CAROLINE WATERS

Partner Recruiting & Integration Senior Coordinator
Latham & Watkins

This month WALRAA is proud to feature Caroline Waters. Caroline is originally from New Orleans and moved to Washington, D.C. in 2012. She has been a member of WALRAA for 8 years and believes the association and it's wonderful members have been instrumental in fast tracking her career growth here in D.C. Read about her experience with Hurricane Katrina, her favorite foods, and more in her own words below. 

1.      How long have you been a member of WALRAA? What has been your favorite experience so far?
I have been a member of WALRAA for 8 years---it's hard to believe how fast time flies when you're having fun! My favorite experience has been my time spent on the board. It's given me the opportunity to work with so many amazing people from other law firms and schools that I otherwise wouldn't have had the chance to meet and get to know. So many wonderful friendships have been formed through WALRAA that I cherish dearly.

2.      How has WALRAA helped you in your field?
WALRAA has played a crucial role throughout the path of my recruiting career. Not only has it amplified my professional development through the many programming opportunities, mentorships, and relationships I have formed, but it has provided me with opportunities to learn so much from my peers and engage in leadership roles outside of my employer that have been instrumental in my career growth.

3.      How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting/Career Services?
When I moved to DC from Birmingham, AL in 2012, I was in need of a job and a good friend of mine, who is a member of RADS (Recruiting Association of Dallas), introduced me to a colleague of hers who was in WALRAA. She quickly put me in touch with other WALRAA members, including the wonderful recruiting team at Hogan (thank you Lynn & Irena), where I had my first recruiting role as an assistant, and the rest is history...!

4.      What is your favorite moment of your career so far?
I don't know if I have just one favorite moment but I have always loved getting to watch the career growth of students and attorneys I've helped recruit throughout the years. In my current role of hiring lateral partners, I've enjoyed seeing the synergies of how the attorney and their practice fit into and help enhance our platform.

5.      What is it that challenges you most in your job?
Given that our team is relatively new to Latham, it's been a challenge paving a new way for lateral partner recruiting and integration. Luckily the firm as a whole and the many other departments that play integral roles throughout the recruiting and integration processes have been nothing but supportive to our team.

6.      How do you balance your career and personal life?
It's not always easy to do but I try to remind myself to take time to do things that I love to do outside of work and try to spend as much time as I can with friends and family.

7.      What professional goals have you set for yourself this year?
Because I'm still fairly new to my role in partner recruiting and to Latham, my goals are to continue to learn about the firm and the many practices, as well as continue to build my professional network both internally and outside of the firm.

8.      What is the best professional advice you have received?
As we all know, our industry can sometimes feel like there's no room for error, but it's important to remember that it's okay to make mistakes from time to time. Learning from mistakes and how to deal with such situations can play a big role in developing judgement, decision making and professional growth.

9.      What do you like to do for fun?
I love to travel as much as I can. Although I love traveling to new places, you can typically find me in my hometown of New Orleans and visiting my six nieces and nephews in Chicago and Houston. I also love to cook, particularly creole/cajun dishes such as gumbo, jambalaya and red beans and rice. Lastly, I love watching football - Who Dat & Roll Tide!

10.  Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
Hurricane Katrina hit a week after starting out my senior year of high school. I was misplaced with my family in Alpharetta, GA where I spent 4 months at a new high school before returning back to New Orleans to finish out the school year. It was definitely an interesting experience relocating with only a weekends worth of clothes, living in a hotel and starting at a new school where I knew no one, but everyone was so nice and welcoming and I ended up making some really great friends who I still keep in touch with today!

Written by: Justin Wise

Law360 (October 21, 2020, 4:37 PM EDT) -- The employment rate reached near-historic highs for the 2019 law school graduation class, but a stark disparity in outcomes between white and racial minority graduates persists, according to a set of findings released Wednesday by the National Association for Law Placement.

In a year when the employment rate for recent grads climbed to levels not seen in over a decade, Black and Native American individuals still had significantly lower levels of success in the job market than their peers, an NALP survey of more than 33,000 graduates found. Figures also showed a wide gap between white graduates and Black individuals when it comes to jobs requiring passage of the bar exam.

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ANASTASIA HUVELLE

Recruiting & Professional Personnel Manager
Kelley Drye & Warren

This month WALRAA is proud to feature Anastasia Huvelle. Anastasia started her career in human resources in Chicago before taking on roles that combined recruiting and HR at law firms in Washington, DC. She has been a member of WALRAA since 2017 and credits the association for the opportunities it has provided both for her and her firm. Find out why the French-Algerian war is important to her, what motivates her, and more in her own words below. 

1.      How long have you been a member of WALRAA? What has been your favorite experience so far?
I have been a member of WALRAA for about three years. I have found the monthly lunches to be great networking opportunities and the programming at the Education Conference in March was fantastic.

