AUSA Jennifer May-Parker draws a crowd!
Late last semester, Assistant United States Attorney
Jennifer May-Parker participated in one of NCCU Law’s Public Service Attorney Brownbag Spotlight Series presentations. Ms
May-Parker is currently in the Appellate Division having also spent time in the
Criminal Division. Prior to her work as an AUSA, she was a line attorney at
both the North Carolina Attorney General’s Office and the prestigious New York
County (Manhattan) District Attorney’s Office. She is a regular visitor to NCCU
Law School and again brought motivating career advice that’s useful to all law
students, not just those who were privileged to hear her talk.
How to Interview
Ms. May-Parker told the law students to always come into an
interview confident, adding that so many students don’t seem to process
the fact that they had already been
selected for the interview (“so feel good
about that!).”Don’t be nervous. I’m looking for people who are confident. I
don’t expect you to know everything. I just want you NOT to be afraid.. . . ”
. . . I might add from where I sit in my chair as the
Director of Public Service Programs, that a law student (or an attorney set to
interview as well) can gain in confidence by doing a mock interview with
his/her Career Service Office. The back-and-forth of a pre-interview will help
a student work (and repackage, if necessary) their answers that they will be
asked during the interview. Moreover, feedback from the Career Service Officer
is also key (see if your CSO can video your performance so that you can
actually see yourself in action). . .
. If it works for candidates running for office, why wouldn’t it work for a law
student prior to a job interview?
In fact, I feel so strongly about the mock interview
process, that I have told our students that failure to go through a mock
interview prior to a scheduled interview is tantamount to law student malpractice.
Learn to Write Well and Be Fearless
Ms. May-Parker stressed that legal writing is a skill that
one must learn, and that it’s not intuitive. She advised students to enroll in
those courses and clinical programs that will give the student the opportunity
to write extensively.
As related to course selection, she urged students to focus on courses that will assist them in developing the practical skills that will be needed post law school. Never be afraid to take anything.”
As a voice of experience in this regard, let me add to Ms.
May-Parker’s advice:
I will remind all law students who venture out and into a courtroom post graduation that fostering a “fearless” attitude regarding course selection and professors will help them as litigators. fearless law students will develop the same attitude when it comes to walking into the courtroom of the one judge that all other attorneys have grown to fear. If you are prepared substantively, fear of the judge will be one less thing to worry about!
Don’t Lose Your Reputation
Ms. May-Parker implored our students to always be honest in
their dealings with all lawyers, especially opposing counsel. “Your honesty follows you everywhere.” Ms.
May-Parker reminded the students that the very first thing an attorney does
when he/she knows the name of an opposing counsel is to call around to find out
“what is he/she like?” She added that
the last thing that she wanted to hear was that opposing counsel was
“slippery.” . . all bets were off for a professional relationship with that
attorney from that point on.
Be Yourself
Interestingly, Ms May-Parker says that though she has tried umpteen cases, she considers herself an “introvert who becomes an extrovert” in court. She told the students not to try and be the one person who walks into a room and takes “command” of the room if that’s not who they are. “You always get the best results if you are remain who you are.”
In parting, she told our students to remember that what they
believe about themselves and their hopes, desires,
will –more times than not – lead to who they become as lawyers.
“It’s so important
that you have great expectations.”
Good advice to take to heart.