For Nicole Stringfellow Langston ’14, her love of the University of Illinois runs deep. Both of her parents received their undergraduate degrees here, and Nicole herself met her future husband in law school. But those aren’t the only reasons she looks back fondly on her time at the University of Illinois College of Law.
“I also really enjoyed the mentorship I received. Dean V was vital to my success! As well as the career services department. I think I probably used them more than any other student my year - between applying for jobs, summer internships, the clerkship application process, and just general life advice - I was always in someone’s office asking a question!” Nicole said.
That work ethic and drive are what led Nicole to land not one but two prestigious judicial clerkships - one for the United States District of Delaware Bankruptcy Court as well as one for the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
“I recommend everyone clerk,” Nicole shared. “Not only is it prestigious, but it is better experience than you will get anywhere else in a one or two-year span. I think the most important thing I learned is that a well written brief can almost always win a case.”
Nicole was not the only one to benefit from these opportunities - she recently reached out to the College of Law to set up a summer externship program for 1Ls to work with Judge Bernice B. Donald on the Sixth Circuit. She noted that this kind of opportunity may extend into an offer of a clerkship or provide students with more opportunities to further advance in their career.
“I externed for a judge my 2L summer - that externship turned into a clerkship offer. I think a lot of clerkship offers are based on who you know and if you are in the right place at the right time.”
Currently, Nicole works at the Chicago office of law firm Jones Day, where she said there is no such thing as a typical day. She pointed out the similarities between her work there and the work she did during her circuit clerkship. What is really important in a workplace, Nicole said, are the people.
“When I left law school, I just wanted the best clerkships and to go to the best firm. I realized after a few years of practice that it is the people that make you want to keep going back to work every day. My co-clerks on the Sixth Circuit were all amazing and I loved going into work every day - I realized that I wanted a firm that felt the same way.”
Of course, the job does not come without its challenges. Nicole stressed the importance and difficulties of finding a work/life balance, as well as managing the expectations of others.
“The firm expects you to be 'on call' every day - nights, weekends, holidays, vacations. I think I am still trying to learn how and when to make time for myself outside of work. However, I know that I am naturally a workaholic - and as a black female I have to work ten times more than my counterparts to do well.”
Despite her clear aptitude for the profession, Nicole did not always know that she wanted to be a lawyer. Originally a pre-med student during her undergrad at Georgetown University, she could easily see herself as a doctor instead. Her interest in the medical profession led her to become passionate about the barriers African American citizens face in accessing healthcare.
“I have written extensively about the barriers of access to quality healthcare for African Americans. The majority of people in prisons are black and have mental illness. Police shoot and kill black people. That’s a public health issue,” Nicole said.
As a student who published several legal articles during her law school years, Nicole achieved her goal - to be known for her writing skills.
However, she warned that success does not come without failure, and sometimes, success may come in a different form than expected. She credited her favorite book, It Happens After Prayer by H.B. Charles Jr., for reminding her of that lesson.
“No matter how much we want something, whether it be an interview, a job, a clerkship, etc., sometimes it just won’t work out that way. But that does not mean there are not even better things out there for you.”
Nicole encouraged current law school students to fully invest themselves in their interests, whatever they may be, and carve out a path for themselves based on those interests, even if that path is not a traditional one.
Her most important piece of advice?
“Never let anyone tell you ‘no.’”