Networking Interview with an Admirable Attorney
Earlier today I had the pleaser of conducting an informational networking interview, as with the last one, the idea behind doing this is to make a connection with someone you would not normally connect with. It will again be of value to me as a student because the contact gives me an idea of how I will be deciding my future, also the contact becomes a future reference.
The Contact
- Name: Michelle Draewell
- Title/Position: Associate Attorney
- Company: Rajkowski Hansmeier Ltd.
- Industry: Law Firm
Questions about the Contact
Career, Company, Industry; Skills, Success
What do find most enjoyable about holding the position of Associate attorney?
Michelle enjoys working with a variety of people, doing criminal and civil cases, meaning different people and completely different things and being exposed to different areas.
What educational preparation would you recommend for someone who wants to advance in this field?
Michelle recommended anything with writing.
How did you start out in the law field?
Before Michelle became an attorney, her dad was an attorney, she had exposure, then she decided when she was in school that she wanted to pursue the same field.
Think back to five years ago. Did you envision this is where you would be?
Yes, when she left school this is where she hoped shed be, in a mid sized firm.
Is there something you wish you’d known or a skill you wish you’d had starting out in this industry?
She wished she had developed more networking, marketing, sales, and peoples skills. Attorneys need clients and you need to market yourself, she wished she had developed this more before graduation.
What’s your biggest challenge in this role?
Balancing expectations and creating realistic expectations for clients. In litigation clients think they have a great case but you have to taper their expectations — it is not what they see on tv.
Questions about Communications Practices and Writing
Could you please describe the typical kinds of writing you do and tell me a bit about each?
There is a lot of small — general correspondence, letters to counsel for documents, pleadings, complaints, and answers. Also, more straight forward motion writing — asking the court to decide an issue, long and complicated. Some writing transactions — contracts are more standard, tailored to each client and are trying to protect client
What do you find most challenging about your day-to-day writing? What challenges do recent graduates face as they move from “academic writing” to “workplace writing”?
Academic tends to be how much and how interesting with a lot of superfluous language. While in the workplace, brevity is more important — having few words is more important. Academic you have a month to write it where as in the workplace you do not have a lot time need to balance it all other writings. Graduates do not know how to go from one to the other.
How would you describe the balance between written and oral communication in your workplace?
Both are very important, more written — it is what is remembered and what people see, stays the longest. People can go back and read but can not go back and listen. Probably 50% 50% but written is weighted more.
Questions seeking Advice for you
Background, Skills, Resume, Job Search and Interviewing
When you first started out after college, how did you find your fist job?
Michelle worked for the law school and for an attorney who was the dad of a friend of hers.
Did you go into college knowing you wanted to go to law school after your undergraduate program?
Michelle was not positive but she thought it was at some point during school that she decided.
What would you say are the three best skills are to have in your industry?
1. Writing skills
2. People skills
3. Ability to separate work from other things like home life
Conclusion and Final Thoughts
This was a great experience that allowed me to learn more about Michelle and her position as associate attorney. It surprised me that she wish she had been taught more networking marketing, sales, and people skills while in college because that is something I feel in the business school we are taught a lot of. Also, something that I will take away from this interview with Michelle is that when I have a job to do what I can to separate my home life from my work life as it is best for mental health. Finally, something I will do differently in the future is to be sure to know and understand how to network with professionals, as it is an important part of going into the business world.
