Summary

Gloria Park always wanted to be a storyteller. She just didn't expect to find that career in litigation. In this episode, the Susman Godfrey partner talks with Kathryn Rubino about growing up in a first-generation immigrant family, choosing law school because it let her "tell stories for a living," and the mantra, why not me, that carried her through six tough years as an associate to partnership.

They cover what actually separates strong litigators (hint: it's not the closing argument), why Park chose a litigation-only boutique that hires exclusively from federal clerkships, and how she balances high-stakes cases with church, choir, and a new kickboxing habit. Park also shares her most memorable war story: taking her first deposition eight weeks into practice, alone, against a firm's global head of litigation.

Key Takeaways

• Litigation is storytelling within strict limits: the facts don't move, but how you frame them does.

• A "why not me" mindset can replace the imposter syndrome that comes with being the first in your family in Big Law.

• Attention to detail, not courtroom theatrics, is what actually separates strong litigators.

• Susman Godfrey hires only federal law clerks, which gives its litigators a shared foundation and an edge in the courtroom.

• Pro bono work outside your paying caseload can sharpen your skills as a litigator, not just your firm's PR

Links and Resources

• [Above the Law](https://abovethelaw.com/)

• [The Jabot Podcast](https://abovethelaw.com/tag/the-jabot-podcast/)

Keywords

Big Law partnership, litigation career, Susman Godfrey, federal clerkship, first-generation lawyer, women in law, litigation boutique, associate to partner, legal storytelling, deposition tips, pro bono litigation, work-life balance lawyer, Above the Law, The Jabot Podcast, career advice for lawyers, patent litigation, jury trial strategy, law school advice, big law culture, legal career path

Episode Highlights

• [00:00:35 - 00:01:15] Gloria explains why storytelling, not the law itself, drew her to law school.

• [00:03:45 - 00:04:30] "Facts are facts. You can't really change it," but there's always a way to frame them accurately.

• [00:06:45 - 00:07:15] The "why not me" mantra that got Gloria through Big Law without a family roadmap.

• [00:08:45 - 00:09:15] Why attention to detail, not theatrics, makes a strong litigator.

• [00:11:15 - 00:12:15] Why Gloria chose a litigation-only boutique over a full-service firm.

• [00:16:15 - 00:17:30] Gloria's first deposition, taken alone eight weeks into her career.

• [00:19:00 - 00:20:15] How church, choir, and kickboxing keep Gloria grounded.

• [00:20:45 - 00:22:00] The pro bono case representing the parents of a girl who died in CBP custody.

• [00:23:35 - 00:24:20] Gloria's advice: "Go for it. Have that why not me mentality."