What drew me to NExT is its commitment to expanding diversity, access, and opportunity within tech law. There are more ways than ever to build a career in this space, but those possibilities aren’t always easy to see or navigate alone. By connecting professionals invested in lifting each other and advancing the field as a whole, NExT is bringing those opportunities into view and creating pathways. That mission speaks to my own professional journey and makes joining this community feel like a full-circle moment.

My Professional Journey

I graduated from law school in 2009 and, like many of my peers, I was swept up in the momentum of on-campus recruiting. Big Law was the goal. It was what everyone was talking about and felt like the clearest measure of success.

I began my career as a litigation and bankruptcy associate at an Am Law firm. It was an exceptional training ground, and I worked with talented colleagues who modeled excellence and professionalism. But a few years in, I realized something uncomfortable: I had chosen a path without ever asking why. I hadn’t reflected on what kind of lawyer – or professional – I wanted to become. I had pursued opportunity, but not necessarily alignment.

That realization led to my first real pivot. I left practice and joined the Office of Career Planning at New York Law School. What looked like an abrupt shift was actually the beginning of intentionality. I wanted to help current students engage in the reflection and exploration I hadn’t done. To ask better questions. To understand that a law degree is not a single lane, but a toolkit. During my years in career counseling, I had the privilege of helping students take ownership of their professional development and define success on their own terms.

Eventually, though, I missed the substance of legal work – particularly research. (I’ve always been a research nerd.) That pull led me to LexisNexis, where I spent more than a decade teaching research fundamentals to students and junior attorneys and guiding institutions as they integrated new tools into their practice. Over time, that exposure to evolving platforms and workflows sparked a deeper interest in legal technology and the ways innovation was reshaping the profession.

As I followed those shifts more closely, I became increasingly drawn to eDiscovery. As technology has accelerated, so has the volume and complexity of discoverable data. Courts are grappling with novel questions. Organizations are struggling to keep pace. I became fascinated by how technology was transforming the mechanics of review. And with that, earlier this year, I made another pivot and joined Legalpeople as Director of Client Solutions.

Today, I work in Managed Document Review, helping firms and corporate legal departments staff and execute complex review projects with experienced, carefully vetted legal talent. It’s my first true business development role – building a book from the ground up. It’s exciting and, to be honest, nerve-wracking. But it also feels like a culmination of everything that came before: Big Law training, counseling, tech expertise, and a deep respect for the people behind the work.

My long-term aspiration is to stay at the intersection of law, technology, and people in a way that widens access and creates real opportunity. I want the path into legal tech to feel clearer and more attainable for those coming behind me. That’s why NExT is such a strong fit – it’s built on that very mission: expanding visibility, access, and support so the next generation can navigate this space with confidence and connection.

What I Wish I Knew

Looking back, what do I wish I had known earlier?

First, that success in this profession doesn’t follow a single blueprint. The prestige-driven narrative in law school can narrow your field of vision. Exploration isn’t a sign of weakness or waffling – its evidence of growth and ownership.

Second, I didn’t fully appreciate how transferable our skills are. Analytical thinking, writing, client management, adaptability – these travel well. Understanding that sooner would have made each pivot feel less like a risk and more like an evolution.

Third, I underestimated the importance of mentorship beyond traditional pathways. Most of my early mentors followed conventional routes. Exposure to leaders in alternative and innovative roles would have broadened my thinking much earlier.

Why NExT Matters Now

For me, NExT represents both community and responsibility.

Community, because I’m surrounded by accomplished professionals shaping the legal tech ecosystem. As someone still relatively new to eDiscovery and business development, being part of a network that shares knowledge generously is invaluable. It’s reassuring to know I’m not navigating this evolution alone.

Responsibility, because I remember what it felt like to stand at the starting line without a clear map. Through the NExT Ambassador Program, we’re building pipelines – connecting students and early-career professionals with mentors who provide transparency, guidance, and access. That work resonates deeply with my background in career counseling and allows me to continue helping others see possibilities they may not yet see for themselves.

I see my contribution to this movement as threefold. First, to translate – helping the next generation understand what legal tech roles actually look like day-to-day. Second, to connect – leveraging my relationships to open doors. And third, to advocate – championing the idea that there is room in this field for diverse backgrounds, nonlinear paths, and varied definitions of success.

If my career has taught me anything, it’s that growth and generosity are not competing goals. The most meaningful progress happens when we pursue both at the same time.  NExT embodies that philosophy. We climb – but we also lift. And I’m grateful to be part of a community committed to doing both, intentionally and together.