Adventures in Employment - Emma K. Taylor

What made you decide that you wanted to go to law school?

I had a bit of a different path than most people who decide to go to law school because I didn’t have a lifelong dream of becoming a lawyer. After I graduated from Villanova with my bachelor’s degree, I knew I wanted to go to graduate school in some capacity. I ultimately decided law school would be the best option for me because it could open doors for my career—whether I chose to work in the legal field or pursue a JD-advantaged role. As luck would have it, I found a passion for practicing law and am excited to begin my career as an attorney!

Why did you choose Seton Hall?

I chose Seton Hall because of the community the school provides. When I was applying to law schools, I hoped to work in New York City after graduation and wanted to attend a school that was close to the city and had strong alumni connections in the area. Seton Hall was the perfect place for me to grow as a student and establish a robust network of colleagues I could rely on throughout my career. Every Seton Hall graduate is willing to help another current student or alum succeed—whether by assisting with a job reference or offering career advice over a coffee chat.

You took some time off from school before coming to law school—what did you do while not in school?

I moved to Washington, D.C., and worked as a policy analyst at Helicopter Association International (now Vertical Aviation International), a trade association for the vertical lift industry. I really enjoyed that experience and was fortunate to be part of a team that helped me develop my business skills and supported my decision to pursue law school.

How did your experiences before law school shape your employment decisions in law school?

The most important thing I learned from my pre-law school experiences was how much I valued being part of a supportive team. When interviewing at various firms, I was always most curious about how the attorneys interacted with each other and what kind of work environment each firm offered. I ultimately chose to join Simpson Thacher as a 2L summer associate because of the warm, welcoming, and supportive culture at the firm.

What firm did you work at during your 1L summer?

I worked at Marino, Tortorella & Boyle, P.C., during my 1L summer.

You chose to apply for other positions with other firms for your 2L summer. Why was that?

MTB is a small boutique litigation firm based in New Jersey, and I realized during that summer that litigation practice might not be for me. I became more interested in transactional (or corporate) law and decided to pursue 2L positions at large (“Big Law”) firms in New York City. That way, I could try various corporate practice groups, pivot back to litigation, or even explore something completely new—like tax or real estate law.

What did you like about your 1L summer experience? Would you change the decision you made to work for a firm? Why or why not?

I really enjoyed my 1L summer experience because I assisted with research, writing, and discovery for real cases that the firm was handling. It was thrilling to finally gain hands-on experience and practice skills I had only encountered in a classroom. I also appreciated that MTB was a small firm—I had the opportunity to meet and work alongside all the partners and associates.

Last summer you worked at Simpson Thacher. What did you most enjoy about that experience?

My favorite part of my experience at Simpson was the people! I didn’t expect to bond with so many summer associates and full-time attorneys, but I walked away with relationships I can truly call friendships. I also appreciated the firm’s robust mentorship program, which matched each summer associate with a first- or second-year associate mentor and a partner mentor. I met with both frequently for coffee and lunches. On top of that, I loved how much autonomy I had over my workload—I was consistently able to choose assignments from the practice groups I was most interested in, and the firm made that process very easy.

You’ve been very involved in extracurriculars around the law school. Why did you choose that route instead of pursuing other internships?

I chose to prioritize extracurriculars because I wanted to immerse myself in the full law school experience. I was fortunate to be selected to join the Seton Hall Law Review and the Interscholastic Moot Court Board at the end of my 1L year. I wanted to fully dedicate myself to both. I also served as the SBA Secretary during my 2L year. I have a habit of spreading myself too thin sometimes, so I decided to stick with my in-school commitments and forgo a semester-long internship. It turned out to be a smart decision—since I’d already identified the type of law I wanted to pursue after my 1L summer, I didn’t feel the need to gain experience in another area during the semester.

What is the organization at the law school that you’ve most enjoyed?

I’ve most enjoyed my time on the Interscholastic Moot Court Board! Moot court taught me a brand-new set of skills I never imagined I’d develop. Through competitions, I learned to think on my feet, respond directly to questions, and verbally communicate complex material clearly and effectively. These are skills I’ll use for the rest of my life, whether I’m in a courtroom or a conference room. I also value the friendships I’ve built through moot court—it introduced me to a close-knit community I’ll remain connected to for years to come