Juan Pinilla Manriquez Emma Glancy
WALRAA is proud to shine a summer spotlight on Juan Pinilla Manriquez and Emma Glancy! Juan is the Recruiting Coordinator at Bracewell, and Emma is the Assistant Director, Office of Private Practice at the University of Virginia, School of Law.
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?
Juan: I have been a member of WALRAA for one year, and my favorite experience is the networking (both structured and unstructured) that takes place during our monthly meetings. It's refreshing to collaborate with colleagues across the profession who can relate to the challenges, accomplishments, and types of projects we face in our jobs.
Emma: I have been a WALRAA member for about a year and a half, and my favorite experience so far has been meeting other WALRAA members when I was brand new to this side of the industry, and then getting to carry those connections throughout other networking events and day to day work interactions.
How has WALRAA helped you in your field?
Juan: WALRAA has introduced me to an incredible cohort of peers and mentors who inspire me. They are eager to share ideas while encouraging me to share my ideas. Overall, WALRAA is an incredibly welcoming and passionate group.
Emma: WALRAA has helped me find community in an industry that can feel large and daunting. It has also helped me build stronger in-person connections with people that I would otherwise only be exchanging emails with.
How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting/Career Services?
Juan: I received a master's degree in Higher Education Administration thinking I wanted to go into university admissions. While in grad school, however, I learned about the world of law firms from friends who were going through the OCI process, and I found the process and environment similar, in some ways, to the competitive and exciting world of college admissions. After completing my master's, I found a role doing lateral partner recruiting at a large firm, which was a great introduction to the world of big law. After 2 years there, an opportunity presented itself at Bracewell (shoutout to Megan Corsetti!), and it aligned with my original interest of law school recruiting. I've been here ever since!
Emma: I started my career in the legal field as a paralegal in California. When my partner was accepted into UVA School of Medicine I began searching for legal positions in Charlottesville, and my current role at UVA Law had just been posted the day prior. I immediately applied and interviewed, and the rest is history!
What is your favorite moment of your career so far?
Juan: The end of an OCI season always feels incredibly rewarding. I'm excited, the attorneys are excited, and the students are excited. A lot of work, time, and resources were put into the process, so wrapping it up is a moment where I feel a lot of pride in myself, my colleagues, and my firm.
Emma: My favorite moment of my career so far is the responsibility that I have gained in my current role since July of 2023. I have been given the opportunity to run our networking and interviewing events after just one year in this position, and it has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding. I have felt so supported by my team at the law school as well as all of the recruiters I work with and I am extremely grateful.
What is it that challenges you most in your job?
Juan: We have so many competing deadlines and projects that require our attention. The second you finish a task, BAM! Five more tasks have been added to your plate.
How do you balance your career and personal life?
Juan: I like a routine, and my routine has to involve some sort of physical exercise and/or outdoor activity. For example, I live close to Bracewell, so a new routine for me lately has been going home during lunch. It allows me to briefly disconnect from work, receive some sunlight, and get my steps in!
What do you like to do for fun?
Juan: Any musical - whether stage, movie, or show - I'll enjoy and will watch.
Emma: In my free time, I have been participating in 200-hour yoga teacher training. I really enjoy yoga and the way it challenges me both mentally and physically, as well as helps me dedicate intentional time for myself outside of work and transition into/out of the work day with more clarity of mind.
Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
Juan: I could spend hours on Google Earth (and it has to be satellite view). Relatedly, I can identify most cities in the US (with a population of 500,000+ people) by a picture of their skyline. Not really sure where this came from.
