Private Practice: Big Law Episodes

If you're getting ready for On Campus Interviewing (OCI) or are trying to pick a law firm job more generally, this is the episode for you! In episode 69, we chat with Bryan Nese about why choosing a law firm should be more like choosing a law school or college, why you should pay attention to the culture and vibe of law firms, and why networking isn't really a "dirty word." Bryan also shares with us why he is an aspiring rock star (and why you should be too), and why legal writing is a skill that we can all practice and improve on. Not to mention that Bryan gives us an in-depth perspective into what it's like to be both an IP associate and partner at a large law firm.

Our conversation with healthcare attorney Katie O'Neill takes us from the emergency room to the administrative law classroom, from Chicago to California and back again. In episode 68, Katie emphasizes the importance of understanding clients' businesses to provide effective legal advice. She explains how she draws from her nursing background in her work as a healthcare attorney and highlights the critical thinking and problem-solving skills that translate from her nursing experience into her legal work. Katie also encourages law students to focus on their strengths and passions, advising them to leave room for creativity in their careers and in their personal lives.

Jessica Paduganan is back! During S2:E31, Jessica was a 3L at Michigan Law. Back then, she joined us for the Student Clinic Spotlight Series to share her experience in the Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic and the Workers' Rights Clinic at Michigan Law. Today, Jessica is a Litigation Associate at Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP in New York City and she's back to share her insight into what working at a large law firm in New York City has looked like in her first ten months. She discusses the transition from law school to practice, what aspects of law school were most valuable in preparing her for work at a firm, strategies for maintaining some balance while in a high-paced litigation environment and why that looks different from week to week, as well as why consistently doing quality work and remaining authentically yourself are two of the most helpful things a young associate can do.

Attention law students and new lawyers! If you are interested in working at a law firm of any size, Episode 57 with Rachel Levick is a must-listen. Rachel Levick is an environmental litigator and enforcement defense specialist practicing in Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s Litigation Department and in the firm’s Environmental Litigation and Mass Tort Practice Group in Washington, DC. During this episode, Rachel shares her thoughts on gaining trial experience as a new associate, explains environmental litigation and enforcement defense (including examples of cases she has worked on), and reflects on what it means to be a true mentor and advocate.

In Episode 56, we speak with Lisa Haidostian, Senior Director of Healthcare Compliance at Walgreens in Chicago. Lisa discusses her journey to becoming a litigation partner at a large law firm and the significance of building genuine connections with colleagues and clients. We discuss Lisa's transition from big law to her in-house role at Walgreens, her thoughts on OCI interview strategies, and the evolving nature of boundaries in the legal profession.

On Episode 53 of Personal Jurisdiction, we chat with Andrew Herrington-Gilmore, Associate General Counsel of the Chicago Bulls. Andrew discusses why he decided to pursue transactional work, what an M&A deal actually looks like, the most important things an associate can do on a deal team, and why "becoming comfortable with the uncomfortable" is such a valuable skill. He shares how working at a large law firm provided him with foundational skills for moving in-house, the tools that helped him get to his dream job at the Chicago Bulls, and what the day-to-day looks like for a transactional lawyer in the sports world. Andrew also discusses his family life and why he founded the Gilmore Family Foundation, an organization to help support children with rare diseases. This episode is packed with advice for law students, young lawyers, partners, and in-house counsel--there is something for everyone!

Personal Jurisdiction is celebrating its 50th episode with a showstopper of a conversation with Jessica Fairchild and Drew Beres. Jessica and Drew are two of the founding partners of the Chicago-based law firm of Croke Fairchild Duarte & Beres. During this conversation, we learn so much from Jessica and Drew, including what it means to start, grown, and lead a mid-sized law firm and why it's okay to practice an area of the law that doesn't coincide with the classes you took in law school.

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be a partner at one of the premier law firms in the United States? Sharonmoyee Goswami is a partner at the law firm of Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP in New York City. In Episode 38, Sharonmoyee shares her journey to partnership at Cravath. In particular, Sharonmoyee explains why there is no specific type of person who ends up being successful and how she has achieved her version of success by continuing to be herself.

What does it mean to practice international law? Join us for a conversation with Juan Perla, Partner at the law firm of Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP in New York and an appellate and international disputes attorney. Juan discusses the mentorship that changed the path of his legal career, what it means to represent foreign governments in different forums around the world, the pre-law career that gave him a leg up in his role as a new law firm partner, and his involvement in United States v. Vaello-Madero, which is currently pending before SCOTUS.

Leslie Kuhn-Thayer developed her leadership skills, team-focused mindset, and discipline during her career as a Division I college athlete and coach. Now, she is Pro Bono Counsel at Sidley Austin in Chicago, IL where she coordinates Sidley's constitutional rights and civil liberties practice, which focuses on prisoners' rights litigation. Leslie had a number of amazing stops along the way, including as an associate in Sidley's litigation practice group, and as a judicial law clerk (twice!). Don't miss our conversation with Leslie Kuhn-Thayer.