Sept. 10, 2024 — A trio of University of Houston Law Center alumni, all partners at various U.S. law firms, advised rising 2Ls to highlight community involvement, a diverse skill set and leadership experience to set themselves apart in job interviews during a recent event hosted by the Career Development Office.
The “How to Crush Your 2L Summer Associate Search” presentation included Jennifer Breen (J.D. ’01), a Firmwide Hiring Partner at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Alison Chen (J.D. ‘03), the Partner in Charge at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP and Harrison Tucker (J.D. ’08), a Partner at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher LLP.
Breen emphasized that a key aspect her firm looks for in candidates is a commitment to community and pro bono work.
“We take that very seriously,” Breen said. “All of these students are wonderful, so what sets them apart? Who is going to come here and be additive to our culture, and support that culture? I’m looking at if you have had volunteer experience or what sort of commitments have you made to diversity and inclusion.”
Chen said when considering candidates, her firm looks for students who are not just academically strong but can also manage various tasks such as administrative, writing, marketing and recruiting duties.
“We’re looking for candidates who are not just book smart with good grades, but that can also juggle,” she said. “We need a very well-rounded personality and character.”
Tucker added that leadership skills, government or military service or any role that shows contributions outside of the classroom are also important to attract employers.
“We want to find a well-rounded person because that’s one indicator of you being a long-term success in the field,” he said. “You’re going to have to develop clients through connections, so you’re going to have to interact with people to develop business in the future. We want to see early potential for that through the resume and interview.”
Click here for more information on upcoming events hosted by the Career Development Office.
