Sydney Ramirez - St. Mary's Law

How did you get your job, and how long have you been there?

I saw the firm post a job opening for a licensed attorney on LinkedIn. I noticed they didn’t have any positions open for summer interns, so I emailed the partner directly (cold-emailed). He asked to see my resume, and from there, interviews were set up, and I was offered the position. I’ve been here since June.

What do you like most about your job?

I love that it’s a collaborative office environment. I’ve been working with different attorneys on different projects and getting valuable feedback from multiple angles.

What is the most challenging part about your job?

The most challenging part is figuring out what questions to ask. It sounds silly, but you don’t know what you don’t know. I’ve learned to make a list of questions to ask when I encounter problems. You learn something new every single day and can lose track of what you need clarification about. You have to learn not to be shy, even when asking (what feels like) silly questions.

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

I knew I wanted to be a transactional attorney, but this experience has solidified that for me. Attention to detail, time management, and organizational skills are highly valuable in this area of the law and those are the things I’m best at.

What is the one piece of advice you have for other students?

Don’t be afraid to make the first move. If you discover, or know about, a law firm you’d love to work at, or an attorney you’d love to work with, ask them for an opportunity. Even if they aren’t posting job openings, or they aren’t on the St. Mary’s job listings, you can always open your own doors.