The one interview question I struggled to answer was, “Who or what inspired you to become a lawyer?” This is a common question during law school and after graduation, and there are many suggested approaches to prepare for this question in interviews.[i] I dreaded coming up with an answer because I would always overthink how it would impact my chances of landing an internship or associate position. I would wonder if my response was too cheesy or if it would make it seem like I wasn’t a “real” lawyer. This question would trigger a sort of impostor syndrome[ii] I felt about being a new attorney. A few years later, I have changed my perspective of this question, and I reflect on how my family has impacted how I practice law today.

Growing up, I never imagined myself being a lawyer. I am the first person in my family to be a lawyer. My parents work in vastly different professions, but they have always demonstrated the importance of a strong work ethic and creativity. Seeing how hard they worked and how much they sacrificed is something that I have always looked up to. I have done my best to have this same outlook in all areas of my life, especially in my career aspirations.

As a teacher, my mom has been able to build long-lasting relationships with her co-teachers and has served as a mentor for her students. In my legal career, having a mentor’s support, in addition to my family’s support, prepared me for my job after graduating.[iii] When I started out in my first attorney position, it felt like I was playing catch up. I felt awkward when interacting with clients and opposing counsel. Yes, I was working hard and coming up with innovative and creative solutions for my clients, but it did not feel like the way I was practicing law felt like my own. I tried to mirror my supervisor’s practice style, but it did not feel intuitive to me. After a couple months of getting more experience and developing my own practice style, I felt more comfortable with interacting with my clients.

Conclusion

The way I approach the practice of law is directly related to what I learned from my family. As the only lawyer in the family, I am often the first person they think to go to when they want to ask questions. Many of my clients, like my family, are so removed from the legal system that it is rare for them to ever be involved in a lawsuit. My goal as a lawyer is to provide counsel that my family would be able to understand and count on. I strive to be someone who has a creative and innovative approach and works hard. I also aim to be the type of lawyer that can be empathetic towards their clients, understand the impact of law, and provide them with practical advice on their matters.

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Sources

[i] Indeed Editorial Team, Interview Question: “Why Did You Want to Become a Lawyer?” (Aug. 18, 2024), https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/why-do-you-want-to-be-a-lawyer

[ii] Elizabeth Cox, What is imposter syndrome and how can you combat it? (Aug. 2018), https://www.ted.com/talks/elizabeth_cox_what_is_imposter_syndrome_and_how_can_you_combat_it?subtitle=en

[iii] Tenia Clayton and Megan Senese, First-Gen Lawyers Can Reach New Heights and Succeed in Big Law (Aug. 2 2024), https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/first-gen-lawyers-can-reach-new-heights-and-succeed-in-big-law