Ari Reyes has been my close friend since our first week at college, running around in frats. We've both come along way since then. Ari, especially. Now graduated, she's accepted a full time position working in a law firm, taking her dream of being a lawyer and making it her reality.
Start off by introducing yourself. What’s your background, what did you study in school?
Hi! I'm Ari Reyes and I am from Chicago. I attended Mizzou for four years where I earned a Bachelors of Science Degree in Research Psychology.
How did you get interested in this field of work? (When did you know this is what you wanted to do?)
When I started Mizzou I was an Animal Science Major. I quickly realized that I had made a mistake choosing that major because the labs were so horrific there were times I cried. From TAS that expected a perfunctory killing and dissecting of baby chick that was literally still warm and twitching to failing a lab simply because I refused to stick my whole arm up a cow butt (I am not joking, it was so gross why would anyone voluntarily do this?). I just knew I should switch. I picked Psychology because one of my favorite classes in High School was Mr.Wadlington's Psychology course, so I figured if I was paying so much money for college classes I should at least enjoy them.
What interested you about a psychology degree?
I love Psychology because it is multi-faceted. You learn about neuroscience and how crazy complex our brains are, but also talk about human interaction. You're in class just shocked learning things like infants won't listen to commands from people with a different skin color, or how groupthink is the demise of society, or orangutans that are cognitively aware. Psychology is a wild ride but it taught me many useful nuances and skills.
So how did you get into the field of law?
Anyways, my senior year of college I started working at a Family Law firm: Grimes Fay and Kopp. It was a full-time position which meant I had to take classes online and it sucked being a full-time student and working so many hours but I knew that I wanted a job in the legal field and needed experience. Mizzou doesn't necessarily have a prelaw major so getting a job or internship is important. After working at the family law place awhile I found it to be really depressing: drafting divorce decrees, child custody plans, and estate planning documents. (It was a little soul crushing destroying families at the tips of my fingers). It was also boring at times, and I knew that this variety of law was not for me.
What's a typical day at work for you?
I now work at a criminal law firm Holder Susan Slusher. I work 8-5 as a legal assistant and have been assigned to work under Bogdan Susan (If you went to Mizzou you'll probably recognize the name from those B12 cups that have the BAC chart). Our firm handles anything from MIP to Murder but I typically handle Mr. Susan's misdemeanors cases. These are often MIPS, Fake IDs, DWI, and Drug charges. My job is to manage about a hundred cases and make sure that no one goes to jail, everything is filed properly on case-net, and that my clients know what's going on in their case. I have to communicate with the court, department of revenue, and even the police department in order to get information for my cases and file the correct paperwork.
Literally, if I make a mistake someone could go to jail...so I try not to do that. I often meet with my boss or the criminal team to discuss on-going cases and prepare files for court. On busy days I get to accompany my boss to court which I am extremely grateful for. I get to learn the court processes by watching actual hearings take place in front of Judge. I appreciate the opportunity to make connections in the court house like the judge, prosecuting attorneys, and court clerks. Everyday could come with a new assignment like researching for a case, or studying discovery but in general my days go the way I described above.
How would you describe your job to someone you just met?
Basically, my job is the legal version of a nurse- I bridge the gap between client and attorney to make sure everyone is on the same page, alleviate concerns, and do a lot of problem solving and busy work (unimaginable amounts of paperwork and filing).
What's your favorite part of the job?
I feel like everyone can agree that working in general kind of sucks. So I knew that what I wanted out of a full-time job was a sense of purpose. If I have to get up at 7AM and clock an 8 hour day I might as well leave feeling like I helped people, and accomplished something worthwhile. I'm honored to work for such merited attorneys with a history of handwork and success. I feel a lot of pride helping them on these cases where maybe a student got a DWI or some other criminal charge and is worried that they ruined their life, and career path. The attorneys I work for are diligent in getting the best possible outcome for their clients so I feel pressure to do the same when I work, and I enjoy getting to help people get back on track.
Aside from the legal aspects I also personally really love the firm and my coworkers. Everyone knows a job is only as good as the people you work with and the attorneys I work for are hardworking but they're also hilarious, generous, and just human. I thought attorneys would be intimating but the men I work for are down to earth and interesting so again they making coming into work enjoyable.
What are some misconceptions people may have about this field of work?
I would say the misconception is that the job is boring, stressful, or overwhelming. Honestly, at some points it could be all of those things or none of those things. Everyday is a little different since all of the cases tend to be different. If you are very task oriented like me I think a Legal Assistant or Paralegal is a gratifying position because you're constantly productive and need to actively problem solve and guide clients through the case. Staying organized, thinking ahead, and being detailed oriented are extremely important skills to this job, and I am still developing these skills as I gain experience in my position.
What advice would you give to someone interested in doing what you do?
If you're interested in law school being a Legal Assistant or Paralegal is a very fulfilling job, depending on the firm. Be ready for a lot of productivity and stress at times but overall it is a rewarding position. It's important to find the correct denomination of law and attorneys you want to work for but when you do you wont regret the decision. I learned that ultimately I wanted to help people and serve others, the medical path was absolutely not for me, so this is a great option. Plus, it's great to have a job where you're constantly learning new things, and face a many thought provoking concepts or situations.
Also I personally was extremely eager about attending law school. It is a passion and a dream of mine to actually be a lawyer but what do you know law school is ridiculously expensive. So, if you're like me and have doubts about law school because of oh I don't know crippling debt, I can assure you that being a Legal Assistant is a satisfying alternative to being the lawyer since you work so hands on with the cases and the clients.
A huge thanks to Ari for taking the time to chat with me for this segment. I remember wanting to be a lawyer after seeing Elle Woods in Legally Blonde but seeing my friend accomplish this in real life is way cooler. I hope this gave readers some insight into law and what it's all about. Next week we'll dive into the world of nursing with Kristen Ohler.
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