For Some Lawyers, the Path to Partnership Has Detours
Not every lawyer follows the traditional path from college to law school to law firm associate, yet some still manage to make partner.
The National Law Journal profiles several new partners who have done everything from flying fighter planes to traveling the country with a seven-foot-tall carrot.
Steven Ragland, a new partner at Keker & Van Nest, is the carrot-friendly lawyer. The giant vegetable was a prop he used while traveling around the country promoting vegetarian meals in schools, the NLJ story says. It was one of many things he tried after college.
He worked as a waiter, a teacher for a nonprofit, and a juggling clown. He went to law school at American University, spurning advice to transfer to a higher-level school. He told the NLJ he’s glad he stayed. He met Michael Tigar when he was teaching a course at the school, and ended up as of counsel at Tigar’s firm after graduation.
He also declined summer associate jobs to start a human rights litigation clinic. “I was following my heart and I ended up forging a deeper relationship with Michael Tigar, and opened up more avenues than what people would view as the safe route,” he told the NLJ.
Other lawyers profiled included:
• Michael McFadden of Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis, who spent eight years in the Navy and eight years at Hughes Communications. He was 37 when he joined Allen Matkins.
• John Kyle of Cooley Godward Kronish, who was a fighter pilot during an eight-year stint in the Marine Corps.
