Since I began practicing law, I am slowly becoming one of the go-to people for my small but growing network of other new lawyers and students aspiring to become lawyers. Many come to me for advice on challenges they face in their careers. Others want to discuss what they can do today that might foster their future careers. While their needs vary, I find that much of the advice I ultimately give is along the same lines. So I’ve decided to share some of the advice here and hope that other young lawyers may find it helpful.

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Everyone will face obstacles in their career. I have faced obstacles during law school and still face obstacles in my career. While disheartening in the moment, I have never let that deter me. Instead, I found ways to work through the issue. For example, when I could not find work during law school, I participated in pro bono activities, registered to work as a student attorney in my law school’s family law clinic and interned at the county’s public defender’s office. Today, though I am now more than busy enough with the work I could not find while I was a student, I still participate in pro bono activities and always accept opportunities to work on cases with different attorneys and in different practice areas at my firm. In sharing this, I highlight what I have gained from these experiences—opportunities to hone my legal skills, reevaluate my strengths and weaknesses on a continual basis, do work that I am passionate about with new people, and make connections that have led to job opportunities.