Before starting his legal studies at UDSL, third-year law student Brandon Stewart traveled the globe, with stops in Costa Rica, the Bahamas, Syria, Israel and Korea. He continued his exploration by completing his legal externship last summer in Australia. “I know that the world is bigger than the United States. We may consider ourselves to be the most powerful nation, but that does not mean we have the most effective answers,” Stewart said. “I believe that to have the best legal system you must understand how other countries’ legal systems are structured to see if there’s a better way to structure our own.” In Australia, Stewart worked for a firm that handled workers’ compensation and common tort law. Sometimes he had the opportunity to conduct Brandon Stewart at the Liverpool Courthouse: “I wanted to be able to research for a see the individuals who didn’t have family or work on a a voice and be their voice.” criminal case. In his first week, he noticed a key difference from the American legal system. “The Australian legal system uses solicitors and barristers while the American legal system only uses lawyers, which is essentially both a solicitor and barrister in Australia,” Stewart said. “Solicitors work directly with clients as they prepare contracts, wills, probate documents and attend to other paperwork as well as investigating the facts of the matter, writing letters to other parties and preparing paperwork for the courts if the client is involved in a dispute.” “If a solicitor cannot handle the case, the solicitor will recommend a qualified and experienced barrister appropriate to the budget of the client and the nature of their case to be their advocate to help resolve the case.” Although he’s studying law, the Jackson, Tenn., native doesn’t see himself becoming a lawyer. A devoted member of his church and member of the Air Force Reserves, he knew he wanted a career that kept him close to his faith and asked himself how he could affect change through his beliefs. After getting a bachelor’s in English and communication and a master’s in theology, he decided law school was the next step. “I wanted to be able to see the individuals who didn’t have a voice and be their voice,” said Stewart. “My dream job would be three-fold; I would love to be a mayor back home, work as an Air Force Reserve chaplain and work for a nonprofit organization.” —Megan Garrison ’14
EXPERT INSTRUCTION
Down under
HOW TO USE YOUR LAW DEGREE OUTSIDE THE LEGAL PROFESSION DAVID GONSIOR ’85 says he used his legal education daily working for three Fortune 500 companies. Yet he never spent a day in a law office as a practicing attorney after graduating from UDSL — he spent most of his 30-year career in corporate real estate. Gonsior isn’t alone among law school students and graduates pursuing or possessing a juris doctorate considering or currently working in non-law related careers. Now retired from the corporate world, Gonsior, who does part-time work as a real estate consultant, presents seminars and offers résumé reviews for law school students interested in careers outside the legal industry.
Here are some of his tips.
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Determine whether you want to compete for a decreasing pool of lawrelated jobs. The Wall Street Journal reported that just 55 percent of 44,000 graduates in 2011 had landed full-time law-related jobs nine months after graduation with a term of at least one year. Those prospects sound bleak, but Gonsior said the corporate world is eager to hire people with legal experience. “I used my law degree almost every day,” said Gonsior, who built a career at former Dayton corporate giants Mead, NCR and National City managing real estate projects. Identify potential career paths. Gonsior suggests real estate, corporate risk management and insurance, compliance, tax work, consulting, intelligence (FBI, CIA), labor relations and government agencies among the career sectors that value law school grads. Tailor your résumé accordingly. “It’s clear that a corporate résumé will be different than a legal one,” he says. Highlight skills gained from a law school education that would benefit a corporation or nonprofit, such as research, analysis, writing and public speaking skills. A strong knowledge of the law and how it applies to the job’s needs should send your résumé to the short list. Lay down your sword. A legal education provides the tools needed to make a winning case, but business success thrives on teamwork. Once you’ve landed the job, use your analytical skills to help the group craft a solution. “You have to disarm yourself in the corporate world. Instead of winning an argument, you have to seek consensus,” Gonsior says. —Shannon Shelton Miller
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Gonsior says he’s happy to provide a résumé review for students interested in careers outside the legal profession. Contact him at dsgonsior@gmail.com for more information.
SPRING 2014
DAYTON LAWYER
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