In Seclusion

On April 6, 2020, most of us were just hitting our third week of working remotely. For Maribel Nash, she was starting a new job at Cooley, LLP. While the timing may have complicated things like getting computer equipment from the new employer and orientation, Nash actually found that there were actually many opportunities in transitioning at this time. Whether it was getting more "face" time with her fellow employees, or getting to know others at the firm on a more personal level, it wasn't as much of a challenge as many of us might think. While this type of change isn't optimal by any stretch of the imagination, she found the experience to be pretty positive.

Remember, we may all be In Seclusion, but we're in this together.

Host: Greg Lambert (@glambert)

This week I am focusing on the employment opportunities for lawyers during this pandemic crisis. I hit up my alma mater yesterday, and today I go even closer to home by interviewing two incoming Fall Associates at my law firm, Jackson Walker. Tori Coates is graduating from Baylor Law School in Waco and will join us in our Austin office. Daniel Maldonado is about to graduate from St. Mary's Law School in San Antonio. He will start in that same city's office this fall. Obviously a lot has happened between the time they left as Summer Associates last July and they have some wisdom and experiences to share with those going into Summer Associate positions this year. 

Remember, we may all be In Seclusion, but we're in this together.

Host: Greg Lambert (@glambert)

Last week I talked with a number of law students about their adjustments during the pandemic for school, graduation, the bar, and employment. This week I wanted to focus more on getting, and keeping these students employed. I reached out to my alma mater and talked with the Director of Career Development, Alicia Currin-Moore, to see how the University of Oklahoma College of Law is keeping the pipeline of students to employers flowing.

Remember, we may all be In Seclusion, but we're in this together.

Host: Greg Lambert (@glambert)

While most of us haven't been in a physical office for more than a month, that doesn't mean that people aren't changing jobs. The legal industry's lateral movement was white-hot before the pandemic, and there while things have definitely slowed down according to today's guest, Richard Hsu, it hasn't stopped. Richard is a former BigLaw Partner and is currently the Managing Director for Major, Lindsey, & Africa in San Francisco. In addition to his day job, Richard also runs a fantastic podcast called, Hsu Untied, where he talks with legal and other business leaders (including people like Steve Wozniak, Mark Cuban, Angela Duckworth, and more) about entrepreneurship, leadership, and business strategies. 

Remember, we may all be In Seclusion, but we're in this together.

Host: Greg Lambert (@glambert)

In the final installment on how law students are coping with the changes in remote learning, I talk with Michael Anderson, 3L from Emory University School of Law. Michael discusses how he finished his semester at his family's home in Maryland rather than returning to Atlanta, and how he is planning to study and take the Georgia Bar Exam and plan for the start of his legal career.

Remember, we may all be In Seclusion, but we're in this together.

Host: Greg Lambert (@glambert)

In part four of our week-long series on how law students are coping with the changes in remote learning, I talk with second-year law student Kanza Khan. Kanza's story is a bit different than the previous episodes in that MSU's grading is not entirely pass/fail, and her classes continued to follow a fairly strict schedule to mimic the normal class lecture process. In addition, there's been a twist to her plans for her summer work. It just proves that this pandemic effects law students in many different ways.

Remember, we may all be In Seclusion, but we're in this together.

Host: Greg Lambert (@glambert)

In part three of our week-long series on how law students are coping with the changes in remote learning, I talk with third-year law student Rachel Sodee. Rachel discusses her experience with Vanderbilt's transition to online courses and her preparation for finals. We also discuss how the state of Tennessee is still planning for a July Bar Exam with an October option as well. And finally, we discuss how she is communicating with her Nashville law firm she is scheduled to begin working at in September. There are a lot of issues that 3Ls have to think about in a normal year. There's a lot more on the plate of law grads in 2020.

Remember, we may all be In Seclusion, but we're in this together.

Host: Greg Lambert (@glambert)

In part two of our week-long series on how law students are coping with the changes in remote learning, I talk with second-year law student Morgan McGreevy of the University of Texas. Morgan started law school after working the past decade as an insurance underwriter. He walks me through how his classes transitioned to online teaching. How the University of Texas made clear, decisive decisions for how the Spring Semester would continue. And, the status of his summer associate position at an AmLaw 100 firm in Houston. There are a lot of moving parts going on for all of these law students as they prepare for Spring finals.

Remember, we may all be In Seclusion, but we're in this together.

Host: Greg Lambert (@glambert)

This week, I interview 2L and 3L law students about how they are adapting to their online classes, pass/fail grades, the upcoming finals, and what, if any, changes are occurring with their Summer or Fall Associate positions. 

My first guest is Stephanie Nweke from the University of Houston Law Center. Stephanie is a 2L who is scheduled to go to California to work for a large law firm as a Summer Associate. She is also the co-founder of Blademy, an online learning tool for black millennials. 

Remember, we may all be In Seclusion, but we're in this together.

Host: Greg Lambert (@glambert)

#HOMEsweetHOME

Today's guests bring home this podcast's catchphrase that "we're in this together." Christine Sellers Sullivan and Jeremy Sullivan are both legal information professionals, and a married couple working at home. While there are many married couples who planned their lives around working together, the pandemic has tossed many married couples into a togetherness that no one really expected. For some, this would be tough, but for the Sullivans, they seem to know each other's strengths, weaknesses, as well as good and bad habits. Throw in moving houses, and bringing their adorable Scottish Fold cat, Fred, and you have the makings for some pretty good stories. 

Remember, we may all be In Seclusion, but we're in this together.

Host: Greg Lambert (@glambert)