Q: Why did you choose to attend UofSC Law?
I grew up a Gamecock. I went to UofSC for undergrad. My family and most of my friends are in Columbia. I believed that my best chance at a successful legal career was to go to a school where I could develop strong professional relationships – for me that was The University of South Carolina School of Law.
Q: Where has your job taken you?
During undergrad and law school I worked on various political campaigns. I was intrigued by campaign work because it is the intersection of politics and policy (or law). I was passionate about this.
After I graduated law school, I worked at a local plaintiff’s personal injury firm. The firm did great work for our injured clients, but I struggled to find the same passion in this role that I had when I was developing campaigns and advocacy strategies. I found a position better suited for my skills: leading the Office of the Mayor at the City of Columbia. UofSC Law gave me the foundation I needed to tackle some of the most meaningful projects I managed; from helping inmates apply for President Obama’s 2016 Clemency Project, to navigating zoning disputes between two groups of neighbors who both want what’s best for their communities.
After almost three years in a Chief of Staff role for Mayor Benjamin, I decided it was time to get some experience in the corporate world. I accepted a job with Comcast in 2019 and moved Philadelphia, home of the company headquarters. At Comcast, I’m the Senior Director for Local Government Affairs and Advocacy. I work with our external affairs teams across the country to develop strategies to educate elected officials and communities on legislative issues that impact our customers or employees. In a role where I need to understand local ordinance proposals, my legal education comes in handy every single day.
Q: What is the most valuable information you learned while you were in school?
Problem solving. When practicing law, you won’t be able to rely on your firm’s document templates to solve all your clients’ problems. You must learn how to brainstorm solutions for the problems your clients, customers, and colleagues are facing. Whether you are practicing law or, like me, you are using your legal education in another field, you will be expected to bring value to each project you work on. You will need to be able to analyze the problem and determine how your skills - your unique experiences - can help you add something to the work that none of your colleagues are bringing.
Q: What event or professional experience has given you the most satisfaction?
Seeing my friends succeed in the workplace. Seeing a law school classmate move into the practice they’ve always wanted; seeing a former associate excited about a favorable verdict; seeing a colleague promoted – these are the experiences that I enjoy the most. One of the smartest things you can do is to surround yourself with a motivated professional network. Support their successes and in return they will support yours.
Q: What information would you give a graduating class member seeking your advice on a legal career?
Decide the type of work environment you want – each has its pros and cons. You can work in a legal field where you need to track your time down to the 1/10th of an hour. You can work for a firm where your income is tied to your client’s success. You can also use your legal education to support a career path in other fields – and your legal education can help you stand out in areas not as saturated with attorneys.
Your professional success is going to be a product of your happiness with the environment you choose. You don’t have to get it right immediately upon graduation, but make sure you are thinking about your internship and early career experiences in this light. Build a small network of trusted professionals who can help you filter your feelings about each experience into guidance for your career.
Q: What do you do for fun?
A: That really depends on whether there is a global health pandemic. During Covid, I enjoy the limited time I get outside of the home: weekly trips to the grocery store and time in the city parks or along the riverfront greenway. Before Covid, I enjoyed travelling. Work would take me to cities all over the country, many I had never visited before.