Dear First Gen,

When you decide to go to #lawschool, there are a lot of expectations. You’re obviously expected to excel in law school, but you are also expected to obtain internships and, ultimately, a job.

Securing an #internship is vital to your professional success, and of course so is getting that job after graduation. To make the most of your meetings with your #careercounselor, you should have your list of questions ready in advance.

The following set of questions is a good starting point.
​

1. Who is invited to participate in on-campus interviews (#OCIs)?
2. How do I get considered for a government attorney position?
3. When are regional and state career fairs held?
4. What is the application process to intern with a judge or become a #lawclerk?
5. Are there any alumni in my preferred geographic location?
6. Which law professors do you recommend I speak to who graduated from a specific state or practiced in an area of my interest (i.e. criminal law, legislation, contracts)?
7. Does the law school have a #reciprocity policy?

My hope for you is that your career counselor will provide you all the details you need to help you find the internships and job opportunities that are the best fits for you. If a career counselor seems unsure of what you're asking or doesn't seem to be a good fit, don't be afraid to make an appointment to speak to another career counselor or the head of the career office. Good luck!

Dear First Gen,

​I graduated from Hofstra University School of Law in 2012. In a previous blog post, Four Years Ago, I shared how I almost stopped after my first year of law school (1L). For those students who finished their second (2L) or third and final year (3L), here are some things I wish I had done, and others I am happy I did do:

• I wish I had used more resources like study guides and outlines for Civil Procedure, Contracts, and Real Property. It would have been part of my weekly or monthly routine. (Note: This can get costly.)

 

• I wish I had met with my professors on a regular basis, like my peers who came from families with attorneys did. My peers often practiced study questions and took their responses to discuss them with their professors. Not every teacher gives a midterm exam or practice questions, but they will walk through problems with a student to increase their understanding of a concept. This is a way to get a glimpse of how the professor grades their exams. (I especially advise this for students who have new professors because they do not have old exams for a student to review or practice with before an exam.)

 

• I wish I had reduced the length of my notes on a weekly basis because it is difficult to do toward the end when you think everything is important. This means a dual benefit for students: There will then be fewer notes to study from, and paring those notes down will reinforce the concepts and ideas you have learned. Even though you are shortening the notes, you should have a master list to refer back to in order to refresh your memory if you forget something. 

 

• I wish I had held fewer big study groups and done more small study groups instead. Two or three people in a study group is ideal because you can share your analysis of the practice problems or fact patterns/cases discussed in class, but isn't overwhelming with too many people offering their opinions. The conversations allow for different analyses to be shared and a more engaging study of the concepts. There would also be on-the-spot rebuttals of arguments so that you can have counterarguments if they are asked on an exam. 

 

• I am glad that I took advantage of career events and workshops to get to know the different paths I could take and have a contact if I had additional questions down the road. I was not aware of all the various practice areas and nontraditional opportunities for a student, so attending the events was helpful. This is also beneficial because the more people who know about your interests, the higher the likelihood of being contacted by them in the future if and when an opportunity arises. 

 

• I was happy that I pursued career opportunities that matched my interests rather than only pursuing the typical opportunities. This allowed me to enjoy and value each internship and externship.

 

• I would mention that I fully benefited from the law school reciprocity policy because I obtained my first job out of law school because of this system, and have been on many interviews since then because of it. I did not feel at a disadvantage because I attended a school out of state.

 
Good luck to all my #futurelawyers!

Fellow Riser, 

​Irnande

***Disclaimer: 2017. All rights reserved. All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. No reproduction of any content on the website without the express permission of the author. The text, pictures and videos are the sole property of FirstGenRise. ​​​

Jordan Thompson is a first-generation attorney and is in the beginning phase of living up to the phrase, "If you can make it in New York City, you can make it anywhere." She traveled to NYC for school and has built an impeccable resume since her move to the Big City! 

Her story of triumph and accomplishment is for First Gens looking to enter corporate America. You may be growing impatient or wondering when your time will arrive.  HOLD ON! 

I also invite first gens interested in learning an approximate timeline for job interviews to watch the video.

Dear First Gen,

One of my favorite hobbies is traveling. My brother and I have a friendly competition where if either one of us visits a place before the other, the other sibling works overtime to avoid traveling to that location. (My parents are not fans of our "explorer" spirit.)

​I have met several first gens who do not own a passport or have used their passport to only travel to their family's birth country. Yes, it was shocking for me to hear, too! Recently, I returned from a trip and enjoyed the culture, the food, beach and also learned how two languages were simultaneously taught in a classroom and reinforced at home.

​For example, my friend and I were in the post office mailing postcards to our friends and family back home. My friend asked the postal worker how to say pen in their language and she responded. Another customer, older woman, joined the conversation and began singing a song that taught her certain words in both languages including the pen. Another customer overheard her and sang along and then the postal worker chimed in and sang along, too. The young postal worker confirmed a decades-old classroom instruction still being taught and had not been forgotten by the two older women.

A fellow first gen has written the guest post below:

Hi,

As a first-generation law student, I was surprised that so many of my classmates were children of attorneys. Many of them had worked at their parents’ law firms prior to starting law school and they had established connections. I, on the other hand, didn’t have the skills or a single connection to lean on when I entered law school. But I have found that a love for travel is a great way to connect with people.

