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.

Brooke Wilson

Senior Manager, Recruiting Outreach

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP 

This month WALRAA is proud to shine a spotlight on Brooke Wilson! Brooke is the Senior Manager for Recruiting Outreach at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP. She has been a member since 2014. Read about how WALRAA has helped Brooke in her career, the challenges she faces, and more in her own words below. 

1.      How long have you been a member of WALRAA? What has been your favorite experience so far?
I've been a member of WALRAA for roughly 10 years (plus 2 years in NYCRA). I've always enjoyed getting to meet so many wonderful people in the field. Over time I've also been able to build a network for support and growth.

2.     How has WALRAA helped you in your field?
When I was more junior I was lucky enough to have some great WALRAA 1:1 mentors and have people outside of my firm to talk to about my career path. Getting to know people who were more senior than me gave me resources to go to if I needed advice on anything. It's also been great to talk to people who are in other roles outside of recruiting and learn more about what it looks like to take on other functions.

3.     How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting/Career Services?
When I was in college, I ran my schools tour guide program and just loved it. After graduating, I knew I wanted a career in recruiting or admissions but wasn't really sure where to look. My mom actually sent me the WALRAA job board where I applied to my first firm - Baker Botts!

4.     What is your favorite moment of your career so far?
It's been really awesome to watch my first few classes of summer and fall associates make partner!

5.      What is it that challenges you most in your job?
Probably the changing landscape of the different recruiting "seasons" - although it does make it interesting!

6.      How do you balance your career and personal life?
I carve out time during the week (and add it to my calendar) for things that are important to me. Sometimes that's a 6 pm pilates class and other times its meeting a friend for lunch. On the weekends I prioritize time with my family.

7.      What professional goals have you set for yourself this year?
Making connections at through NALP!

8.      What is the best professional advice you have received?
That the worst thing someone can say is no. It was always hard for me to speak up and share ideas because I was afraid of rejection but that's part of growth.

9.      What do you like to do for fun?
We moved to Old Town Alexandria last year and are enjoying exploring the neighborhood! I love spending time with my husband and step-daughters, and am always up to try whatever the new trendy gym class is.

10.  Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
I grew up here!

Written by: Ru Bhatt

During my tenure at Major, Lindsey & Africa, I’ve been focused on placing experienced lateral candidates at partner and associate levels at law firms. While partner moves are most often motivated by greater compensation, associate candidates generally seek positions that don’t provide a salary boost.

That approach to job hunting may seem strange, but many candidates I’ve encountered share a misconception that all law firms are the same.

Associates generally move to unlock some other benefit instead of salary—such as a more significant role and responsibility on matters, a shift in client base or industry focus, a better culture, or increased potential to make partner. A defining feature of these lateral moves is that this is usually an “informed decision” after a few years practicing and understanding the industry.

While entry-level (summer associate) hiring isn’t directly in my purview, I spend a lot of time consulting with students at law schools and engaging law firm clients who are eager to share their thoughts about the process.

In the past, there was a frenzied summer associate hiring season, when firms were bound by the National Association for Law Placement guidelines concerning offers and interview periods. This forced firms to evaluate students at schools by taking in the whole package.

Full Article

Written by: Meghan Tribe & Tatyana Monnay

Top law firms are rushing to target new recruits, often before students have finished their first year.

On-campus interviews, long the chief recruiting method for major firms and controlled by law schools and the National Association for Law Placement, now take a back seat to direct hiring by firms who want first crack at talent. The coveted summer associate roles are the most common path to Big Law careers, serving as a tryout for full-time positions after graduation.

“This direct hire process will likely be filling about 50% of our class, at least,” said Nicole Wanzer, director of attorney recruiting at Morrison Foerster. “Were we to wait for traditional OCI and lean only on traditional OCI, we feel like we would be missing out on some of the talent that’s getting picked up earlier in the process.”

The shift has had a snowball effect. Weil Gotshal & Manges has already opened applications for its 2025 summer program, allowing first-year law students to apply directly—a process dubbed “pre-OCI”. Other prominent players such as Jones Day, Milbank LLP, Paul Hastings, and Davis Polk & Wardwell open up their direct applications as early as mid-April for jobs that start the summer after the second year of school is completed. MoFo is launching its own advanced consideration application system for first-year students this year, which opens May 1.

