Partner in Large Law Firm

Name: Andrew Tanick

Major: Political Science

Law School: Univ. of Minnesota

Description of your job: Partner at large law firm (Rider Bennett).

Do you have any advice for students who are considering to go to the same law school you did? Study hard, but also have fun, participate in outside activities, and make friends. Your law school friends are likely to remain friends, co‑workers, and referral sources for life.

Is there anything in particular that you did during your undergrad that benefited you more than anything else in getting through law school and/or transitioning into the legal profession? Took undergrad Constitutional Law class.

If you had a chance to go through law school all over again, is there anything you would do differently? No.

Is being a lawyer what you expected it would be? Why or why not? Yes, for the most part. The biggest surprise has been the need to constantly market, as clients do not just fall on your lap.

What is it like transitioning from being a law student to being a lawyer? Being responsible for clients' lives is a big change from being responsible for nobody except yourself. You can't coast in real life the way you might be able to in school.

Is there anything students should know about the legal profession before they decide to commit their life to it? If you want to go into private practice, be aware of the constant need to market. Practicing law is only part of your job; developing business is equally or more important.

What does a typical day look like for you as a lawyer? Really no such thing as a typical day, but things would include drafting correspondence, perhaps discovery or motions, talking or emailing with clients, communicating with opposing counsel, legal research, and working with other attorneys to strategize on cases. Also, most days include some element of marketing, and some element (at a law firm, anyway) of administrative work, e.g., partners' meeting, committee meeting, mentoring, etc.

Do you have any final advice? When I was in law school, the students who worked hard but did not become consumed by it did much better than those who killed themselves and had no fun. Your law school grades will go a long way toward determining your future employment, but studying a few hours a day and continuing to have a life will probably result in better grades than studying every waking hour and being completely stressed out. Plus, you will make friends and have fun!