“ During the pandemic, I stayed in Brooklyn. Of course, I was not expecting to spend my final semesters in law school working remotely, but I had a smooth transition, which I attribute to the Law School giving me the opportunity to stay grounded in the community and remain independent.

The pandemic compelled me to get creative around securing professional opportunities. Right before the pandemic hit, I went to a Wall Street Blockchain Alliance (WSBA) event at Linklaters discussing the federal regulatory landscape for crypto token offerings. It turned out that the organization was seeking help managing the efforts of more than 150 practitioners around the world. I joined them and took on that role, which gave me the opportunity to continue to explore the blockchain and digital currency space—building on my work at Blank Rome and leading to my internship at Coinbase. The rules of this nascent industry are still being developed, which calls for creative lawyering that is very interesting.

I can ascribe a lot of the opportunities that I’ve had to the connections I have made and the work that I’ve done. Finding innovative ways to develop professional relationships can further you in your career. For me, Meetup groups gave me the opportunity to connect with startup founders and learn to speak their language. But when you don’t have a Meetup group at the Brooklyn Navy Yard to go to, what are the ways that you can stay in touch with people? Don’t be afraid to send an email to somebody you know in an industry you want to enter and ask for a cup of coffee over a Zoom call. ”

“ My first summer, I worked at the New York Supreme Court Appellate Division, close to the Law School. I worked with Justice John Leventhal ’79, who has a special interest in scientific matters in the courtroom. I helped him and his co-authors with their book for judges on how to admit complex scientific evidence in cases. Much of that material covered genetic engineering in the law, which inspired my note in the Brooklyn Journal of International Law. The tools for genetic modification are now out there, but they are minimally regulated, even in the United States. I wrote about this vacuum and suggested a potential regulatory framework that could address the challenges involved.

Earlier in law school, while we were still in the classroom, I was able to build some strong connections. During the pandemic, it’s been difficult to expand on those, but not impossible. I think it’s amazing that we can continue to learn and build relationships.

People in New York say that it takes 10 or 20 years of living in the city to become a New Yorker, but I feel like the pandemic cut that in half for me. Experiencing the city coming to a standstill was such a surreal experience, but watching everybody get through it together made me feel so proud to be part of the New York community. ”

“ I don’t come from a very prestigious background. I grew up in the middle of nowhere in a little trailer park town in Texas. No one else in my family has ever been to college. And while my family’s been in the military since George Washington, no one else has ever been an officer.

I came to Brooklyn Law School because I felt it would be tolerant and accepting of me and my background, of who I am. People at Brooklyn don’t treat people who don’t fit the traditional mold of a law student like an outcast. I’ve made friends from all walks of life here.

It was hard to be an eager student in two radically different worlds, law and aviation. In three years, I feel like I’ve done nine years’ worth of work. I would make flash cards so that anytime I had a free moment, I could be studying, polishing, and refreshing. During my first year of law school, I was sent on detachment to Georgia for a few weeks. On the aircraft that took us, each person was only allowed to bring a certain amount of weight, and two-thirds of my weight was my textbooks.

I know at some point I’m going to have a son or daughter come home and say that someone told them that they can’t accomplish something, and I’ll get to tell them not to listen. All you have to do is tell yourself you’re going to do what you’re setting out to do. ”

“ During my second year of law school, the Brooklyn Law School Asian Pacific Americans Law Student Association sent out an email from the Korean American Lawyers Association of Greater New York (KALAGNY) seeking a volunteer to help run their monthly pro bono clinics. Growing up, I was taught by my parents that, when you can, you have to be the source of happiness for others. When that email came in, I knew I had the opportunity to help.

Before COVID, I would go to the clinic, held at KALAGNY’s office in Manhattan, and help walk-ins, most of whom were Korean Americans. Many were not fluent in English, but I was able to utilize my Korean language skills to help.

Once the pandemic started, we had to stop providing the clinic for three months. That might have been fine for us, but that didn’t mean it was fine for other people. When there’s trouble, there’s more need for help. I helped the clinic adopt new technologies to continue serving the community during this hardship. With those resources, we could take virtual steps to lend help to our neighbors.

I think the pandemic taught us as attorneys the need to adapt. It was a chance for our generation to show to others that technology can help us be better lawyers. ”

“ I was passionate about the work I had been doing as a paralegal, and thought I was going to become a public defender when I graduated. But things changed once I took on a few internships and explored areas outside criminal and immigration law.

During my internship with Judge Andrea Masley of the New York County Supreme Court, I sat in on a court hearing concerning the fallout of a merger transaction and became fascinated by the underlying details of the case. Until that point, I hadn’t thought of going down a corporate, transactional route. I read more and took classes in those areas, ultimately deciding that’s what I wanted to pursue.

My world turned upside down in the same way everyone else’s did in March 2020. Working remotely while also taking classes was not without its challenges. My summer associateship with Clifford Chance was also conducted remotely, but it was still a great experience.

If I had any advice for new law students, it would be to take full advantage of all the opportunities you’ll have to learn about and experience different areas of the law. Don’t be afraid to try internships in an area that might not fit within your preconceived career plan, and stay open to the many opportunities the Law School offers. ”