The BC Law Impact blog is running a special series of alumni interviews featuring former Impact bloggers. Catch them all here.
What are you doing now? / What was your path to your current position?
Since graduating in May 2021, I have had two very different jobs. Currently, I am clerking for a federal judge in Norfolk, Virginia. Prior to the clerkship, however, I was working in-house at Citrix Systems, Inc. as a Privacy & Digital Risk Legal Fellow. I secured my clerkship in April 2020, so I decided to spend the one-year gap at Citrix where I knew I would gain a lot of hands-on experience doing privacy work. Plus, I was lucky enough to intern at Citrix in Summer 2020, and already loved working with the team there.
Something you wish you did while at BC?
It’s hard to narrow it down to just one thing because of all that BC has to offer! That being said, I wish I participated in a clinic. First, clinics are a great way to give back to the community. I also always heard wonderful things about the supervisors, clients, and meaningful work in which my friends were involved. This is definitely something I wish I took advantage of at BC, but trust me when I say the three years fly by!
Favorite thing you did? And/or, what did you do at BC that is most useful to you now?
Besides writing for Impact, of course, my favorite thing I did while at BC was extern at Tripadvisor. This was such a unique learning experience where I did actual, substantive work right from the start. I also made many great connections, and learned so much from everyone in Tripadvisor’s legal department. Because of COVID, my externship was completely remote, but it still was an amazing experience. Plus, I enjoyed having the weekly seminar to connect with classmates who were also externing. Not only was it interesting to hear the kind of work they were doing, but we all were really close by the end of it. It barely felt like a class.
In terms of the most useful thing I did at BC, it was, no doubt, Law Review. Yes, it was a ton of work, but the skills I learned from that experience have been invaluable, especially as a law clerk. I learned how to be an even stronger writer, editor, and legal researcher through the comment and note writing process. And as a member of E-Board, I got to hone some important organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
Who was the most valuable faculty member to you, and why?
The most valuable faculty member to me was Peter Lefkowitz, my Privacy Law professor. Going into law school, I thought I wanted to pursue a career in the privacy space, but I wasn’t entirely sure how to break in. Peter helped me secure my first privacy-related role at Citrix (where he was Chief Privacy & Digital Risk Officer), and has served as the best mentor over the years. He has had a tremendous impact on my career, and I was extremely lucky to meet him through BC.
On a related note, some favorite classes I took (besides Privacy Law) were: Media Law with Professor Pyle; Strategies for Effective Legal Analysis (a bar prep class) with Professor Stout; and Evidence with Professor Cassidy.
Favorite study spot on campus?
My favorite place to study was always the library. During exam crunchtime, you could likely find me on the top floor of the library in the quiet zone. But most of the time, I enjoyed studying in the basement with friends at the four-person tables. This environment provided some much needed (and easily accessible) study breaks.
Favorite study break activity?
My favorite study break activity was taking strolls to Legal Grounds from the library, or venturing to Cleveland Circle for Dunkin’ runs with friends.
Best piece of advice for current students?
Don’t worry if the path you are on is not identical to the path it seems everyone around you is taking. My career path, to date, is anything but typical. But it led to so many amazing and unique opportunities, which I wouldn’t change for the world. Also, find a good mentor or two early on, and be sure to keep that relationship strong, even when you may feel too busy for a phone call or coffee.
Courtney Ruggeri is a member of the Class of 2021, and a former Impact blog vice-president and president. Read all her posts here.
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