There are so many reasons to study abroad. You will make friendships that last a lifetime, you will experience a new country as a local, and you will broaden your horizons more than you thought possible.

Your study abroad experience is also something that will enhance your ability to connect with people throughout your life. When you go on interviews or to networking events, many other professionals will have traveled extensively, and your study abroad experience will give you talking points and help you make connections with people who share your passion for traveling.

As excited as I was to study abroad in my second year of law school, I was even more excited to head to the “motherland.” My relatives left Italy in the 1920s, but their traditions remained strong and have influenced my life in many ways. Although I had been to Europe once before, I had never been to Italy.

"Women do not belong there," can you imagine a time when women were denied admission to law school?!    

(I recently watched a movie on the Suffrage Movement and was shocked by what they lost to fight for their right to vote - families, children, friendships and employment!) 

This featured first gen is a young, outstanding attorney who is rising in her firm. She is the only female member of the Legislative and Government Relations Group in her office and amazes each person she meets. 

1. What is your name?
Joy Weber

2. What is your current occupation?
Government Relations Attorney

3. What is your education background?
Bachelor of Arts in Art/Psychology from Penn State University and Regents University School of Law. (Any and all passions are welcome in the field of law.)

4. What is your family background?
Mom, Dad, and two younger brothers. I am now married with one son.

5. Do you have any "firsts" recognized by your family?
First to attend and graduate from law school.

6. How were you able to achieve them?
Hard work. Willingness to take risks. Support of my family.

7. What was your biggest obstacle or challenge to become the first in your family?
I remember being bummed that my mom and dad could no longer be the authority on the law school process. I reached out to my extended family and used them as a resource.

8. What advice would you give to a first-generation student who is seeking to become a first-generation professional in the U.S.?
Utilize LinkedIn! Don't hesitate to reach out to people who are where you hope to be. Buy someone a coffee and ask them to tell you how they got to where they are.



​***Disclaimer: 2016. All rights reserved. All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. No reproduction of any content on the website without the express permission of the author. The text, pictures and videos are the sole property of FirstGenRise.

This month’s featured First Gen is also outstanding, has a knack for simplicity, and is admirably humble. He pursued his graduate education out-of-state and impressed his classmates by being valedictorian of his graduating class. (I thought I would mention it since he would want to keep it quiet.)
 
 
1. What is your name? Charlie Mileski
2. What is your current occupation? Attorney
3. What makes you a first-generation graduate/professional? I am the first person in my immediate family to attend graduate school and to become an attorney. 
4. What was your proudest moment as a first generation? And why? My proudest moment as a first generation was my graduation from law school. Law school was stressful and full of challenges. However, I powered through. My entire family attended my graduation, most traveling cross-country. Seeing my parents’ and brothers’ faces and the tears in their eyes as I received high honors and graduated made it all worthwhile.
5. What advice would you give to a first-generation student, graduate, or professional? Always be prepared and always plan for what may happen in the future. As long as you have a set plan and set goals, you will have a personal guide to success.
6. What is your favorite quote? And why? "Kid, you’ll move mountains! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting. So get on your way!"  [Theodor Seuss Geisel (a.k.a. Dr. Seuss)] This is an amazing quote because there will be mountains to overcome and you'll always need a reminder that you can overcome them!


​***Disclaimer: 2016. All rights reserved. All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. No reproduction of any content on the website without the express permission of the author. The text, pictures and videos are the sole property of FirstGenRise. 

Dear First Gen,

Four years ago on this day--on May 20, 2012—I graduated from Hofstra University School of Law. It was the (second) best day of my life, since passing the Maryland Bar as a first-time taker was a huge triumph!

On graduation day, I reflected on a few struggles that seemed very big at the time, but were minor in hindsight. Law school taught me that nothing is guaranteed until the very moment it is to happen. My grandmother—then my last living grandparent—told me she would be attending my graduation. I was in disbelief because she had trouble getting on and off airplanes, and I did not want to put her through the trouble. As grandparents do, she said she would be there and I had no doubt about it. I was so glad I could make her proud!

I recall speaking to some of my classmates and hearing a few of their comments that I may have initially been admitted to the school based on meeting a certain criteria rather than based on my merit as a potential law student. It was disheartening, but it helped to know which students may not be the ones to interact with...ever! I did not pay attention to those comments and persevered through the toughest days and nights of my life. 

Many graduates would say the life of a 1L (first year law school student), 2L (second year law school student) and 3L (third year law school student) are noticeably different, and to learn the differences as quickly as possible. DITTO!

Dear First Gen,

This past week, my family and I have been coping with the loss of my "great-uncle" (my mother's uncle) and planning his funeral. He planted the seeds for my family’s American Dream by legally bringing my mom's family to the U.S.  His actions were the catalyst that gave me an opportunity for a good education and unlimited professional opportunities.

As a child, I often heard the stories of his dream of wanting a lawyer in the family before he left this earth. I never imagined it would be me since my sights were set on being a doctor—Dr. Irnande Altema had a nice ring to it! Although I went to law school in the state where he lived, he was unable to attend my graduation because of his illness but I knew he was proud of me that day. 
 
I often wondered how my mother had so much optimism and faith in a world where I felt the odds were stacked against us. It was her uncle who instilled great values and resilience in my mother; but I did not appreciate (or tap into) that until I was faced with a very tough decision.