2008 Winning Essay
By John Charin
When I heard my interviewers say “you’ve got the job,” I did my best to act casual and pleasant, but I doubt I did a good job of hiding my elation. I had just been hired by one of the top law firms in the country, thanks to the help of TRAK Legal, and as I walked past huge glass doors and striking wood furniture on my way out, I couldn’t help but feel I was becoming a part of something great. I recognized that I was being provided with more than just a summer job; I was being given an open door to a future of growth and success.
My experience at the law firm has so far been one of the most important and empowering experiences of my life. All throughout the day, powerful attorneys engage me and teach me while making me feel like a necessary part of the team. The members of the office all know my name, and a partner will trust me with important tasks and then thank me for my good work. For a rising junior in college, that means a lot. I have many lucid moments each day when I wonder to myself, “how did I manage to get myself here?” And I realize that I had some exceptional help.
I had registered with TRAK Legal confident in my abilities but uncertain about my résumé. I had limited relevant experience and understood how difficult it is to break into the legal field. I knew what I wanted, but I felt powerless to get my foot in the door. After meeting all the extremely friendly and helpful people at TRAK Legal, that changed more quickly than I could have possibly imagined. Within about two weeks of registering with TRAK Legal, I got a call from my recruiter, Cara Pugliese, and she had gotten me an interview with one of the top intellectual property law firms in the world. What struck me at the time was not just the fact that Cara had found me a job that perfectly matched my interests and my personality, but what really impressed me was her enthusiasm and genuine interest in getting me a great opportunity.
Cara talked to me in depth to find out what I was interested in, where I wanted to go, my goals. She found me a perfect opportunity that ended up putting me in a great job, but didn’t just stop there; the next week when she needed some information from me, Cara came all the way out to my job in Reston (no short trip from TRAK Legal’s office), and got the documents at my lunch just to save me some trouble. Getting me an interview was doing an excellent job, but meeting me in person on her own time and at her own expense was an incredible display of dedication. It also allowed me to work without worrying or having to take time off. I doubt she thought of it as a moving sacrifice. I don’t even think it was an aberration. It was just another way that the people at TRAK Legal are willing to go an extra mile and call it a normal day’s work.
One of the most exciting parts of my job is the potential I know exists for the future. I have been hired by one of the largest law firms in the country, specializing in intellectual property law which is the field of law I want to pursue. There are offices in about every major city in the United States with relationships extending through other countries, meaning no matter where I end up or which direction I turn, there will still be an opportunity for me. I was asked to come back and work for them in future summers and off school periods, which I am thrilled to accept.
It may seem cliché to say, but TRAK Legal has indeed truly helped me make career connections. One thing that I have enjoyed thoroughly is the thrill of having powerful attorneys ask me about my plans for the future. They ask me about school and what I’ll do when I graduate or go to law school. Pretty standard questions that any adult would ask, but then they may go on to ask me about my future with the company or ask if I plan to work for them full-time. It helps me remember that thanks to TRAK Legal, I got to spend my summer working with and learning from experts in my field who want to help and guide me. To do what I do and then hear my peers complain about their struggles finding any kind of relevant job makes it impossible to deny that TRAK Legal has done me an exceptional service. Now every day, paralegals and lawyers give me advice on how to make the right choices and meet the right people. The best part is this is only the beginning
Anyone who has tried to enter the Legal field knows how tough it is just to get a chance. Most young people spend weeks, months, (or possibly even years I’ve learned) trying to get that first job that lets them make the connections and get the experience they need to move up. Without TRAK Legal, I would probably be one of those stories. Instead, in two weeks and with no stress on my part, they found me the perfect legal job that has let me network and learn more with every day. They found me a job with a company that is interested in teaching me, keeping me a part of their team, and nurturing my growth. This is a rare and great relationship. I am endlessly grateful because while many services can get somebody a summer job, TRAK Legal gave me the first piece of a career.
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