lawyer

My Unconventional Path To – and Through - Law School.   My journey to law school  - and through law school  - was as unconventional as they come.  Prior to entering law school, I worked as a cancer researcher and as a science education researcher.  I discovered my interest in law while I was pursuing a Master of Public Administration degree, and enrolled in law school after I received my MPA.

During my first year of law school, I realized that my science background was well-suited for a career in intellectual property law.  After completing foundational courses in Patent Law, Trademark Law, and Copyright Law, among other areas, I earned a Certificate in Intellectual Property Law.  Through the Black Law Students’ Association, I participated in community outreach, and as part of the Moot Court Honors Board, I competed in moot court competitions around the country.  While in law school, I was also working part-time and raising a family.  Yet, I did everything I could do to prepare myself to one day be the lawyer I am today.

Graduating from law school was just the beginning of my journey.  Through a connection I made with an alumnus from my law school, I was hired as an Associate at a boutique intellectual property law firm.  I see now that my career path before law school was necessary to get me to where I am today.

Unlike many others, I did not always know that I wanted to be a lawyer.  As a first-generation graduate of a four-year university, I was also the first in my family to earn a graduate degree, and am the only holder of a doctorate-level degree.  In spite of the many odds that I had to overcome, I know that I am where I was meant to be.

Recently, pursuing a career in law has been portrayed as making a risky bet; however, for those who love being an advocate through spoken and written word, law is a great career choice.  No matter what career path you choose, if you do something you love and something you are good at, you will find a way to make a living doing it.  I love the law and my hope is that many others like me will love it too, and continue to pursue this field even in the face of adversity and naysayers.