Law and Order? The Practice? Suits?

 or How to Get Away with Murder?

Just like there are endless law shows on TV, there are many different ways to practice law.
Meet two young professionals who can help shed some light on the reality of a law career.

Teresa Reifsnyder, Esq.

Teagan Gregory, Esq.

Teresa and I met for lunch; Teagan graciously emailed his answers. 
(Teagan, I'll have to catch you at a Baltimore eating establishment and buy you a"refreshment" next time I'm there!)

My former student, Teresa (Marino) Reifsnyder (CCHS class of 2002) and Teagan Gregory, a close friend of my son-in-law, Colin Craft, helped me understand so much more about the world of a lawyer and what it takes to get there. I like to ask my interviewees if they knew in high school if they wanted to pursue the profession. In Teresa's case it was a definite yes---and why? "I enjoy competition, to win, to be right!" she laughed.  It seemed an easy and obvious choice to attend Catholic University and earn a BA in Politics with a Minor in Spanish.  She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2006.

Teagan's father is a lawyer, so he always had the idea in his mind, but he is also interested in a career in government or the military. Teagan graduated  Summa Cum Laude from the University of Delaware in 2009 with a BA in International Relations and Minors in Philosophy, Religious Studies, and East Asian Studies.

Undergrad (college) was only the beginning.....Next up, Law School.

To get in? "It is really hard," Teresa states, and I think this is something prospective lawyers must know. It's like when you're at the top of the class in 8th grade, and you are now in Honors classes in high school--now everyone is at the top and suddenly there's work to do! 

First, one must take (and pass) the LSATS (Law School Admission Tests), which is a 3 hour test on reading comprehension and logical thinking. "The score is it, " Teresa emphasized.  Needless to say, intense study and preparation is involved, all while (for many) still completing college assignments. 

One word of advice from Teresa. "It's a humbling experience. It's very competitive...students are ranked by their score." Again, this is something an aspiring lawyer should know. If you thrive in a situation like this, then you're in the right field.

Fast forward ....Teresa was accepted at the University of Baltimore School of Law.  Teagan attended the University of Michigan and graduated in 2012.  It's a 3 year program with "an intense work load." There is a lot of reading and writing, mostly to be prepared for class. Teresa  emphasized that there aren't tests or quizzes for classes--just one exam at the end which determines the grade. They both earned their Juris Doctor degree.

Law School...check. Now you're a lawyer!...Not yet. 

NOW one must pass the BAR exam, which determines if one is qualified to practice law.

It's a 2 - day exam: Day 1 is 6 hours of essays (Teresa pointed this out, probably since I was once her English teacher)  and Day 2 is 6 hours of multiple choice exams. 

DID SHE SAY 6 HOURS OF ESSAYS ???????? This is where, according to Teresa, one "must be an excellent writer." 

(I must pause and say this is where I felt a sense of self-satisfaction for me and my fellow teachers of the written word....it really DOES help to keep writing, to keep practicing!) Thanks, Teresa.

I learned that the "bar' reference is somewhat literal: if one passes he or she is  a "member" of a group of people who are allowed to work in front of the bar that separates the courtroom.  You are not a lawyer until you pass it, and after you do, you now become, "Esquire," or Teresa Reifsnyder, Esq. and Teagan Gregory, Esq."( If I worked that hard I would want those letters too!)  Teagan pointed out that the BAR exam is state specific, meaning if an individual takes the exam in Pennsylvania he or she can only practice there. He is currently licensed to practice law in Delaware and Washington, D.C. 

The Capitol Building in Harrisburg

(I just thought it was time to add an official-looking building)

Teresa is a Family Law attorney for JSDC Law Offices in Hershey, PA. Her work involves divorce procedures, child custody and child support cases, prenuptial agreements (agreements made by a couple before they marry about financial arrangements if the marriage would not last), and adoption. She doesn't have a "typical" day, but spends 5-6 days a month in the courtroom. Her work is driven by the current case she is working on (although she deals with about 20 active files at a time.) Her preparation involves meeting with clients (to assess a case and to prepare a client for the courtroom), writing letters, and taking phone calls. Her greatest reward? "When we win," she replied--emphasis on WE, not I. Teresa says clients win cases; her job is to just "highlight what is real." 

What is challenging? "Managing clients and making them have realistic expectations. It's hard to tell them something is not going to happen. It's hard to be honest in an emotional situation."

