Student Spotlight: Carla Bennett '09
Lawyers are risk-takers. They must be, anyway, because some of them have actually decided to let me be a real, live lawyer after I graduate. So this fall, after I take and hopefully conquer the bar exam, I will head to Philadelphia to begin a new career as a litigation attorney with a large national law firm.
Even before I came to Notre Dame I knew I wanted to enter private practice after graduation, and when my second year in law school rolled around it was time to start looking for the right place to start my legal career. Despite my Midwestern upbringing, I decided to head to Philadelphia, but it was initially difficult to convince most Philadelphia employers that I was serious about relocating. Fortunately, the law school’s On-Campus Interview Program allowed me to sit down face-to-face with several major firms from the area and explain just how serious I was. After a lot of research and a long, nerve-wracking interview process, I knew I had found my law-firm soul mate.
I chose that firm, and I chose Notre Dame, for the same reason: both value teamwork. As a former collegiate athlete, I believe in the power of dedicated people working in an environment that fosters collegiality and teamwork. My formal education here has been greatly enhanced by the sharp minds of other students who, instead of trying undermine or outdo each other, work together to hash out difficult legal issues outside the classroom doors. I believe the legal field has similarly shifted to reflect the value of providing holistic, team-based solutions for clients. As I researched firms, I sought employers that reflected this trend and had a reputation for collegiality. Once I knew what firm I wanted to join, it became a matter of convincing them not just that I had the right qualifications, but more importantly that I had the desire and ability to work in the team-driven atmosphere that would best address their clients’ needs.
As I look ahead to my first few years as a young attorney, I am excited at the prospect of being completely and entirely in over my head. It’s not that I particularly enjoy being overwhelmed; I just believe that the best way for me to develop as an attorney is to take on increasingly difficult tasks, and trust that the more senior associates at my firm will help me to sharpen my rudimentary skills as I work through them. The time is finally here, and I am excited to step out into the world and begin to challenge the law that has challenged me for the past three years.