The whirlwind means law firms are making hiring decisions based on smaller academic records and students now have even less time to make important career choices.

Full Article

Elisha Garvey

Professional Development Manager

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP 

This month WALRAA is proud to shine a spotlight on Elisha Garvey! Elisha is the Professional Development Manager at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. She has been a member since 2017. Read about her favorite experience as a WALRAA member, how she manages her work-life balance, and more in his own words below. 

1.      How long have you been a member of WALRAA? What has been your favorite experience so far?
Seven years! I enjoyed the WALRAA education conference in 2019 (right before the world shut down!).

2.     How has WALRAA helped you in your field?
It has been an invaluable way to connect with my peers. It has also helped me to grow as a professional in this field.

3.     How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting/Career Services?
In 2016 - My first job in this space was in the George Mason Law School Career Services Office. Go Patriots! But my earliest exposure to Career Services was while I was in law school at William & Mary - I had such respect for Ramona Sein and the other members of the W&M Law Career Services Office! And it's been fun to call Ramona my colleague now!

4.     What is your favorite moment of your career so far?
I think the proudest I have felt is after pulling off the first virtual Public Service Recruitment Fair in 2021. I worked with a great team made up of career services professionals at a few DC area law schools, and we all came together on this challenging but rewarding project!

5.      What is it that challenges you most in your job?
Acting as a support to two pretty different audiences - associates and partners.

6.      How do you balance your career and personal life?
I make every effort to be present when I am with my family at home. The work can wait!

7.      What professional goals have you set for yourself this year?
Great question! I can't say that I have set any - but I will set a goal to set goals!

8.      What is the best professional advice you have received?
You are your own best advocate.

9.      What do you like to do for fun?
Be outside.

10.  Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
I have climbed mountains in the Swiss Alps.

Michael Bastaki

Patent Recruiting Specialist 

Morrison Foerster 

This month WALRAA is proud to shine a spotlight on Michael Bastaki! Michael is the Patent Recruiting Specialist at Morrison Foerster. He has been a member since 2023. Read about his favorite career moment, best professional advice he has received, and more in his own words below. 

1.      How long have you been a member of WALRAA? What has been your favorite experience so far?
I joined WALRAA about halfway through last year (I moved from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.). I really enjoyed the 2023 Holiday Party, since I was able to meet with a lot of people.

2.     How has WALRAA help you in your field?
WALRAA has kept me updated on the latest trends in the market and provided me with a community to share ideas and discuss advancements in the industry.

3.     How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting/Career Services?
I did an internship my junior year of college with another BigLaw firm and never looked back.

4.     What is your favorite moment of your career so far?
We opened new patent prosecution groups in both Boston and New York during COVID-19. Creating and executing a plan to sustainably grow these new offices, during a global pandemic, has been the highlight of my career.

5.      What is it that challenges you most in your job?
Constantly absorbing information amidst a rapidly changing legal industry is the most challenging (but also interesting) part of the job.

6.      How do you balance your career and personal life?
I do my best to create a consistent routine each day, that carves out time for me to unwind. I also set personal goals for myself—this year I’d like to get a dog and travel to Latin America.

7.      What professional goals have you set for yourself this year?
For this year, I am focused on growing our patent and FDA groups and working on cross-office teams to implement new recruiting technologies for the firm.

8.      What is the best professional advice you have received?
You are in the meeting for a reason—don’t be afraid to share your ideas. 

9.      What do you like to do for fun?
I enjoy woodworking, cooking, and tackling home improvement projects.

10.  Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
I played the baritone saxophone growing up. 

Written by: Amanda O'Brien

Law firms reduced the volume of offers to law students for 2024 summer associate programs, according to a new report from the National Association for Law Placement.

The organization’s 2023 law student recruitment report found that, as a result of overhiring during and after the pandemic, firms cut back on their 2024 summer associate program recruitment efforts as a means of addressing overcapacity concerns.

“Although 2023 ended with numerous announcements of record firm profits, several key industry reports suggest that these profits were in fact driven by increased fees and that lawyer utilization rates overall remained low through the end of the year,” the report said. “At the very least, firms across the industry appear to be projecting excess capacity in the near term—or at least a decreased need for new talent—resulting in one of the softest recruiting cycles since the Great Recession.”

