Rachel Janger           Sadie Marsman

                     JD Career Counselor          Associate Recruitment Manager 

      American University,                Hogan Lovells US LLP

         Washington College of Law                                                         

WALRAA is proud to shine a summer spotlight on Rachel Janger and Sadie Marsman!  Read about how WALRAA has played a role in their current law school and law firm positions, rewards and challenges they face, and more.

How long have you been a member of WALRAA? What has been your favorite experience so far?
Rachel: I’m a new member and I’m so excited to become a part of the community!  I’m looking forward to the networking events and meetings.

Sadie: I joined WALRAA in April 2023 when I started my role at Hogan Lovells – my first role in legal recruiting.

How has WALRAA helped you in your field?
Rachel: I’m just getting to know WALRAA, but I’ve already gained insights from the BLAWG postings!

Sadie: WALRAA provides a structured avenue for me to connect with my counterparts at other firms, collaborate with colleagues on the law school side, and to connect with Hogan Lovells alumni around the region.  It’s been great to have WALRAA as a jumping off point in my career transition into the legal field.

How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting/Career Services?
Rachel: After 20+ years working as a labor and employment attorney in DC, I decided it was time to make a jump.  I loved working with and mentoring summer associates and junior attorneys at my firm, and realized I could make a meaningful and rewarding career out of that aspect of my job alone.

Sadie: I have always had roles with similar functions, though largely on the higher education side, working in admissions and recruitment for the University of Michigan and Georgetown University for most of my career.  A friend from Michigan admissions is now an attorney at Hogan Lovells, and he thought this role would be a great fit for me.  He was right!

What is your favorite moment of your career so far?
Rachel: It is so rewarding every time a student reaches out to let me know that they got the internship, externship, or job they really wanted.  It is equally rewarding when they return to visit or just check in, and when they offer to help out future students with the knowledge they’ve gained throughout their legal career development journey.

Sadie: I am a people person!  I genuinely enjoy what I call the “people puzzle” aspect of recruitment as we work to find a fit on both sides of an application process.  My favorite moments have been full-circle moments: watching hard-fought recruits graduate from Michigan or Georgetown, and more recently watching my summer associate graduate law school and prepare to return in the fall.

What is it that challenges you most in your job?
Rachel: Students are applying for internships and summer associate positions so early in their law school careers, and feel so much pressure to land the “perfect” position.  The greatest challenge involves letting the students know that there is no “one size fits all” position out there, and they can, and should, take the opportunity to explore the many avenues available to JDs.

Sadie: During some parts of the year, there are just truly not enough minutes in the day.  I am often challenged in trying to get everything done with the intentionality and care I expect of myself *and* leave enough time for the higher level aspects of the job that I love – the relationship-building, the strategy, and proactive communication required to do this work successfully – particularly between May and August.  I enjoy the strategy of recruitment, and some of those elements fall to the wayside when things get crazy during the overlap of the program and recruitment.  I have to challenge myself constantly to ensure I am keeping those aspects of my job top of mind and incorporated into my daily work.

How do you balance your career and personal life?
Rachel: As someone who worked as a litigator at a big law firm and had a young family before there were work from home and hybrid opportunities, I find the law school environment to be particularly conducive to work-life balance.

Sadie: I’m much better at this outside of May-August!  But even through the summer I am sure to set aside my work phone for a few hours at a time in the evening, and certainly for a few hours a day on weekends, to recharge.  I am intentional with my vacations and take them at a time of year when I can truly unplug, which really helps get me through the more intense seasons.

What professional goals have you set for yourself this year?
Rachel: I’m excited to become more involved in professional organizations such as WALRAA, and to continue developing professional relationships with my law school and recruiting colleagues.

Sadie: I am keeping contemporaneous notes including my own thoughts, attorney feedback, and aspirational processes and systems to more effectively manage the recruitment process now that we lack the structure of OCI.  My biggest goal this year is to take everything we learn in this season of what we’re calling “controlled chaos” and building something  that works for the Hogan Lovells offices that I management recruitment for.

What is the best professional advice you have received?
Rachel: Always look around corners – the right answer might not be directly in front of you.

What do you like to do for fun?
Rachel: I like to spend time with my family, and I play tennis and mahjong with friends.

Sadie: I spend a lot of time in DC parks with my dog, play volleyball in rec leagues throughout the year, and am a fully committed solidcore person.  Being active outside the office really helps me balance my mind and body.

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
Rachel: I’m very well versed in 1980s and 90s song lyrics.

Sadie: I eat pasta nearly every day, and have pretty consistently since I learned to make it on my own.