On September 8, AABANY’s Government Service & Public Interest Committee, Pro Bono & Community Service Committee, and Student Outreach Committee teamed up with the Cardozo APALSA to present How to Get Your Foot in the Door: Careers in Government Service & Public Interest and reception.
Panelists included:
- Ryan Budhu, Assistant Corporation Counsel for Government Policy, Executive Division, New York City Law Department;
- Christine Clarke, Director, Civil Rights Justice Initiative, Legal Services NYC;
- Ami Shah, Poverty Justice Solutions Fellow & Staff Attorney, Legal Services;
- Joane Wong, Senior Trial Attorney, National Labor Relations Board; and
- Haeya Yim, Assistant Attorney General, New York State Office of the Attorney General, Division of Social Justice; and
- Moderator: James Cho with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of New York
The panelists told their stories of finding their first jobs and advice about what to replicate and what not to do. Thanks to everyone who made this panel possible. Check out the insights below.
Ryan Buddhu: If you’re interested in joining a government agency, know the mission and make sure it aligns with your personal values.
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Ryan Buddhu applied for the New York City Law Department six times in a row and didn’t make it – but that didn’t stop him! He kept going.
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Ryan Buddhu: I find what I do [representing the city] rewarding because I never stop asking myself, “Is this the right thing to do?”
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FYI: The NYC Law Department is currently hiring for its 2017 class. They will be at our Diversity Career Fair & Expo at the Fall Conference.
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Ryan Buddhu: If you work for the NYC Law Department, you’re going to be in court from Day 1. Make sure you have an interest in litigation.
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Christine Clarke: I did three years of international advocacy between college and law school. I took an indirect path to Legal Services NYC.
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Christine Clarke: By the way, labor & employment law is a very fun and litigation-heavy academic area of study.
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Christine Clarke: We all don’t have the same definition of what public interest is. You may do something you didn’t expect.
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Christine Clarke: If you’re in law school, take clinics. You’ll get exposed, and you’ll also be able to try out different areas of law.
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By the way, this is Christine Clarke’s blog [from the How to Get Your Foot in the Door panel] : https://t.co/QV87DHoOme
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Joane Wong: Lawyering intensive work. If you’re not interested in your area, it’s torture. If you are, it’s still torture sometimes.
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Joane Wong: When I was a senior in high school, I was fired for insubordination for organizing workers. I filed a charge at 18.
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Joane Wong: If you’re a student that wants to work for the NLRB, check out our honors program. That’s how we hire students.
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Joane Wong: Get a mentor. The little things that people do will help more than you know.
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Haeya Yim: When I was in law school, I always wanted to get out of the class room and build real skills.
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Haeya Yim: When I went to law school, I knew I wanted to be a workers’ rights attorney.
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Ami Shah: Look for your passion, but also be open when you’re doing that.
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Haeya Yim: A well-placed, well-timed email from someone who already works in the field is gold.
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Haeya Yim: Keep in touch with your old supervisors. That’s how I found a job while I was studying for the bar.
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Haeya Yim: Always do mock interviews. It’s a skill. If you don’t do it, you’ll forget how to do it well.
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