Beth Dougherty

Attorney Recruiting & Development Coordinator

O’Melveny

This month WALRAA is proud to shine a spotlight on Beth Dougherty!  Beth is an Attorney Recruiting & Development Coordinator with O’Melveny.  Read more to learn about her favorite WALRAA experiences and what she does for fun!

How long have you been a member of WALRAA? What has been your favorite experience so far?
Since fall 2022; joining a mentor circle last year has been my favorite part of WALRAA!  I have a lot of fun connecting with the folks in my pod on a regular basis.

How has WALRAA helped you in your field?
I am better able to bring market-specific information to leadership in my department and firm.  Even if I don’t learn new information, it is just as valuable to hear that peer firms have had similar experiences due to market changes, etc.

How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting?
My mother was a member of WALRAA and worked on the firm side, recruiting law students and later lateral partners!  It’s been a really great experience to, in some ways, pick up where she left off.

What is your favorite moment of your career so far?
Welcoming the first new associate class that I helped recruit as summer associates back to the firm to begin their legal careers.  I’ve grown so much in the last two years, and it’s been such a privilege to see how they’ve grown as well.  

What is it that challenges you most in your job?
Keeping the channels of information free and clear!  I feel like in many ways, my job is directing traffic among internal clients and liaising with external ones.  I really enjoy how fast paced firm life can be, it certainly keeps me on my toes and no one day looks the same as the next.

How do you balance your career and personal life?
I make sure to connect with at least one friend outside of work every day – listening about their job, or, even better, not talking about work at all!

What do you like to do for fun?
Going to the many farmers markets in DC, needlepointing, book club, and tarot reading with friends!

Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
Hulu’s The Bear absolutely inspired my reconnecting with my love of cooking!  I love old and new cookbooks and chefs alike – Julia Child’s boeuf Bourguignon is a personal favorite (and specialty) if I do say so myself.