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Featured Article
Inside Business Law
January 3, 2003
John Kinsey landed a litigation position after graduating
from UCLA Law School in 2001 and UC Berkeley in 1998 (BA History).
He shares his insights into what it's really like to be a litigator.
Career Center (CC): Describe what you do at Cooley Godward
LLP.
John Kinsey (JK): I am an attorney in Cooley's General Business
Litigation Department. On any given day, I draft papers and motions
to be filed with the court, interview clients and potential witnesses,
review documents for potential use as evidence, and draft memoranda
on legal issues. I usually work with one or two other associates
on each case and am supervised by a partner.
CC: What are the rewards and challenges of working in the field
of business law?
JK:
Rewards
- First, it is immensely rewarding to make your client happy
by being successful. It feels great to get a letter of gratitude
from a happy client.
- Second, I love the intellectual rigor my job provides. Every
day brings a new challenge requiring me to think through difficult
problems.
Challenges
- The most challenging thing about my job is keeping track of
everything that is on my plate. Often times I will be pulled away
from my normal duties by an emergency project, a client phone
call, or a quick question by a partner. Although these diversions
must be tended to, they are often frustrating because they prevent
me from doing larger projects during business hours. Because of
this, the best time for me to get large projects done is either
very early in the morning or very late at night (when I know I
won't receive any phone calls).
CC: What contributed to your success in obtaining a business
(litigation) law job?
JK: Aside from performing well in law school, a prospective
student can do two things to help in his or her job search. If possible,
try to maintain interests outside of law school. Second, during
the interview process, be yourself. When interviewing law students,
I look for interesting, well-rounded, and mature people.
CC: Do you have any tips regarding what Cal undergraduates can
do to prepare for a career in the field of law/business law?
JK: Unlike medical school, law school does not require that
you take courses in a particular subject matter. However, I do feel
that it is important that, as an undergraduate, you learn how to
write well. Being able to communicate your thoughts clearly to your
associates, opposing counsel and the Court is critically important.
Additionally, I think it is important to get a very broad experience
as an undergraduate.
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