I decided to join the Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP info session given that I’ve always been interested in social justice and the law, however, I haven’t gotten much exposure to it outside of my Constitutional Law class in high school. It was intriguing to think about what a career might look like and understand the different ways to practice law/get involved with law. It was also super interesting to get to hear from a Wesleyan Alum who knows what the Wesleyan student experience is like, especially given that you can’t get a law degree or there’s not a common and well-known track.
I thought it was inspiring to hear that one of the alums didn’t know they wanted to get into law and that both didn’t see themselves being at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP until later. Additionally, it was interesting to hear what each alum majored in and how they were able to apply whatever they studied into law whether they chose to study Computer Science, Government, Economics or anything else besides pre-law. By having recent alums too, I was able to understand/visualize a feasible plan or timeline that I can use as guidance.
Focusing more on Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP, it was interesting that in their opening line, they made it clear that they weren’t about being the biggest firm, rather their focus was on the quality of their service and the people that they serve. I think that this is really important to think about when applying for a job. It’s essential to make sure that not only you fit into the company, but that the company also has to fit you. For example you must feel comfortable in the space and feel comfortable with the mission, morals and values of the place that you work at.
I think it’s really easy to get caught up in what you think a career might look like and focus on wanting to work up the ranks, however, it’s essential to break that down into smaller pieces so that you can truly enjoy your work at whatever level you’re at. It was also comforting to hear them say and acknowledge that you get better at your job by doing your job and that you’re not expected to be 110% on your first day. Some of the best attributes they mentioned had to do with mindset and the type of person you are rather than a specific skill set or background. Some of these helpful characteristics that they look for are flexibility, curiosity, dedication, etc.
Cravath seems like a great stepping stone to get a little more lived experience in law and truly get a feeling for what a career in law looks like and a place to prepare you for law school. I think that regardless of where you are/what field you go into, it’s important to get exposure to the real world and everyday life of whatever field you go into before committing 100% so that you know what you’re getting into and make sure you truly enjoy it.
