Meet Jonique A. Crawford (2LW) — A dedicated paralegal at Wilson Elser in Madison, NJ, Jonique is combining her MPA, litigation experience, and passion for public service as she pursues her JD. This fall, she has been externing with The Honorable David Dugan in the Essex County Superior Court, Family Division.
What motivated you to pursue your JD after earning your MPA and building a successful paralegal career?
I’ve always known I wanted to be an attorney. My MPA gave me a solid foundation in public service and policy, but working as a paralegal made it clear that I wanted to be the one drafting the arguments and advocating on behalf of clients. Law school was the next step to get there.
How has your experience at Wilson Elser shaped your understanding of the legal field?
It has shown me just how much goes into litigation behind the scenes. The pace is fast, the details matter, and strong communication makes all the difference. I’ve also learned how important client relationships are—keeping clients informed and confident really shapes how a case moves forward.
You’ve worked across multiple practice areas — which one has been the most interesting or rewarding for you, and why?
I find the premises liability and personal injury cases most interesting. I like the challenge of digging through records, working with experts, and seeing how strategy changes depending on the facts. It keeps me learning and engaged.
What excites you most about your current judicial externship with Judge Dugan in the Family Division?
It’s been exciting seeing how things look from the judge’s perspective—how arguments are received and how decisions are made. Family law cases are personal, and the externship has given me insight into how the law impacts people’s daily lives. I’ve also been sharpening my legal writing and analytical skills through this experience.
Can you share a professional accomplishment you’re particularly proud of?
I’m proud of stepping into more responsibility at my firm, especially preparing cases for trial and organizing materials for expert witnesses. It feels good knowing my work helps attorneys go into court ready and confident.
How do you balance your professional work, law school studies, and personal life?
It’s not easy, but I plan ahead and try to be intentional with my time. Most importantly, I lean on my faith—because whew, I don’t know how I’d do it without God. On the hard days, I remind myself to give myself grace.
What skills from your paralegal career have helped you excel as a law student?
Definitely organization and time management. As a paralegal, you learn to juggle deadlines and manage a lot of information at once, and that carries over into law school.
Outside of your legal work, you enjoy reading, hiking, blogging, and event planning — how do these activities help you recharge and stay inspired?
They help me reset. Reading and blogging let me step into different perspectives and be creative. Hiking clears my head. Event planning taps into my detail-oriented side but in a way that’s fun.
What advice would you give to students who are considering working while in law school?
Do it, but be real with yourself about what you can handle. Working and going to law school at the same time is tough, but it also gives you valuable experience. Build a routine, lean on your support system, and give yourself grace when it gets overwhelming.
Looking ahead, how do you envision combining your skills, experience, and legal education in your future career?
I see myself combining my litigation background, my policy experience, and my JD to focus on tech law—especially data privacy and AI. It’s a space that’s growing and constantly changing, and I want to be part of shaping how the law keeps up while still protecting people.
