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Faith Renfro

Kastl Law, P.C. – Dallas, TX

How did you get your job?

During spring break, I participated in the Pro Bono Program in Dallas right before COVID hit. I met my boss, Kristina N. Kastl, at the St. Mary’s Law Alumni networking event that week. She told me to come into the office before I left Dallas and she offered me a job because I was persistent in following up.

What was the most surprising thing you learned at your job?

Law school and actually working in a law firm are two different worlds. I had never worked in a firm before this summer, and it was definitely an adjustment.

What did you like most about your job?

I’m not sure I could narrow it down to one thing. I enjoyed the challenge of showing up every day not knowing what I would be faced with. Between drafting motions, assisting with depositions, and client phone calls, I enjoyed all of it.

How do you think this experience has helped you in your career path?

Getting to work in the same city where I desire to develop my career is absolutely invaluable. I was able to make countless connections that would not have been forged otherwise.

What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned at this job?

Resiliency and adaptability. The ability to adapt and perform under unexpected circumstances. Additionally, the communication skills I developed from talking to clients, paralegals, attorneys, and court clerks has been one of the most valuable results from the past few months. In a virtual world it is easier to forget everyone has their own lives and their time needs to be respected.

Did your job change in a virtual workplace? How did you interact with your co-workers?

It was difficult because I went into the office every day, however, many of my co-workers did not. I communicated over the phone with most of them for weeks before actually meeting them, if at all. Learning how to navigate my daily tasks sometimes got frustrating without someone physically showing me what to do. A lot of my work was self-taught by looking through and studying documents the firm had on file. Fortunately, I was able to observe much of the day-to-day work attorneys do, which will help me as I continue my career.