Adventures in Employment - Bridget Knodel

Discover how Bridget Knodel, a 2L law student at Seton Hall, balances her legal studies, freelance music career, and leadership roles. From her summer internship at the NJ Attorney General’s Office to her passion for employment law, Bridget’s journey offers valuable insights into discipline, advocacy, and community service.

image of Bridget Knodel

Can you describe your experience working as a Summer Intern for the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office in the Consumer Affairs Counseling Section?

What were some of your key responsibilities? My experience working for the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office was great! In the Consumer Affairs Counseling section, I was responsible for researching different issues facing the various professional licensing boards. I worked for the Board of Medical Examiners, the Board of Nursing, and the Board of Mortuary Science. Normally, I would write memos for whichever Deputy Attorney General was assigned to that Board, but I also had the opportunity to share some research directly with one of the Boards at one of their Committee meetings.

How has your role as an Associate Editor for the Seton Hall Law Review influenced your legal writing and research skills?

I only just started my role as an Associate Editor for the Seton Hall Law Review, but it has already strengthened my attention to detail and exposed me to other styles of legal writing, which I hope will make my own writing stronger.

What motivated you to pursue a Juris Doctor at Seton Hall University School of Law, and how do you see your background in music contributing to your legal studies?

I decided to pursue a Juris Doctor at Seton Hall University School of Law because I needed a change professionally. While working for a few years between college and law school, I became aware of many legal issues that can arise in the workplace and realized that my talents would be better suited to law school and the legal field.

I think having a background in music really prepared me for the pressures of law school. Being a musician takes a lot of discipline and involves a lot of time preparing alone, but it culminates in one big performance where there are plenty of opportunities for things to go wrong. Music teaches you how to perform well under pressure. In law school, already having those skills helps a lot. It takes discipline in studying, but eventually, you have to bring back what you’ve learned to class and exams and be ready for whatever gets thrown at you.

Can you elaborate on your responsibilities and achievements as the Assistant Aquatics Director at the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA?

As the Assistant Aquatics Director at the Lakeland Hills Family YMCA, I was responsible for ensuring that the aquatics programs ran smoothly and had enough well-trained staff. I would run monthly in-services, schedule all the lifeguards and swim instructors, and fill in those positions as needed. I also interacted directly with members of the YMCA, especially parents and children in swimming lessons.

How do you balance your legal studies with your work as a freelance musician, and what skills have you developed from performing in high-pressure situations?

Right now, my legal studies take priority, so all my current work as a freelance musician is dependent upon my school schedule. This means that during the year, I primarily teach music lessons and cantor at my church. This summer, I was able to perform at some weddings and funerals in between my internship at the Attorney General’s Office. It’s all about time management and knowing what you need to be successful in both.

What insights did you gain from conducting research and drafting memos for professional boards like the Board of Nursing and Board of Medical Examiners during your internship at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office?

I learned a lot about statutory interpretation and administrative law. I also learned about how New Jersey operates behind the scenes, and it was awesome to see that what I learned during my research is actually used to benefit the people of the state.

As Public Relations Chair for the Labor and Employment Law Forum, what initiatives or projects are you most passionate about?

I’m most excited about expanding the reach of the Labor and Employment Law Forum. The entire e-board has been working on scheduling events we think will be interesting for students, and we’re hoping to collaborate more with other student organizations. Employment law affects everyone, so I’m excited to share it with others.

Can you share your experiences and learnings from working as a Research Assistant to Dr. Rebecca Cypess at Rutgers University?

Working with Dr. Cypess at Rutgers University was a great experience. She’s a wonderful person and did a lot to facilitate working not only with her but also with other expert musicologists across the world. While I ultimately did not pursue music academically, I still use the research skills she taught me. A big focus of the project I worked on with her was sharing academic information in a way that the average layperson can understand and take interest in, which I think is important in the legal field too.

How has your involvement in community service as a catechist at Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church impacted your personal and professional development?

Being involved in community service has taught me a lot about accountability. There are times when I would rather be doing something else, but I made a commitment and there are people who rely on that commitment. Serving as a catechist especially taught me that when you teach someone how to live, how you live is a stronger example than what you say.

With your diverse background in law, music, and leadership roles, what area of law are you most interested in pursuing, and why?

I am most interested in pursuing employment law because it touches on almost every area of life and affects every person. People spend a majority of their time working, and it’s important to have policies in place to keep the workplace safe and productive, and outlets for when things turn bad. Also, employment law has some of the most interesting cases—people at work are full of surprises.