2.      How has WALRAA helped you in your field?
WALRAA has given me the opportunity to connect with law firm counterparts and professionals in career services. The support and guidance from the WALRAA community has been an asset to my professional life. A connection I made at a WALRAA lunch last year led to the hiring of a fantastic summer associate that will be joining the firm after graduation.

3.      How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting/Career Services?
In 2013, I started working in HR at Dentons Chicago. I loved the law firm environment, and I thought legal recruiting would be challenging and a lot of fun. My fiancé (now husband) and I moved back to the East Coast and I subsequently took on positions at MoloLamken and Kelley Drye that combined HR and Legal Recruiting. I get the best of both worlds!

4.      What is your favorite moment of your career so far?
I am incredibly proud of the Summer Program the Kelley Drye Recruiting/Professional Development team developed and executed this past July. It was probably the biggest challenge of my career as we wanted to maintain the connections and relationships developed during an in-person program and translate them virtually.

5.      What is it that challenges you most in your job?
In 2020, the biggest challenge has been developing ways to connect with new/summer associates in a virtual environment. I look forward to some good old-fashioned social events one day.

6.      How do you balance your career and personal life?
I have never understood this question - I don't think there is such a thing as balance. My career and personal life constantly overlap - an ebb and flow. Sometimes my children play work, and I overhear them pretending to call my colleagues or partners. I hope that I set a positive example for them with my career.

7.      What professional goals have you set for yourself this year?
I am proud to work for a firm that supports a wide-range of D&I initiatives. As a recruiter, it is my job and pleasure to continue to hire people from diverse backgrounds and support them in their law firm careers.

8.      What is the best professional advice you have received?
You can have it all, but you can't have it all at once.

9.      What do you like to do for fun?
My husband and I have two children, Charlie (4) and Lily (2). On the weekends, we like to spend as much time outdoors as possible. 

10.  Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
In a previous life, I wanted to be a History Professor and wrote my master's thesis on the cultural impact of the French-Algerian war on the metropole.

Written by: Greta Anderson

A mountain of troubling data about rising mental health problems has health advocates and providers worried about the need for additional support for struggling students and the ability of colleges to provide it.

While the country continues to battle the coronavirus, college health professionals are also monitoring a growing crisis among young adults struggling with mental health problems, including suicidal ideation, anxiety and depression related to the pandemic.

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UROOSA HAIDER

Legal Recruiting Manager
Norton Rose Fulbright

Message from Uroosa: Hi everyone, 2020 has been a year of one crazy thing after another but we’re all surviving! Keep your heads up and let’s stay engaged and connected whether it’s through zoom or virtual happy hours or our mentor circles. I’m grateful to all my friends and colleagues in WALRAA for being available as a resource when I’ve needed help and a soundboard on days where I’ve needed to vent. As cliché as it sounds, the people you meet through WALRAA actually do become your friends and professional and personal network so take advantage of this group.

1.      How long have you been a member of WALRAA? What has been your favorite experience so far?
I have been in WALRAA for about 4 years at this point - My favorite part has definitely been the Educational Conferences. I was lucky enough to be on one of the planning committees for 2018 and recently attended the 2020 Educational Conference at the Wharf and found the sessions to be so insightful and relevant to the current global environment.

2.      How has WALRAA helped you in your field?
WALRAA has been such an integral part of my network building and getting to know people I work with across law schools on a more personal level. It's so nice to actually show up to the monthly meetings (back when we could actually do that) and just gather round with colleagues and counterparts from other firms and law schools and engage in conversations to bounce ideas off each other. It's really helped me expand my professional and personal network in the DC area.

3.      How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting/Career Services?
I actually started my career as a temp back in 2016 when I thought I would work for a year and go to law school. Little baby me did not know the world of recruiting had so much to offer, so here I am 4 years later and not planning to leave anytime soon!

4.      What is your favorite moment of your career so far?
There are so many "small" victories that occur during our day to day life as a recruiter but my favorite moment is when I meet students at outreach events and then seeing them go through the cycle of coming to our firm and getting selected as a summer and moving through the process to return as a full time associate is definitely rewarding as I find a lot of joy and pride in seeing someone make it all the way through.

5.      What is it that challenges you most in your job?
Unfortunately, the world of law firm recruiting can be challenging to navigate. Sometimes there are great candidates, whether they are students or laterals that have so much to offer but we can't always accommodate them.

6.      How do you balance your career and personal life?
The lines don't even exist anymore with COVID-19! Jokes aside, I do try to stay offline on weekends and devote my time to my kids and family. I think it's important to set boundaries and have learned that the world will not come crumbling down if I don't respond to every single email that comes my way seconds within arriving in my inbox.

7.      What professional goals have you set for yourself this year?
I have definitely become more vocal and assertive in my new role as a Manager and would like to continue to work on my professional development this year by networking more, delegating where I can and asking for help. I've always had an 'I'll just do it myself" attitude but that can get exhausting sometimes so I'm learning to let that go and build better teamworking habits.

