"3L + 1" brings Alumni and Students together

George Read's "3L + 1" was a tremendous success.

George Read Chapter Professional Development Committee and 3L + 1 Alumni Panelists

 From Left to Right: AJ Viray, Melissa Caltabiano, Joe Greco, John D. Cirrinicione, Kristy Krasowski, William Newman, Andrew Quietmeyer, Justin Alberto, Damien Tancredi, Charles Glass, Evan Miller, Dan Rapoport, Clint Orem, Rob Schweiger, Kate O'Neill, and Danielle Dipillo

 Widener Law does an excellent job of teaching students not only the law, but also how to apply it. Moreover, with events like Professionalism Day, the school teaches students what it means to be a member of the legal field. However, what actually happens when a person goes from being a law student, to a law professional? What are the realities of that transition period? Sadly, no book, canned brief, or upperclassman outline exists that can tell a student what to expect in his/her first year out of law school. That information only comes from actually experiencing it first hand.

And thankfully, Widener Law has Alumni who are eager to tell their stories and share their experiences about the year after 3L.

On Tuesday, November 2^nd in the Barristers' Club, the George Read Chapter's Professional Development Committee, headed by Chairperson Clint Orem, put on its annual “3L + 1”. This panel discussion gives Alumni a chance to speak to students about what really happens once the ink is dry on the diploma. This year, 1L brother Dan Rapoport put together a panel that contained some amazing Alumni: John D. Cirrinicione (class of '07), Heather Levandoski (George Read Chapter Alumna and class of '09), William Newman (George Read Chapter Alumnae and class of '09), Damien Tancredi (class of '09), Kristy Krasowski (class of '08), Evan T. Miller (class of '09), and Justin Alberto (class of '08).

The seven panelists covered a wide array of topics. They discussed that one of the unexpected realities they faced during your first year out of law school was that it is ok to say, “I don't know” to a senior partner. Often times, senior attorneys will give new associates a task that is beyond their skill set. It does not happen as a cruel joke, but to test the associates on how they react to situations where they are “over their head” either in terms of knowledge or workload. “Better to figure out early on if you can react ethically and professionally, or just be a malpractice liability” one panelist said.

From Left to Right:  Kristi Krasowski (panelist), Andrew Quietmeyer (moderator), John D. Cirrinicione (panelist), Justin Alberto (panelist), and Evan Miller (panelist)

Another topic that provided a lot of discussion was how to approach other members of the firm. Widener enjoys more of a teamwork-focused campus culture than other law schools, and the panelists indicated that among the younger associates they work with, that mentality exists among them as well. However, much like with any office setting, always be cognizant of who you are working with, and how they deal with his/her own work. While you don't need to keep checking your back for Brutus' knife, you should be friendly yet guarded with your associates. More importantly, the panelists said, always treat non-lawyers with the same respect you would want for yourself. Often times the secretaries and para-legals know more about how the firm works than the senior partners. Moreover, these are the people who you will rely on to get your work done. Therefore, never miss a chance to say “thank-you” to them, and never take your loss in court out on them. You may have a bad day today, but you're still going to need them tomorrow!

From Left to Right: Damien Tacredi (panelist), Heather Levandoski (panelist, George Read Alumnus), William Newman (panelist, George Read Alumnus), Kristi Krasowski (panelist), and Andrew Quietmeyer (moderator)

Lastly, the panelists were very frank with admitting to their own mistakes they made in the transition period so that the 30+ students in attendance could learn from them. Besides the usual advice of proof-reading, thinking then speaking, etc., the Alumni gave insight to the little things that often get over looked. “Always keep a spare shirt and tie in your office. Coffee spills!” was one panelist's statement. “Never bad mouth a former employer in an interview” said another. Finally, the best advice gleaned from a mistake: “Be confident, no matter what your grades were, or not being on Review, Moot, or whatever. If you're called in for an interview, there is something about you that they like. Walk in and own your skin”.

All in all, these Alumni were fantastic. For 90 minutes, they related their experiences, advice, and candor to those in attendance, and gave those students a major advantage in tackling the transition period from law student to law professional. In fact, the conversations the Alumni and students were having were so engaging, that three Alumni, John D. Cirrinicione, William Newman, and Kristy Krasowski stayed for an extra hour just to talk to the students. It feels good to know that no matter how difficult that elusive first year after graduation may be, there are Widener Alumni out there who will help you out, and be there for support and advice. 

Posted by:  Andrew Quietmeyer