A Day in the Life of a Corporate Attorney

Law firm partners discuss their goals and responsibilities

—By Kelly Kidwell

USC Law students learned about the work of corporate attorneys when two partners from Perkins Coie came to speak and answer questions about their careers.

Hiring Partners David Katz and Bruce McNamara spoke at the law school Feb. 5 at the event “A Day in the Life of a Corporate Attorney.” Katz works in Perkins Coie’s Santa Monica office and taught at USC Law last semester. McNamara works in the Menlo Park office.

“I find it gratifying to help motivate students and help them choose a career path,” Katz said following the discussion. “You’ve got to give back, and what better way to do that than by working directly with students?”

Katz explained to students the relationship between attorneys and the companies they represent.

“Clients expect to be able to get hold of you,” he said. “And to be successful in this competitive market—especially in Los Angeles—you have to be accessible.”

McNamara emphasized the difference between corporate attorneys and litigators.

As a corporate attorney, “you don’t care where the courtroom is,” he said. “You don’t have to go there unless something has gone horribly wrong. Your main concern is how to help clients avoid making costly errors.”

After both attorneys spoke, they took questions from students about marketing themselves to firms and how best to prepare for work as a corporate attorney. Katz and McNamara recommended students take accounting and finance courses in addition to law school courses.

When the discussion concluded, students approached both attorneys to speak with them individually.

“It was a fantastic talk,” said Stephanie Hurst, a first-year law student. “It was a good overview of the job. It reinforced my desire to be a corporate attorney and it showed me how I can do that.”