January 4th 2014: WCL Alumni Panel at Tulane University

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and the streets were buzzing down Magazine Street on Saturday, January 4^th, 2014. We had our first long break of the week, since the previous Sunday, and we finally had time to explore the neighborhood by our hostel. We found a thrifty hat shop, an amazing donut store with sweet & savory donuts (including a croque monsieur donut), and a delicious Jewish deli (they even had Taylor ham…woah).

After our exploration of the neighborhood and a quick drive-by through the French Quarter, we went to Tulane University to get the dish on the legal field in New Orleans and some advice for law school from AU WCL alumni. We learned that biotechnological law and entertainment law are up-and-coming in New Orleans. Maritime law is another great field of law to practice in Louisiana. All three alumni thought that New Orleans would improve in the next ten years and many employment opportunities would flourish, including within the legal department.

They also said that we should only come to practice in New Orleans if:

1)   We love New Orleans and its particular culture!

2)   We get to know someone in whichever legal field we are interested in because New Orleans is a small community where everyone knows everyone.

3)   And we research and find a particular legal field that is prevalent in New Orleans.

Afterwards, we went to the French Quarter once again and explored the live music and jazz scene of Frenchman Street. We enjoyed the suave sounds of a multitude of instruments, such as the deep calling of a bass, the smooth sounds of a saxophone, the tease of a piano, and the bright resonance of a guitar while watching the football playoffs of the Saints versus the Eagles. Since we were there, the Saints obviously won the game in a dramatic finish.

All in all, we were able to see a bit of New Orleans’ soul and to be tempted into thinking that one day, we may be one of the WCL’s alumni giving advice to the bright-eyed and young law school students visiting the mysterious voodoo queen that is New Orleans.

Jacqueline Youm