Employer Name  

U.S. District Court Judge Julie Carnes

Employer  Website

Job Title  

law clerk

Additional education

Emory Law School - J.D. 2004

Briefly describe what you do   

I assist U.S. District Court Judge Julie Carnes in the review of pending civil matters and preparation of case orders.  My job focuses on research and writing.  I also supervise current law school interns.

What other jobs have you had?

Lukens Energy Group - economic analyst

What are the key skills, abilities, and personal qualities necessary to succeed in this type of work?  

- strong writing
- focused, detailed, comprehensive research skills
- ability to work under pressure
- ability to discern the real issues underlying a case

What do you enjoy most about your current position?  

- close working relationship with my judge
- independence in when and how I complete my work  assignments
- the respect my ideas and work product are given

Most important/valuable lesson or activity in college that impacted your career  

- serving as president of my sorority taught me how to build consensus, stand up for unpopular decisions, and pay attention to detail
- Economists in the Schools gave me an appreciation for the challenges teachers face every day

What advice for someone entering this field?

- spend some time shadowing a variety of attorneys to make sure you really want to be a lawyer (and aren't just interested in the idea of being a lawyer) before committing to law school
- consider taking some time off between your undergraduate work and law school; the experience will make you more attractive to future employers and give you time to gain the energy and focus necessary to really succeed in law school

Questions?

Email askalumni@trinity.edu
Put the name of the alumni you wish to contact in the subject line, then type your question.