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Danny Katz: Singer, Songwriter, Paralegal, New York, NY [By Judith Earley] Paralegal-singer-songwriter Danny Katz graduated from Sarah Lawrence College in 1999 with a general B.A. degree and concentrations in Asian/Asian-American studies and LGBT/gender studies.
“I wasn’t certain at the time just how to
be to live abroad!) As a singer-songwriter, I
a headhunter matched me up with Fross,
market myself to the workforce unless I was
always had a particular interest in the fields
Zelnick, Lehrman & Zissu, where I currently
to consider working in the nonprofit sector.
of trademark and entertainment law, and
work.”
Given my school loan payments at the time, as well as the costs of living in New York City, I determined that working corporate was my best option. That still left me a bit in the dark as to what job to pursue,” said Katz. Fortunately Legal Options, a small agency that specializes in providing legal support staff to various firms, reached out to him through Sarah Lawrence’s career counseling center. The people there assured him that law firms would be interested in him specifically because he had taken such a diverse course load and had developed superior writing and organizational skills. He interviewed with Fish & Neave (now Ropes & Gray) and was hired as a legal assistant in the foreign patent prosecution division. For two years, he worked part-time (to focus on songwriting and performing) for a small law firm specializing in commercial, whitecollar criminal, and employment litigation. The firm began to expand, and his position was scheduled to convert to full-time. “As I wanted to keep my part-time hours, I left the position,” said Katz. “I also intended, at the time, to travel to Japan to promote my music. But as is often the case, circumstances changed, and I found myself looking for work several months later. (I hadn’t factored in just how expensive it would
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Q. What do you do for fun? A. There’s definitely the songwriting and performing, but that’s more a job than a hobby at this point! As for additional fun things, I love wandering around NYC on foot, discovering little shops and neighborhoods I’d never known about before. I’m a bit of a “culture vulture-”I love attending cultural events around the city and appreciate how much diversity is here. And nothing beats just relaxing and hanging out with my friends, family, and partner. Q. What CD was most recently in your CD player? A. The Yoshida Brothers. They’re a Japanese duo that plays Tsugarushamisen (Japanese lute). They rock. I probably have the most eclectic music tastes out of anyone. Right now, I’m listening to Thelonious Monk. Before that, I was listening to MC Lyte. And before that, I was listening to Natalie MacMaster. Q. What is the last magazine you read? A. I’ve been going back and forth between
Fast Company, Performing Songwriter, and AdWeek. Q. What is your favorite TV show? A. Everybody Loves Raymond. Who doesn’t love a dysfunctional family? Q. Who is your role model? A. My parents and anyone who cultivates and pursues a dream, no matter what that dream may be.
The work-life balance is what Katz said he really appreciates at his firm. “The environment at Fross is incomparableeveryone is exceptionally bright…a number of the attorneys and many members of the staff are performing songwriters and musicians,” said Katz. “It’s not unusual for partners to attend the concerts by their support staff. And the firm has been very accommodating. They’ve allowed me to switch to my current schedule of 10 to 15 hours a week so that I can focus on my music. Interestingly enough, the firm represents many entertainment clients, so I can see the connections between what I do now as a performing songwriter and the larger legal picture.” “Even though I am now working on a parttime basis, the partner I primarily work for has an extremely heavy docket, so keeping on top of deadlines and correspondence (secretarial tasks) as well as preparing and maintaining exhibits (paralegal tasks) makes my head spin...all of that on top of the responsibilities of the performing songwriter job.” According to Katz, the emotional highlights of his career involve the people he’s met at the firms for which he’s worked. “Even working
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part-time, the firm culture can make or
everything happens for a reason. I’ve been
transition through several different careers,
break your experience. Fortunately, I’ve
extremely fortunate to have met the people
appreciate life to the fullest, and raise a
met some wonderful people who have such
I’ve met along the way and to have learned
family all at the same time,” said Katz.
a full appreciation of life in all the firms I’ve
all that I’ve learned. It’s amazing how
worked at. The emotional highlights are
transferable the paralegal skills are to my
His advice for students who are preparing to
all about the people I’ve worked with and
music business.”
become paralegals is to make sure that you
feeling like part of a team,” said Katz.
are open to be becoming organized (if you’re not already) and that you are interested in
Katz said that he believes paralegal
being a team player.
associations are important. “Although New York has such a large number of
“It also helps if you can manage stress well
paralegals (the legal profession certainly
and be extremely attentive to deadlines.
seems to run this city at times!), I still
And have a thick skin. When your coworkers
believe any association is important. I think
are stressed out, they might snap at you.
that it’s extremely important for individual
“My education taught me to be an
paralegals to feel that they are part of
interdisciplinary powerhouse-to be able
something larger and to meet people from
to see the interconnectedness of concepts
different firms with different experiences
and ideas that don’t always seem related.
within different firm cultures.”
Learning this at such a young age was of
Fross, Zelnick, Lehrman & Zissu
fundamental importance to achieve the
www.frosszelnick.com
When asked whether he would change
organizational skills I needed to use in my
anything or do anything differently if he had
paralegal capacity.”
his career to do over again, Katz answered,
Don’t ever take it personally,” said Katz. On the Net
Sarah Lawrence College www.slc.edu/home.php
“Perhaps work specifically in entertainment
Katz said that his parents have served as
law, but then again, I have no regrets about
his biggest influences. “I’ve seen how
DannyKatzMusic.com
anything I’ve done. I am a firm believer that
they’ve managed to follow their passions,
www.dannykatzmusic.com
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