A group of Gen Z students from the University of Florida visited our law firm to talk about legal careers during Spring Break.
I don’t know why 14 members of professional fraternity Alpha Kappa Psi choose to leave Florida to spend the break in Massachusetts, but I was happy to host them for a conversation with a panel of team members from my firm:
• me,
• newer lawyer Pedro Juarez
• almost lawyer Thomas Zogby, and
• future lawyer Terra Mikkelsen.
Here are three things I told those students.
1. The law is an amazing vehicle for a career.
The law intersects every facet of our society, whether it’s finance, the environment, individual’s rights, the rights of children, etc…
No matter what you’re passionate about, there’s a good chance the law intersects with your interest in a meaningful way.
2. While I advocate for the legal profession, I also encourage students to think long and hard about where their passions lie.
I believe that this next generation will work harder and be better than any of us, so long as they pursue purpose-driven work. But finding that path isn’t easy.
It’s worth spending time figuring out:
what really drives you
what gives you energy (and what doesn’t) and
the potential careers that can combine passions and opportunities.
3. Generation Z has opportunities our older generations never had.
They control their own fate more than generations before them did.
If a purpose-driven path is not readily available for you, it’s never been as possible to make your own path as it is today.
I really enjoyed the conversation and appreciate how many of the students have reached out to thank me for making them feel heard and seen.
As I told them, I have kids the same ages. And I believe in Gen Z.
Do you?
