On March 12, the Barristers Club of the Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF) presented a panel discussion entitled “Job Search Strategies for Diverse Law Students.”  The event was organized by the Barristers Club’s Diversity Committee, in conjunction with the Asian American Bar Association, Bay Area Lawyers for Individual Freedom (BALIF), Charles Houston Bar Association, The San Francisco La Raza Lawyers Association, and The Minority Bar Coalition.  DISCO, a leader in e-discovery technology management services, sponsored the event, allowing the Barristers Club to provide hors d’oeuvres. The sponsorship also allowed the first twenty-eight students who registered and attended to receive a BASF membership. Thank you, DISCO!

The event took place at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco.  Approximately forty law students attended—a great turnout!  The students hailed from Bay Area law schools including UC Hastings, University of San Francisco, Santa Clara University, and Golden Gate University.

Diversity Committee Co-chair Nadim Hegazi, Collins Collins Muir + Stewart, moderated the event, and the panels were comprised of diverse attorneys with many of years of professional experience to share with students. Panelists included Nathaniel Dunn, Ropers Majeski Kohn Bentley, Nadia Arid, Farella Braun + Martel, Jessica Bogo, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, and Lisa Mak, Minami Tamaki.

The panelists discussed the importance of networking and joining minority bar associations; job search strategies during law school and as attorneys; ways for applicants to highlight unique skills that employers may be looking for; and how to advance one’s career. Many students asked questions during the event and spoke to panelists afterward.

The Barristers Club thanks all the panelists for their time and insights.  We look forward to providing more events for diverse law students.

About the author:

Nadim Hegazi is an attorney at Collins Collins Muir + Stewart and is serving in his second year as Diversity Director on the Barristers Club Board of Directors.