How did UVA Law prepare you for your practice or career choices?
This is a difficult question because I simply don’t know where to begin. Attending UVA Law completely changed my life — both personally and professionally. The culture of collegiality, kindness and cooperation helped me become a more well-rounded person. The challenging coursework pushed me to expand my interpretation of the law to see legal issues from many sides. But more than anything else, UVA opened doors that allowed me to pursue my dreams. The market knows what UVA Law grads bring to the table — they’re smart, hard-working, socially capable, good teammates and (ultimately) great lawyers. Having UVA Law on your resume isn’t simply an impressive name, it’s a signal to future employers that you embody many of the characteristics they’re seeking in a candidate.

Do you have any advice for new UVA Law grads wanting to work in Atlanta?
This may seem like an obvious (and potentially unsatisfying) answer, but focus on going somewhere that will help you become the best lawyer you can be. Don’t simply pick a firm or company because of the name on the building — think strategically about your long-term goals and go somewhere that will equip you with the skills to help you get there. Someone gave me that advice when I was a younger lawyer and with each passing year the advice becomes more sound. If you commit to first becoming a great lawyer then everything else will fall into place.

How did UVA Law prepare you for your practice or career choices?
I was a first-generation college graduate and law student when I enrolled at UVA Law. I clearly had an interest in practicing law, but beyond that, I didn’t have much of an idea about what kind of lawyer I wanted to be. I had vague interests in business law and real estate, but I certainly didn’t imagine that I’d become a real estate finance attorney. It was our amazing Career Services team, personable professors, collegial classmates and very kind alumni who helped me shape those interests into a career at a firm and in a practice area that I truly love. I practiced at the federal government immediately after law school, and when I was ready to make a lateral move, Career Services and UVA Law alumni were once again there to supplement my new work experience with their guidance and professional experiences. With a UVA Law education and the UVA Law network, I transitioned from public practice to private practice with the utmost confidence that with continued hard work, I’d be able to succeed in any environment. And I had the added benefit of working with and learning from a great attorney and a UVA Law alum who would become a mentor to me.

UVA also prepared me through the challenging and interesting coursework and unique research opportunities. I must say that it was pretty cool — albeit nerve-wracking — to be working in a commercial mortgage-backed securities real estate finance practice as the risk-retention rules that I researched as a 1L research assistant at UVA were now being implemented in the very deals that I was working on for clients.

Do you have any advice for new UVA Law grads wanting to work in Atlanta?
It’s been my experience that Atlanta loves UVA Law grads, so don’t be deterred by a lack of ties to the city. Firms want great students who want to be here. I had no ties to Atlanta, and other than a few other UVA Law classmates, I didn’t know anyone else when I moved to the city. The fondness that UVA Law grads hold for the Law School and for Charlottesville is a shared one and it certainly facilitates the establishment of a professional network in Atlanta. If you have the opportunity, I recommend participating in UVA Law’s Atlanta Day. Maybe I’ll see you there!