Page 33 - Briefcase Volume 38 Number 1

COVID RESPONSE
uncertainty and impacted the energy sector dramatically, “The struggle as a law student is ‘what do you want to be
especially hydrocarbon. when you grow up.’ You have been exposed to all these
“Can we already see the consequences? With this webinar different things, complicated by the fact that there are not
as many jobs as before,” Mabry said.
we analyzed these trends and find answers for the benefit
of the energy transition world,” he said. “I didn’t approach it from the aspect of what I felt like the
Aubin Nzaou, the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow in economy allowed me to do or what I needed to achieve
personally - the priority was getting a job. I sent over 200
Law and Energy Policy at the Law Center said from an applications and I have a binder full of rejection letters. I
international energy law and policy perspective, the current was trying to keep myself humble, but also left no stone
progress on energy transition shows the emergence of an
integrative approach. unturned to get a job.”
“All relevant actors sustain the necessity of an integrating Sanford said what made her job search successful was
remaining focused on what led her to law school -
pattern including energy, climate, and socio-economic pursuing a career in public service.
issues,” Nzaou said. “Electrification with renewable power
appears to be a fine illustration.” “One of the difficult parts about entering into any
“In this regard, the pathway of global transformation is organization, institution or culture is that you have to
remind yourself of what your goals are and what your
now being set, and scholars have a specific role to play in purpose is,” Sanford said. “Whatever that goal or mission
reshaping the energy and climate landscape while analyzing is - don’t lose sight of that because it’s going to change the
the socio-economic incidences of the energy transition track you’re on. For me that goal was public interest and
process. We will see if the current global health crisis is a public service.”
historical moment to be an opportunity or a challenge for
the energy transition.” Hofrichter advised attendees to not lose sight of how past
Baker Hughes Foundation was also a sponsor for the event employment or educational experience can enhance your
likelihood of getting hired. He said getting a foot in the
and is a supporter of the different Center for U.S. and door for his first legal job did not necessarily come from
Mexican Law Comparative Law initiatives. having a J.D.

“It wasn’t about my skills as an attorney, but my skills
UHLC ALUMNI PANEL PROVIDES at IT,” Hofrichter said. “In October of 2010 I started
GUIDANCE ON NAVIGATING LEGAL working at Houston Volunteer Lawyers as a volunteer. The
EMPLOYMENT AMID A RECESSION organization had just had a fire in its server room. I was not
The University of Houston Law Center’s Career getting paid for the legal work I was doing but the IT work
Development Office hosted a Zoom discussion in July I was doing. Your background and having a skillset that can
entitled, “Developing a Career During an Economic prove your worth to a firm or business can be very helpful.”
Downturn: Advice from Law School Graduates and McKeon explained how his undergraduate education
Veterans of the 2008 Financial Crisis.” The event was geared in mechanical engineering and his work as a part-time
toward young alumni and current students who face an patent agent for a law firm as a student made him more
uncertain job market during the coronavirus pandemic. marketable. Amid economic uncertainty in his 3L year, he
Speakers included: enrolled in the Consumer Law Clinic to prepare himself to
become a solo practitioner.
• Tiana J. Sanford ’08, Assistant District Attorney, “I needed the most relevant experience I could get,” he said.
Montgomery County, Texas
“I needed to learn how to be an attorney. I was able to do a
• Jason E. Alvarado ’09, Co-Deputy US Company Secretary jury trial. I was able to go to hearings. People were getting
and Counsel, BP America, Inc. evicted and we were fighting the good fight just to keep

• Michael Hofrichter ’10, Support and Implementation people in their homes.”
Specialist, LegalServer Alvarado advised audience members to broaden their
• Cynthia Mabry ’10, Partner, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer horizons and to demonstrate versatility in addition to their
& Feld LLP legal knowledge.
• Christopher McKeon ’10, Partner, Arnold & “What I have found over my 10 years out of law school is
you need a certain amount of technical expertise in your
Saunders LLP. subject matter,” Alvarado said. “But there are broader
Mabry began the discussion by explaining how her implications into how you can add value. Some people are
diligence and persistence paid dividends when seeking legal great with their grammar and syntax and others excel at
work as a Law Center student in an economic downturn. facilitating relationships.”

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