your senior associates and partners. So
abroad, but it’s a complete package,” she
come to various campuses to interview. It’s
now instead of having 1 or 2 things to work on
said. “Whatever makes you interesting—you
good to get on the schedules and get inter-
at a time, you have 10.
want to put it down [on your resume] and do
viewed. The more you do it, it just hones your
it in such a way that makes people go, ‘That’s
skills.
One of the hardest things for a new associate to deal with is billing time. You account for
neat. I want to know more about that.’ If you got a full ride to undergrad, it needs to be on
Q: How can law students prepare themselves
everything you do. It’s a difficult transition to
there. If you were a lieutenant in the military,
to transition from student to lawyer?
understand that you may be at work for 12 hours to bill 8.
it needs to be on there. If you’re a single mom raising three kids, going through law school,
A: Preparing you to practice—I’m not really
it needs to be on there.”
sure there’s any such thing. You can certainly
You have to lean on the people who have been
take all the courses you’re require to take.
doing it and learn what works for them so you
A 1996 graduate of the University of Illinois,
But practicing is so different than being a
can figure out what works for you. The sooner
College of Law, Rosemond is the firm’s first
student. It really is something that’s very dif-
you learn that you don’t know everything
African-American female partner. A litiga-
ficult to explain until you just do it. Certainly,
and people don’t expect you to, the better off
tor, she specializes in intellectual property
you can participate in a summer program
you’ll be.
disputes.
with a firm because it allows you to see what it’s like to practice somewhat. But I really
Just recognizing the parameters of your
Q: What should law students do to prepare
don’t think there’s much you can do—say, if
job—for example, it’s hard with family mem-
for job hunting and interviewing?
you’re going to be a litigator or a business
bers who say, “What time do you get off?” And
lawyer—to say, “All right, I’ve taken all these
you’re like, “I have no idea what that means,”
A: The best thing you can do is simply do well
classes, and now I’m ready.” All you’ve done
because it depends. When I was brand new,
in school. That sounds very simplistic, but
is prepared yourself to begin.
that was a very difficult thing. I would disap-
It’s not the only factor, but you look for those
Q: What are some common stumbling blocks
they didn’t work out because a senior associ-
students who demonstrated a commitment to
for new associates?
ate would walk in my office at five ‘til five and
point myself, often planning things, and then
that is the first thing most employers look at.
law school, because it says something about
say, “Hey, I need you to do this research.”
how they will practice. You want a student
A: Time management is one of the biggest
that has other interests and activities as well
things because it’s such a shocker. Even
Q: Other partners interviewed by LawCross-
as school.
though law school can be grueling, you have
ing say new associates should never be afraid
the opportunity to schedule breaks within
to ask for help.
In terms of preparing yourself for interview-
your day. Your time is your own when you’re
ing, there used to be a number of things that
not in class or attending some law school
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A: You don’t want to get in the habit of think-
continued on back
CAREER CORNER
ing you’ve got to handle it all yourself. Quite frankly, that isn’t how it works and not what our clients expect of us. Our clients expect the best product from us. And oftentimes, that doesn’t come because one person sat there and figured it all out. It’s because they got their paralegal involved, and they got other attorneys involved that know more than them in some respects or have done it before. It’s really important to learn early on to ask questions.
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