Last summer, I was nervously awaiting the start of law school after let’s say a “few” years of being in the workforce. I was also preparing to go more than 600 miles away from my comfortable home in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. to live in a dorm in Lansing, Michigan. I was nervous about the many articles that warned potential law students to run, not walk, away from law school. The job outlook seemed dim for lawyers with some studies reporting as many as 30% of students unable to find work.

But I packed up and went anyway! I decided that I would do whatever I could to make myself more marketable. Fortunately, Michigan State College of Law has the LegalRnD program. As a lover of technology, I was thrilled to hear of the opportunities available in the legal field.  As a first-year student, I was not able to take any classes in the program, but I was able to participate in the student-run organization Legal Launch Pad. Through this, I met Professor Dan Linna who encouraged students to become active on social media. While participating in the school’s social media contest (I won third place!), I learned on Twitter about the Access to Justice Tech Fellows program. I am a firm believer that the answer is always no if you don’t ask the question, so I applied. After months of feeling less than competent in the classroom, it was exciting to find out that I had been accepted as a fellow. The program pairs legal aid organizations with law students who have an interest in gaining practical experience in legal technology. Each project varies, but both student and organization benefit from the partnership. This summer, I am excited to be working for Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV).

After waiting so long to go to law school, it is exciting to be working in the legal field. I am even happier to be working for an organization that focuses on providing services to those with the greatest need. I don’t know where my journey will take me, but I am enjoying each step of the way!