Preparing for Career & Life Success

Preparing for Career & Life Success

As part of Notre Dame's Career & Life Success Program, eight students and program leaders attended Santa Clara University’s Women in Law Panel event, created in celebration of Women’s History Month.  During the visit, students participated in a mini-lecture led by the dean of the law school, Lisa Kloppenberg, the first female dean at Santa Clara University. They also took a tour of the law school and met with several professors. The visit concluded with a panel of professionals discussing the topic of women in law. Panelists answered questions about their own career trajectories, challenges and successes of being women in a male-dominated profession and offered advice for young law professionals. Students were given the opportunity to ask questions of professors and current law school students, shedding light on some important topics as they plan for the future.  

“I think that one of the most encouraging things about the event was how they discussed the wide variety of paths people take to law school," shared Kyra Soares '17. "You don't have to take pre-law or history - follow your interests!”  

Sophomore Genevieve Richards noted that “...one of the most important takeaways I got from this trip was that you can stay true to yourself.”  The students found the sage words of the panelists encouraging as well and they shine as models in the field for young women.  

“I felt pretty empowered knowing that these women on the panel worked so hard to be where they are today,” said Isabel Asuncion '18.  To increase the percentage of women in law, Santa Clara University hopes to partner with schools like Notre Dame to encourage and expose women to opportunities and draw them into becoming women of impact in the field.