Introduction
Hey there! My name is Mélodie (pronounced like ‘melody’ unless you know French, in which case, enchantée!) I was born in a suburb of Paris called Lagny-sur-Marne, just a few kilometers from Paris Disneyland. My family is originally from China, and they eventually took me and my brother back there. I did 1st-12th grade at a European international school in Shanghai.
I came to the U.S. for my bachelor’s degree. I moved to Los Angeles by myself at 17 to pursue a degree in political science at UCLA, thinking that I would become a special envoy for the United Nations or something like that. After all, I was (and still am) fluent in three of the six official languages of the UN.
I’ll soon find out that I wouldn’t be the first 17-year-old whose career plan took a turn! During my time at UCLA, I met a boy (who later became my boyfriend) who told me about his lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer –– I hadn’t even considered a legal career before. My sophomore year, my friend convinced me to rush a pre-law fraternity with her to calm her nerves. I ended up liking the people I met, and joined Kappa Alpha Pi, a pre-law co-ed professional fraternity. After college, I made my way to Washington, DC to try out the international affairs gig for myself. I even got an internship at the United Nations.
Fast forward to today –– I graduated from a top law school; I have a clerkship under my belt that has given me insight on how cases are handled by judges IRL, I’m about to start a job as an employment lawyer representing plaintiffs in harassment and discrimination cases, and I couldn’t be happier about where my career stands.
Law Fellow
career options
A career in law can take many different forms:
Law Fellow
skills
What are the main hard skills you use on a daily basis in your current job?
The US is a common law jurisdiction, which means that court decisions interpreting laws and statutes carry just as much weight as the laws themselves. Legal databases compile all the different sources of law and make them searchable. The most popular databases are WestLaw and Lexis. Virtually every law firm uses one of these or both.
Legal writing is different from other kinds of writing and emphasizes clarity and succinctness. As a lawyer, your audience is usually a client or a judge. You need to be able to explain complex legal frameworks to clients in simple terms. When addressing courts, you need to ensure that your logic is clear even when dealing with confusing facts and unsettled law.
Corporate lawyers often need to understand financial statements and other documents. IP lawyers often need a technical background.
What are the main soft skills you use on a daily basis in your current job?
Often times, lawyers are only brought in when something goes wrong. It is up to lawyers to identify and find out relevant facts, clarify the client’s goals, and devise the optimal course of action with all that in mind.
Much of legal practice is adversarial, which means that the same facts can be used to fit opposing narratives. For example, in a personal injury case, the fact that a store owner bought accident insurance can be used by one side to show that the store owner knew that the premises were dangerous, and by the other side to show that the store owner reasonably took precautions to minimize harm. It is up to the lawyer to determine which claims are factual and which facts are legally significant before applying the law.
Lawyers are first and foremost service providers. To avoid malpractice, it is imperative that a lawyer keeps their clients informed every step of the way. A client’s subjective experience of their working relationship with their attorney can be as important as the outcome of a dispute.
Mélodie
’s personal path
Tell us about your personal journey in
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:
The idea of a career in law did not come to me until well into undergrad. Initially, I wanted to work in international affairs and diplomacy, and if that failed, my plan B was... accounting. My boyfriend at the time somehow convinced me to take a practice LSAT, the standardized test for law school admissions. I did surprisingly well given that I was deathly hungover and did 0 preparation. This, along with the earning potential of a legal career, piqued my interest. At the same time, I had the opportunity to explore a career in international affairs through a study “abroad” program in Washington, DC. I ended up moving there after graduation and worked in international development for a year before law school.
I decided to study for the LSAT while working in DC. After taking the LSAT 3 times, I finally got a satisfactory score and sent out my applications. I was admitted to Columbia, Northwestern, Duke, Berkeley, UCLA, and USC (on a near full ride scholarship), and waitlisted at Harvard and UChicago.
I chose Columbia because of its distinctive lead in employment statistics. When law firm recruiting season came at the end of the first year of law school (aka “1L”), I interviewed with approximately 40 law firms to secure my 2L internship. After my 2L internship, I received a full-time return offer. That offer was later rescinded due to market conditions (Silicon Valley Bank collapse, tech layoffs, etc.). But this was a blessing in disguise. I was able to secure a last-minute clerkship with the Los Angeles Superior Court which made me pivot from transactional practice to litigation. Now, I am preparing to start a career in employment law with a firm that was at the forefront of the #MeToo movement.
What would you tell your younger you regarding building your current career?
While It’s important to have a career plan, your real edge as someone who is just beginning to prepare to enter the workplace is time. Right now, you have time to explore different career paths, to talk to all kinds of people, and to make mistakes. Take the time to get to know yourself and all that is out there.
Final thoughts & tips
In conclusion, embrace the journey of exploring your passions and interests. Be willing to take risks and step outside your comfort zone. Acknowledge that your career path may not be straightforward, and that’s okay! Your future is full of possibilities. Take advantage of the resources that are available to you (like Open Avenues!) and of the network of your peers and alumni. Best of luck on your exciting journey!
Resources to dig in more
Law School Admission Council (LSAC)
The Law School Admission Council (LSAC) is a nonprofit corporation that provides products and services to facilitate the admission process for law schools and their applicants worldwide. Check out the ‘Free Resources for Aspiring Law Students’ section (https://www.lsac.org/discover-law/how-prepare-law-school/free-resources-aspiring-law-students).
The American Bar Association (ABA)
The American Bar Association gives law students tools and resources to help them succeed in school and beyond. Check out the ‘Pre-Law’ section (https://www.americanbar.org/groups/legal_education/resources/pre_law/).
Barbri’s 25 Free Resources to Help You Prepare for Law School
A curated list of free resources you can use to get a jump-start (and some serious inspiration) on your future life as an entering 1L law student and, eventually, as a lawyer.
Pipeline Programs
Many law schools and law firms offer pipeline programs designed to identify and accompany high school and undergraduate students in their legal careers.
