Aspiring Law School Students Network with Puerto Rican Lawyers in DC

This summer, I had the opportunity to work as a legal clerk for a federal agency in Washington, D.C. When I was not in the office, I had the opportunity to attend professional development events, including a panel discussion and networking session hosted at Skadden & Arps and Friends of Puerto Rico.

The event, Happy Hour with Friends of Puerto Rico, included a mentoring and networking panel at the Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP office in Washington, DC. The panelists were Edgar Class, Partner at Wiley Rein LLP; Mayra C. Suárez, Associate at Skadden; and Cristal Brun, Senior Director with Alvarez & Marsal Disputes and Investigations. The event was geared for summer interns, like me, to connect with professionals from the Puerto Rican diaspora.

Tania L. Hernández Cruz, a third-year law student from Puerto Rico

I was excited to attend and hear from the experts about their career paths and tips for us on how to stand out in our respective fields. The knowledge and advice shared by the panelists were insightful and helpful. They covered every topic and the burning questions we had, ranging from networking, being involved in school and how to succeed in our professional careers.

Networking: Among the many topics that came up, one of them focused on how to make meaningful connections while networking. One of the panelists, Cristal, mentioned that we should all network with a purpose. Additionally, Mayra spoke about how important it is to follow up with the people that we meet afterward and to be genuine because we are planting seed when networking. I found this advice to be helpful as I look to expand my professional connections.

School Involvement: As many of the attendees are currently undergraduates, the conversation also steered to what the panelists recommended for students still in school. Mayra encouraged us to pursue what we are passionate about and commit to it. At the same time, Edgar mentioned that students should be selective about which extracurricular activities they sign up for so that it is a meaningful experience. For example, becoming a board member of a student association may provide multiple professional growth opportunities and networking events, as well as demonstrate one’s commitment to the group.

Career Advice: The panelists also provided guidance about how to succeed as an intern or new hire. Mayra expressed that we should always ask questions as we go about learning more about the workplace. As a third-year law student, this advice was for me as I am graduating next year, and I am currently looking for job opportunities. Another highlight of this event was that Mayra urged us to use our experiences and the people around us to grow.

In all, this event helped me learn how to effectively connect with people when attending networking events. I would like to thank Angelique Sina, Ana-Mita Betancourt and Friends of Puerto Rico for this wonderful opportunity to grow as a young professional and the opportunity to connect with experts in their respective fields.

Friends of Puerto Rico is committed to developing the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders and we hope that you can follow our blog and our work at www.friendsofpuertorico.org