Westlaw Reference Staff Attorney

Name: Nicole Lexvold

Major: American Studies

Law School: University of MN School of Law

Description of your job: I am a Westlaw Reference Staff Attorney who assists attorneys, paralegals, and their staff with researching legal issues. I also have a private practice specializing in estate planning.

Do you have any advice for students who are considering going to the same law school you did? Be confident. You are attending a great school for a reason. Also utilize your reasources. The University of MN Law School has one of the top law libraries in the country (as well as phenomenal Librarians!), as well as, nationally renknowned experts (professors) who are happy to get to know and assist their students.

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?

Two things:

Remembering my passions (international human rights) and pursuing opportunities involving them. The law school and university community has many opportunities to combine your pursuit of a legal degree and your passions. I spent my summer after my first year of law school in a rural village in Nepal, thanks to the Upper Midwest Human Rights Fellowship.

Second, talking to my professors. The professors at the University of MN Law School are amazing. Many of them are nationally or internationally known in their field and they have open door policies for their students. They can provide direction and demystify the process for you.

If you had a chance to go through law school all over again, is there anything you would do differently? I would try to have a little more fun. I was very focused my first year and I think the amount of stress/pressure I placed on myself actually hindered my performance.

Do you have any final advice? Study hard and focus, but be sure to keep it in perspective. You had a life before law school and you want one after, therefore, you must maintain some connections with the people in your life not connected with law school...good luck!