Life events have prepared Teresa for this career, and she advises students to take advantage of situations. She believes studying abroad is a wonderful opportunity for independence (She studied in Spain) and she has worked at several internships, some paid and some not.  


I'm going to let Teagan speak for himself......

THESE ARE THE FINAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FROM TEAGAN'S INTERVIEW. 

9. Where do you currently practice? What kind of law do you practice? 

I work in Washington D.C. at a firm that focuses on litigation with an emphasis on trial work.  Generally speaking, law can be divided into two main categories: litigation and transactional.  Litigation is maybe best described as the type of law people see on television.  When people or companies have a dispute, one party can file a lawsuit (or, in the criminal context, the government can bring a case), and litigators are the lawyers responsible for managing those matters, filing pleadings and motions, conducting trial or arbitrations or mediations, etc.  

Transactional lawyers, on the other hand, do things like drafting legal agreements, assisting in real estate transactions, and advising clients on how to structure and manage business affairs.  

There are also other types of law that arguably don’t fit within either the litigation or transactional definitions.  For example, regulatory law (focusing on interactions with government agencies), trusts and estates, and tax law.

Most of my work is intellectual property litigation (resolving disputes over patent rights), antitrust litigation (resolving disputes about allegedly noncompetitive business practices), and complex commercial litigation.  I’ve also done some criminal work and actually tried a murder case last year.

10. Did you consider another type....do you see yourself "changing" your area ? (I hope I'm making sense!)

Not really.  I realized pretty early on that I wanted to litigate and, more specifically, wanted to be a trial lawyer.  One thing many people don’t appreciate is that not all litigators have a lot of trial experience.  In fact, many lawyers have little to no experience actually trying or arbitrating a case.  Most civil cases settle, and most criminal cases result in a plea deal.  Trial experience is increasingly difficult to come by, but it’s what I most enjoy about my job, and I’m lucky enough to work at a firm perhaps best known for its trial work.

11. Is there a typical day for you? 

I’m usually working on several cases or potential cases simultaneously (unlike on television), and many cases can last for years (also unlike television).  Depending on what stage those cases are in, I or my colleagues might be learning about the facts of the case or the relevant industry, doing legal research, interviewing witnesses, writing briefs to file with the court, deposing witnesses, or preparing for trial.

12. Do you have partners? 

Most law firms (again, generally speaking) have partners and associates.  I’m an associate.

13. Do you meet with clients often?

From time to time.

14. How often are you in court?

Not as often as television would suggest.  On the type of large cases my firm handles, there often will be months between court hearings.  Other lawyers, like public defenders or prosecutors, might be in court every day.

15. How long does it take to prepare for a trial? 

In a sense, a lawyer is preparing for trial from the first day he begins working on a case.  But the really focused pretrial work (like preparing for witness examinations and organizing exhibits) can take a few weeks or months before trial.

16. Compare what we see on TV with reality!!!!!!

First, the cases don’t move as fast as on TV.  A complex civil case can last for years before trial, and then there’s often an appeal, and the entire case could come back again.

Second, unless you’re a criminal lawyer (and maybe working on less complex criminal cases), you likely won’t be in court every day.

Third, almost all legal practice involves a lot of reading and writing and attention to detail.  I spend the majority of my day reading, absorbing, and figuring out what to do with information.  This type of work doesn’t lend itself to good television.

I haven’t seen all of it, but the most realistic legal show on TV is probably The Good Wife—it glosses over the less exciting parts of the job, but it does capture some realities.

18. Advice for high school students considering this field?

I think the people that enjoy law the most are those who like reading, writing, and problem solving.  For litigators, a competitive personality might also be a “plus.”

19. What is your greatest reward in your job?

The best part of my job is getting to learn something new every day.  So much of my job is learning about an industry, learning about a product, learning about a technology, learning a witness’s story, or even learning a new area of law.  

20. ...and (or course) the greatest challenge.

The hours.  I think it’s impossible to be a good attorney without dedicating a lot of time to your job.  No matter what type of law one practices, it almost inevitably will require long hours.  There’s no way to fake knowledge of the facts or knowledge of the law, and acquiring that knowledge takes time.  I generally work closer to 60-70 hours/week than 40 hours/week, and when at trial, the hours can be significantly higher.  That said, it certainly helps that I enjoy my job.

Both Teresa and Teagan have worked hard, and it is quite obvious that they love what they do.

BC Students: Notice that they both emphasized how important reading and WRITING skills are for this occupation.

(texting doesn't count)

Write something every day!