Informational Interview With An Aspiring Lawyer

Posted Friday, January 28, 2022 by Pivotal Law Group

On November 22, 2021, attorney Kim Sandher and myself met with student Aashi Uppal for an informational interview. Ms. Uppal is a seventh-grade student at Inglewood Middle School in Sammamish, Washington. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she spent some time reflecting on her career aspirations and decided she wanted to become a lawyer. Ms. Uppal reached out her school counselor Ms. Tiffany Jones for advice. At the end of their conversation, Ms. Jones had a lightbulb moment, and asked Ms. Uppal, "Would she like to talk to real lawyers who are actually working in the field?" Her answer was a resounding yes! After reaching out to Ms. Uppal’s parents for permission, Ms. Jones reached out to Pivotal Law Group to schedule an interview.

During the interview, we answered questions about different lawyers’ practice areas, what the bar exam is like (intense!), and how to become a lawyer. The path to becoming a lawyer is very long when you start in seventh-grade. Ms. Uppal very thoughtfully also inquired into the realities of working as a lawyer and asked, “What are the ups and downs of being a lawyer?” Being lawyers, we answered, “It depends on what you consider an ‘up’ or ‘down’.” This was not to be cheeky, but to appreciate the subjective perspectives of individual lawyers. Lawyers have differing interests and values which inform their perspectives on what is an ‘up’ or ‘down’. And to her question, “Do lawyers work a lot?” The answer is generally yes; however, it depends on the lawyer’s employer, practice area, and personal choices.

We were impressed with Ms. Uppal’s questions and her goal of becoming a lawyer. One piece of advice we shared with Ms. Uppal—enjoy being a seventh grader! And, while it is important to study hard, it is also important to have balance in life and enjoy spending time with friends. Enjoying the present moment and practicing balance are skills Ms. Uppal can take with her into the legal profession, or any other career. I wish Ms. Uppal the best in her studies and endeavors!

If you have questions, please feel free to contact attorney Alyssa Nevala at (206) 340-2008 or ANevala@PivotalLawGroup.com.