"I'm so grateful I chose to be an English major! My writing ability
has probably had the most significant effect on my law career so far, with oral
skills coming in at a close second. The writing skills I developed at Villanova
gave me a strong advantage at Penn Law School -- and I don't say any of the
following to brag in any way but as proof that the English Department is fabulous
and really helped me: in my first year at law school, I earned an Honors mark
in Legal Practice Skills (a class that heavily focuses on improving writing
skills), in my third year I was selected as a writing instructor (I assisted a
professor in providing written feedback on students' memoranda and briefs), and
I secured this clerkship in part because of my writing ability (I had to submit
a writing sample as part of my application).
"As a judicial law clerk, I draft opinions every day. Although the
form of my legal writing may 'look' different from the style of
writing I learned in classes at Villanova, I carry the fundamentals with me:
organizational structure, grammar, parallelism, clear reasoning, transitions,
knowing your audience, simplifying complex concepts for the reader without
losing the complexity of the thought.
"Also, because I have built up confidence and patience from reading
Shakespeare and other difficult authors at Villanova, when I come across pretty
difficult opinions, I am more patient in breaking down and analyzing what the
court is saying.
"I am currently clerking in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
for Gerald Pappert. He graduated from Villanova as well. Small world!
"I will start at Latham & Watkins in New York this coming Fall."
Thanks for the kind words, Danielle, and good luck with the new job! We're very proud of you!
Danielle Sekerak, with her parents Dr. Richard and Mary Sekerak, after she was sworn into the New York State Bar
