Beyond the Job Title: SVUDL Alumni and Students Explore Careers in Law

On a July afternoon this summer, SVUDL alumni, students, community members, and legal professionals gathered at Kirkland & Ellis in Palo Alto for an afternoon dedicated to exploring the legal profession from the inside out.

The event brought together a strong turnout of SVUDL alumni and current students for a three-panel workshop designed to go beyond the familiar idea of “becoming a lawyer.” Over the course of the afternoon, attendees heard about the many directions a legal career can take, the choices that shape those paths, and the experiences that often matter just as much as a job title.

The three conversations focused on Judicial & Court System Careers, Private Practice & Corporate Law, and Public Interest & Government Law, giving attendees a broad view of the profession and the many environments in which legal training can lead.

But the afternoon was about much more than learning what different lawyers and judges do.

Panelists spoke openly about the roads that brought them to where they are today—roads that were not always direct or predictable. They reflected on how their lives, priorities, and even career directions changed over time, including after becoming lawyers, with some moving into education, public service, and other fields. They also shared the challenges they faced, the skills they had to learn along the way, and the lessons they wished they had known earlier.

The conversation was equally candid about law school itself. For some panelists, it was not always part of the original plan, and they spoke honestly about both its opportunities and its tradeoffs. Their advice encouraged students and alumni to think carefully about whether law school aligns with their goals, while recognizing that a legal education can lead to many different kinds of careers and futures.

For alumni and students still considering what their own futures may look like, those stories gave the event particular depth. Rather than presenting a single formula for success, the panels showed that careers are shaped by curiosity, persistence, changing interests, difficult decisions, unexpected opportunities, and a willingness to keep learning.

Panelists also shared the lessons they wish they had known earlier and the advice they would offer to a younger generation entering the profession. Their reflections gave attendees the chance to think not only about which legal careers might interest them, but also about the kind of professional, and person, they hope to become along the way.

“What I enjoyed about Kirkland & Ellis was the variety of legal professions shown. It was an absolute honor to hear from experts in the field—and their insight will definitely help discern the steps I’ll take in my future.” (Elisa Nguyen, student at KIPP San Jose Collegiate)

“I really enjoyed networking, and reconnecting with all the panelists from different areas of law and advocacy, whether it was intellectual property, appellate courts, or the state senate. It was especially nice to see what is possible beyond traditional linear paths, which really gives me options and possibilities to consider in my future as to how I can impact this space.” (Ojas Gandhi, SVUDL alum and student at UC Santa Cruz)

“The legal careers brought together professionals from many different legal fields into one session, introducing students to judicial, business, and policy law, which truly helped students understand the different facets of each field while gauging their own interest. On top of it, the exposure to law schools really helped them answer their logistical questions about studying law and start building a pathway to their final goal.” (Aleesha Kashif, SVUDL Program Specialist)

The learning continued beyond the formal panel discussions. During the networking reception, attendees had the opportunity to communicate directly with the panelists, ask follow-up questions, and connect in a more personal setting. Those conversations allowed students and alumni to dig deeper into topics that resonated with them, learn more about individual career journeys, and begin building relationships with professionals across the legal community.

For many attendees, that access was one of the most meaningful parts of the afternoon. Hearing someone describe their career from a stage is valuable; having the chance to sit across from them, ask a question, and hear more about the choices behind that career can make the profession feel more tangible and attainable.

We are deeply grateful to our panelists—Justice Cynthia Lie, Jim Basile, Li Zhu, Vincent Joralemon, and Meghan Bedi—for generously sharing their time, experiences, challenges, and advice with the SVUDL community. Their willingness to speak honestly about both the rewards and realities of the legal profession made the afternoon especially meaningful for our alumni and students.

Events like this give young people and emerging professionals something that is difficult to gain from a job description or law school website: a fuller picture of what a career in law can actually look like. They create space to ask questions, hear different perspectives, discover possibilities that may not have previously been considered, and understand that there are many ways to build a life in the law.

Most of all, this event was an opportunity for SVUDL alumni and students to imagine what might come next, and to hear from people who could speak honestly about the many different ways of getting there.

We also extend our sincere thanks to K&E for hosting the event and providing a welcoming space for our students, alumni, community members, and legal professionals to learn, connect, and share an afternoon together.