Lawyers' Career Journeys and Insights

In 10 years, the panelists see themselves continuing their fulfilling careers, while jokingly expressing reservations about being reborn as lawyers again.

### Navigating Legal Careers, Korean-American Identity, and Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
* 🎓 Panelists Karen Kim, Judge Judy Kim, and Brian Song share their diverse legal career journeys and insights, spanning **in-house counsel, judiciary, and big law litigation**.
* 🇰🇷 As ethnic Koreans, they discuss the impact of their Korean-American background on their professional lives, highlighting challenges as the "**first or only**" and the importance of **resilience**.
* ⚖ Hard and soft skills are deemed equally crucial for professional progression, with an emphasis on **building relationships, delivering quality work, and developing a well-rounded skill set**.
* ⚖ Judge Judy Kim shares her experience as the "**first or only**" Asian litigator and judge, reflecting on the cultural factors that may contribute to the **underrepresentation of Koreans in litigation**.
* ⚖ Balancing work and life in the high-stress legal field is a common challenge, with strategies such as **setting boundaries**, **prioritizing family time**, and **understanding one's limits**.
* 🎬 The panelists' favorite legal-themed movies include "**My Cousin Vinny**," "**To Kill a Mockingbird**," and "**A Few Good Men**," with "**My Cousin Vinny**" serving as a **valuable teaching tool for trial advocacy**.
* 🦄 Imposter syndrome is a shared challenge among the panelists, with Karen Kim discussing how **daily practice of not second-guessing one's experience and advocating for oneself** is key to overcoming it.
* 🦄 Brian Song grapples with the distinction between being a litigator and a trial lawyer, highlighting the struggle of defining one's qualifications in an "**ephemeral**" field.

### Korean American Lawyers: Career Insights and Advice
* 🇰🇷 Korean American lawyers share their experiences with **impostor syndrome**, **lack of confidence**, and the struggle to **recognize their qualifications**.
* ⚖ The process of becoming a judge in New York County involves a **merit-based screening panel** and a **political process** of securing support from district leaders and party members.
* 🎓 There are various paths to entering the legal field, such as **joining the military to obtain GI Bill benefits for law school**, participating in **public interest loan forgiveness programs**, or working in **legal support roles**.
* 👩 Building confidence and seeking mentorship are **crucial for success** in the legal profession, especially for underrepresented groups like Korean Americans.
* 🌏 Korean American lawyers may have opportunities to work on **international cases involving Korean companies** or to practice law in Korea as **expat lawyers**.
* ⚖ Changing the law is a challenging and lengthy process, but lawyers can advocate for legal reforms through **lobbying efforts** and by **serving in the legislative branch**.
* 📈 Career decisions like choosing a law firm or a practice area should be based on **personal fit and long-term goals**, rather than external rankings or societal expectations.
* 🔮 The panelists reflect on their future career aspirations, with one aiming to **become a federal judge** and others expressing a desire to **continue their current work or retire**.

YPN | Legal Career Insights: A Panel Discussion

The Korea Society is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) organization with individual and corporate members that is dedicated solely to the promotion of greater awareness, understanding and cooperation between the people of the United States and Korea. In pursuit of its mission, the Society arranges programs that facilitate discussion, exchanges and research on topics of vital interest to both countries in the areas of public policy, business, education, intercultural relations and the arts. Funding for these programs is derived from contributions, endowments, grants, membership dues and program fees. From its base in New York City, the Society serves audiences across the country through its own outreach efforts and by forging strategic alliances with counterpart organizations in other cities throughout the United States as well as in Korea.

The Korea Society

Career Panel Discussion at the Korea Society

- The event is a part of the Young Professionals Network series in collaboration with the Asian-American Bar Association of New York, featuring speakers with diverse legal backgrounds.

- The panelists include Karen Kim, Senior Counsel at QBE North America, Judge Judy Kim, Acting Justice of the Supreme Court, New York State Supreme Court, Brian Song, Litigation Partner at Baker Hostetler, and Dami Park, Director of Business and Legal Affairs at Concord Music Group.

- Karen Kim provides business support in the legal department of an insurance carrier, Judge Judy Kim handles a variety of civil matters as an acting Supreme Court Justice, and Brian Song's legal practice focuses on commercial and white-collar litigation, while also serving as an army reservist.

Many lawyers have taken non-traditional paths to their legal careers, including working in different fields before law school and seeking diverse experiences in small firms.

Some have transitioned from corporate paralegals to litigation, then to public service, and eventually to becoming a judge.

Networking and building connections with peers is emphasized as valuable for law school students, along with active involvement to build a strong support system.

Navigating a Career in Law and Overcoming Challenges

Navigating the legal industry without guidance can be challenging, leading to a lack of exposure to different career paths and opportunities for growth.

Developing both strong people skills and excellent work performance is crucial for success in the legal field, as building connections and trust with clients and partners is essential.

Being the first or only person of Korean descent in the professional environment can present biases and challenges, highlighting the ongoing need for diversity and representation in the legal industry.

The Experience of Korean Americans and Lawyers

Korean and Korean American culture is characterized by resilience and pride, with a growing recognition of their identity.

Korean American lawyers face challenges in the legal profession, influenced by cultural traits of modesty and high expectations.

Maintaining a work-life balance is a struggle for lawyers, but setting boundaries and prioritizing health is crucial for managing stress and workload.

The panelists also share tips for minimizing stress and the importance of understanding personal limits, as well as their favorite legal-themed movies.

The Impact of Korean Representation in "Extracurricular" and Legal Dramas

"Extracurricular" is praised for its portrayal of an autistic main character, reflecting Korea's development in representation and diversity.

"My Cousin Vinny" and "A Few Good Men" are classic legal movies that, despite some exaggerations, touch on important aspects of the legal profession.

The struggle with imposter syndrome and self-doubt is evident in the experience of applying for jobs and defining one's professional identity, especially as a litigator.

It takes at least 10 years of practicing experience to become a judge in Manhattan, with a specific application and election process.

The political process in Manhattan requires candidates to be registered Democrats and go through a screening panel and a rigorous election campaign.

The process also involves getting nominated by the Democratic party and potentially participating in a primary race before winning the seat.

Joining a screening panel or a mayoral advisory committee are both intensive but rewarding pathways to becoming a judge.

Different types of judges, such as housing court judges, have different appointment processes and term lengths.

There are alternative ways to enter the field, such as clerking for a judge or having law school paid for by joining the ROC.

Seeking mentorship is crucial in the legal profession, offering guidance on career choices and providing valuable perspective.

Building confidence is key for attorneys presenting in court, as it can significantly impact their effectiveness.

Building relationships and networking is essential in the small and tight-knit legal community, offering potential career opportunities and professional growth.

Making Career Decisions and Finding Success

The ranking of a law firm is not as important as perceived, as the key to success lies in the fit with the work environment.

Career paths are not always linear, and it's crucial to make decisions based on what is good for the present, rather than planning for a decade ahead.

Finding a job that you love and is personally fulfilling is more important than societal perceptions of success or external expectations.

Navigating Cross-Country Legal Systems and Law Changes

Working with different countries' laws, especially in Korea, can be challenging due to the unique legal environment and black letter law system.

Changing laws is a slow and ambitious process, often taking years to make even small edits.

Lawyers dealing with international cases involving Korean companies face difficulties due to the significant differences in Korean privacy statutes, making litigation challenging.