Appetite for east coast success
If the stampede of USC Gould students cramming their way into Room 7 for an event on east coast job hunting was any indication, New York and Washington, D.C. had better look out for these aspiring attorneys. The students’ hunger for a new environment and challenging career evidently was insatiable: the lunch tables were left barren and the students consumed all the advice they could from the four panelists from Cleary Gottlieb, a firm with 16 offices on four continents.
Teale Toweill, an associate in Cleary Gottlieb’s Washington office, said students should search for firms that practice what they are most interested in.
“You want to go to the regions that support what you want to study,” Toweill said.
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| (clockwise from top left) Georgia Emery Gray, Teale Toweill, Kristen Bresnahan and Donna Harris from Cleary Gottlieb discussed life as an associate on the east coast. |
Georgia Emery Gray, director of legal personnel and recruiting in Washington, D.C., said it was important for students to accommodate their professional growth and be flexible about their areas of practice.
“Look at choices within the firm,” Gray said. “You don’t want to be pigeonholed into one area.”
Donna Harris, director of legal recruiting in the New York office, offered advice on how to land an associate position on the east coast. She made it clear that success in working for east coast firms had nothing to do with having personal ties to the cities.
“If you don’t have geographic ties to the area, just focus on presenting your skills,” Harris said. “Be honest about your areas of interest.”
The panelists assured students that at Cleary Gottlieb, associates would get their fair share of experience and responsibility. Toweill shared that she had more than enough to handle as a summer associate.
“I was sent to Hong Kong as a summer associate and my hands got dirty early in the game,” she said.
Kristen Bresnahan, a first-year associate in the New York office, shared her experience, as well.
“As a summer associate I worked in transactional law,” Bresnahan said. “I went to Mexico City; I was terrified but I did it.”
Considering that Cleary Gottlieb is a global firm, students were curious if a foreign language was required. Toweill said she spoke only English and it has not stopped her from being an effective associate.
“I do mainly arbitration and I don’t speak any other languages,” Toweill said. “It is not really a requirement because there are global offices. There will be someone on the team who does speak that language.”
Although students can practice anywhere they choose, panelists said the east coast was the best place to start a career in law. Bresnahan said her training experience on the east coast was unmatched.
“I was told that if you start in New York, you are good to go anywhere,” Bresnahan said. “After the training I’ve received, I can understand why.”
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| Panelists discuss the opportunities that await students in east coast law firms. |
The panelists assured students that being an outstanding applicant for a position with an east coast law firm was about more than being a part of the law review.
“It’s not necessary,” Toweill said. “It’s more important to be well rounded.”
Other members of the panel agreed.
“We are looking for skill sets that can help us grow,” Harris said. “When doing your OCI [on-campus interviews], it’s 20 minutes across the table from someone and that’s not a long time, so we’re going to look at grades.”
Dean of Career Services Matt DeGrushe said students seriously interested in working in New York should take part in USC Gould’s OCI program. The panelists offered tips on how to prepare for the OCI and leave a lasting impression on the recruiter.
“Don’t be afraid to send resumes in advance,” Harris said. “Address your strong interest in the northeast and the position.”
Gray suggested a more personal touch.
“Pick up the phone and say hello,” Gray said. “It’s good to pick up the phone and make yourself an individual.”
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