In March 2024, I had the privilege to sit down with Gloria Kim through McGill Law’s Day in the Life Alumni Shadowing Program. This experience was particularly significant given that Gloria serves as my McGill Law Alumni Mentor. Gloria is an associate in Proskauer’s New York office within the Corporate Department, where she is a member of the Finance Group and was selected as a Protégée for Proskauer’s Women Sponsorship Program.
As I entered law school, one of my greatest concerns was losing parts of myself amidst the pressures of the profession. However, having the opportunity to build a relationship with Gloria has reinforced that many exceptional lawyers do not fit the TV stereotype. Gloria is a kind, approachable, and charismatic lawyer, and I would be lucky to be half the lawyer that she is. Rather than keeping her valuable advice to myself, I thought I would share it here, as her wisdom applies to any law student, regardless of whether you hope to recruit to New York or Saskatoon.
- Learn what it means to excel as a lawyer: While law school prepares us to think like lawyers, it may not necessarily prepare us for the day-to-day responsibilities, particularly in corporate law. In addition to learning the ins and outs of a transaction, Gloria highlighted that excelling as a lawyer also involves learning from everyday moments. Whether it is mastering email formatting or attending client dinners, success in the legal profession is built through ongoing learning and fully immersing yourself in daily tasks.
- Seek mentorship: Building a relationship with Gloria over the past few months has illustrated the importance of seeking mentorship throughout our careers. She created a supportive environment to discuss career development, avoiding burnout, and the small, yet important nuances that students may hesitate to discuss with a hiring partner. Gloria reinforced the significance of having mentors within your firm and the broader legal community, as they provide support in times of uncertainty and help maintain perspective as we progress throughout our careers.
- Build your community within the firm: Gloria highlighted the value of building a sense of community within your firm. Especially in a legal market like New York, with hundreds of law firms, finding your people and fostering relationships within your firm and practice group is invaluable.
Participating in the CDO’s Alumni Mentorship Program and the Day in the Life Shadowing Program with Gloria has emerged as a key learning experience in law school. In particular, her mentorship has helped me to grow my professional confidence as I navigate the NY 2L summer recruit. As I reflect upon this experience, I hope that the shadowing program continues next year, as it provided me with a glimpse into the New York legal market.
