Valerie Jackson (right), Senior Advisor to the Management Committee at K&L Gates, moderates the panel discussion for the audience of LCLD Mentee law students and Mentor attorneys. (Photo by Matt Galando of K&L Gates)

The Pittsburgh, PA office of K&L Gates LLP hosted a Group Mentoring Program event on March 30, 2016, partnering with PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (PNC). Fifty-one guests attended the event, not only including Pittsburgh-area LCLD Mentee law students and Mentor attorneys, but also other students from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and Duquesne University School of Law. LCLD Member Gregory Jordan, General Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer of PNC, also attended.

The focus of the event was a panel discussion on the topic, “What I Did On My Summer Vacation: Exploring Employment Options and Opportunities for Law Students After the Semester Ends.” The panelists discussed their experiences on the subject, and what law students can expect when they spend their summer(s) working for a law firm, a corporation, the government, a nonprofit organization, or clerking for a judge. 

Panelists included 2014 Fellow Alicia Powell, Managing Chief Counsel of the Asset Management Group at PNC; LCLD Mentor Nicholas Ranjan, Partner at K&L Gates; Sara J. Rose, Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Pennsylvania; and Lisa Stauffer, Senior Counsel at PNC. Thomas Smith, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Pittsburgh office, delivered an inspiring welcome to attendees, and LCLD Diversity Professional Valerie Jackson, Senior Advisor to the Management Committee at K&L Gates, moderated the discussion.

Following the presentation and Q&A, attendees enjoyed a reception where they networked with one another and spoke to the panelists individually. 

LCLD would like to thank Pittsburgh Mentoring City Leads and K&L Gates Associates Caitlin Beer and Lauren Garraux, and all of those at K&L Gates and PNC who made this event possible. We also extend a special thanks to the speakers and panelists who made the event a success.

For more information about the LCLD Success in Law School Mentoring Program, please contact Nancy Richardson, LCLD Program Manager.

Author Note: Emily Coon is a Legal Recruitment Coordinator at K&L Gates LLP. Jessica Smith is the Communications & Marketing Manager at LCLD.