Lexington IP Associate Talks Gen Z's Impact on the Legal Industry to Law360

Law360 recently reached out to Dinsmore intellectual property associate and Harvard Law grad Faith Jackson, for her thoughts on a shift that's underway in the legal industry. As Generation Z starts to enter its workforce, the publication wanted to take a look at how the younger generation approaches their career and practice. An excerpt is below:

By the time Faith Jackson graduated from Harvard Law School last year, she had racked up an impressive resume. In between stints as a BigLaw summer associate, Jackson had been elected student body co-president, worked on the 2020 campaign trail and served as a combat medic for the National Guard.

Jackson had her pick of job offers. But she chose to become an associate at large regional firm Dinsmore & Shohl LLP in Kentucky — a decision Jackson said was partially driven by where her partner would be working. While attorneys from previous generations may have feared making a similar choice, Jackson said today's fledgling attorneys know that "prioritizing sustainability" can be the best career move.

"There is a stereotype that Gen Z is whiny and does not want to work. But I think people in Gen Z are actually making work more sustainable; it's quite the opposite of not wanting to work, as Gen Z is fighting against the culture of 'work in a big job two years, burn out, go elsewhere,'" Jackson toldLaw360 Pulse in an email. "I think we are prioritizing going to roles that interest us, in cities we want to live in, at firms that value us."

While law firm leaders acknowledge that every generation may want many of the same things at work — like mentorship and interesting opportunities — they're also actively trying to attract and retain young attorneys who are less interested in long-term career tracks, money and clout.

Jackson noted that Dinsmore's flexibility has allowed her to bring in new kinds of clients, "even as a first-year," and assist two Black business owners in protecting their intellectual property, something she said she's passionate about.

Read the entire article here.