Full Article

Emily Bae

Recruitment Coordinator

Baker & McKenzie

This month WALRAA is proud to shine a spotlight on Emily Bae! Emily is the Recruitment Coordinator at Baker & McKenzie. She has been a member since 2022 and is currently a member of the 2024 WALRAA Board of Directors. Read about how Emily started her career in Attorney Recruiting, what she does for fun off the clock, and more in her own words below. 

1.      How long have you been a member of WALRAA? What has been your favorite experience so far?
I've been a member of WALRAA since 2022. My favorite WALRAA experience has been being a part of a mentor group. The mentor circle was a great way to connect with colleagues on a personal level and understanding the legal recruitment world better.

2.      How has WALRAA helped you in your field?
WALRAA has been a tremendous resource for me. It is a place where I can connect with others and bounce ideas off one another. I am still new in the legal field, and WALRAA has helped me develop my career by connecting me with members who have years of experience in the legal recruitment field.

3.      How did you first learn about and get started in Attorney Recruiting/Career Services?
I first learned about the legal recruitment field through my older brother. I found the recruitment timeline interesting especially OCI and summer program. I knew I wanted to learn more about legal recruitment and experience it through a different lens. It's fascinating to compare his experience as an attorney and mine as a recruiter.

4.      What is your favorite moment of your career so far?
My first summer program with Baker McKenzie has been my favorite career moment. I came into the summer nervous and excited to bring back an in-person summer program. It was rewarding to see the summer associates' growth throughout the program and seeing my hard work come to fruition throughout the summer.

5.      What is it that challenges you most in your job?
The most challenging part of this job is balancing all of the job responsibilities. Summer is one of the busiest months of the year for recruitment professionals, and you have to be able to balance everything going on. The busy months hit you like a whirlwind, but it also challenges you to become better at your job.

6.      How do you balance your career and personal life?
I try to create boundaries for myself. When I log off work, I try to not think about it anymore and give myself a break. It is sometimes hard, but it does help with creating a sense of balance. I like to meet up with friends, watch TV, or work out to get my mind off of work.

7.      What professional goals have you set for yourself this year?
I would like to become more involved with WALRAA and continue to build connections with colleagues.

8.      What is the best professional advice you have received?
You don't have to have everything figured out right away!

9.      What do you like to do for fun?
I love traveling to new places and trying out new restaurants. I also enjoy going to DC sporting events!

10.  Tell us something about yourself that most people don’t know?
In college, I minored in sports management. I had a golf internship where I traveled around the U.S. with 7 other members. It was an experience of a lifetime getting to visit different golf courses.

Written by: Christine Charnosky

Yale and Stanford Law Schools have moved up virtual recruiting to June this year, ahead of the formal on-campus interviews (OCI) that are held in late summer, to better align the hiring timeline.

SLS announced in late January that this year’s 2L Virtual OCI program will take place June 27-28 and July 1-2, according to the school’s announcement. The school says the decision was made following discussions with stakeholders, partners and students.

One reason the school provided is that the amount of hiring firms were doing in late June through mid-July was increasingly more significant, and that in anticipation of even more early recruiting in 2024, there were no guarantees that they would still have spots available by late July/early August.

Additionally, “adhering to the offer window policies for various schools was unsustainable. The long timeframe from June to August created significant problems in managing yield, and too many students were requesting extensions in order to weigh their options.”

Another reason for moving pre-OCI up was because the volume of direct applications and interviews was overwhelming firms resources, and “in many cases, impacting the integrity of your summer programs.”

Full Article

Written by: Donna Campbell

Despite diversity growth stalling in some areas within the summer associate classes, new data from The National Association for Law Placement (NALP) shows continued overall advancement in the representation of women, people of color and LGBTQ individuals within U.S. law firms — especially women, whom now constitute a little over 50% of associates for the first time in more than 30 years.

Women also experienced record growth in representation at the partnership level, but progress continues to lag substantially behind that of associates, with women comprising a record 27.76% of all partners, according to NALP’s annual Report on Diversity in U.S. Law Firms based on information from the 2023 NALP Directory of Legal Employers (NDLE).

People of color also advanced at the partnership level, but likewise still lag behind their representation among associates, with partners of color comprising 12.01% of all partners and 30.15% of associates.

Full Article