8.      What is the best professional advice you have received?
Honestly, the best advice I've gotten was that "Someone's always watching, so always do your best even if you don't think it makes a difference." I have found this to be extremely true throughout my career. There are times when it can feel as if no one cares about the work you do or recognizes the effort you've put in but time and time again, someone is always paying attention and things don't go unnoticed whether good or bad. I'm glad I always try to give my all to any and every task I get involved with. It's definitely paid off for me in the long run.

9.      What do you like to do for fun?
I love to cook and dance with my two daughters - most people that know me know how much I gush over my girls so spending quality time with them is so important and they seem to have my love for dancing and eating!

10.  Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
I actually just started a cooking channel on YouTube with my husband and daughter about a month ago during COVID-19 and it's been such a fun experience for all three of us. It's so much work to be a content creator for YouTube by the way, but we are all having a blast so far. If anyone is interested in any recipes - the link to our channel is included!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRPaOFyUz9aBBPRhBX5ahrw 

KIA SCIPIO

Director of Diversity & Inclusion
Ropes & Gray LLP

This month WALRAA is proud to feature Kia Scipio. Kia began working in DC after working in career services at the University of Baltimore School of Law, and has been a member of WALRAA since 2006. Her passion for her work, her colleagues, and D&I is an inspiration to many - and keeps her very busy! Take a look at how she came to DC, what motivates her, and more in her own words below. 

1.      How long have you been a member of WALRAA? What has been your favorite experience so far?
I've been a member of WALRAA for a LONG time (since 2006). The thing that always keeps me engaged is the membership. I've met some of my closest friends and colleagues over the years through WALRAA and I am forever grateful for that.

2.      How has WALRAA helped you in your field?
I've learned so much from my colleagues and peers. The best practices that others so willingly share have helped me become the professional that I am today. I only hope that I have been as much of help to others as WALRAA members have been to me.

3.      How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting/Career Services?
When I was working for DC City Council, my first career services job popped up and I applied. I always wanted to get into career services because my experience with the CDO when I was in law school wasn't the best. I wanted to be a source of support to law students that I felt was severely lacking when I was in their shoes. I took that job at the University of Baltimore School of Law and I've never looked back!

4.      What is your favorite moment of your career so far?
Oh, there have been so many great moments! But, maybe some of the best are seeing former students that I counseled and advised move on to fantastic opportunities that far surpassed anything that they imagined while in law school. I like to think that maybe I had just a little something to do with that. And, getting messages from people, thanking me for all that I've done to help them find their way, always makes me cry.

5.      What is it that challenges you most in your job?
There's not enough time to do all of the things that I want to do.

6.      How do you balance your career and personal life?
I'm still trying to figure that out. But, having family and friends that I LOVE spending time with MAKES me take the time that I need to recharge and decompress.

7.      What professional goals have you set for yourself this year?
Not to lose my hair. It's already super short, and I'm not going for the bald look. No, it's to be able to launch some exciting initiatives that will firmly cement D&I onto all of the systems and processes at my firm.

8.      What is the best professional advice you have received?
Take chances--you never know where they might take you!

9.      What do you like to do for fun?
Now, I LOVE to sleep! But, I'm a Pure Barre addict and I've also gotten VERY FAMILIAR with Netflix.

10.  Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
Despite appearing to be extremely extroverted, I'm actually kind of shy. But, once I connect with someone/people, it's off to the races!

Written by: Elizabeth Olson

The vast majority of U.S. law firm offices in a new survey are sticking with their original plans to hold summer associate programs, but many are shortening them and holding them virtually due to coronavirus concerns.

Covid-19 has led law offices to close their doors across the country and to send lawyers and other employees to work from home, but according to the new data from the National Association for Law Placement, law firms largely have spared summer programs.

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Written by: Andrea Bricca

For years now, the push for organizations to implement regular work-from-home policies and practices has been a major area of debate. While the legal profession is typically slow to change, when forced into the change, it has become clear that legal work can be done effectively and efficiently remotely. Take away the distractions of children and spouses at home, along with the overall vibe of the current crisis, and work from home is rapidly becoming the chosen way of doing business for many industries, including the law. Furthermore, in order to attract top legal talent going forward, remote work options will need to be among the benefits offered by law firms and legal departments.

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Written by: Samantha Stokes

Changing office layouts, making hallways one-way, requiring masks, disinfecting the fridge, agonizing over whether to keep the communal coffee machine running: When it comes to Big Law’s eventual return to the office, nearly everything is on the table.

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Written by: Jordan Furlong
Posted in: Law21

This tenth and final installment in what became a “pandemic series” of posts isn’t a standalone entry so much as an epilogue to what I’ve written over these past six weeks. Mostly, it’s a message to the graduating law class of 2020, although it also applies to the subsequent cohorts of 2021 and 2022, and to recently called lawyers as well.

This pandemic will be a turning point for all of us, but especially for you. A new set of external conditions beyond our control now governs everyone’s day-to-day lives and will do so for the foreseeable future. That’s the backdrop against which the first years of your legal careers will unfold. Let’s talk about what that means for you and what you can do about it.

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