Charlotte Vaudoit’s Post

After years of relentless hard work, countless late nights, and navigating through obstacles that seemed insurmountable at times, I have finally started my career as an associate attorney in the State of New York. The journey has been arduous, marked by challenges and setbacks, but through unwavering determination and resilience, I've emerged victorious. As an immigrant, the path to becoming a licensed attorney in the United States was fraught with hurdles. Leaving behind the familiar and embarking on a new chapter in a foreign land was both exhilarating and daunting. Pursuing my LLM in the U.S. was a dream fueled by ambition, yet it brought with it its own set of challenges. There were moments when self-doubt crept in, and the temptation to give up loomed large. But in those moments of uncertainty, I reminded myself of the power of perseverance and the importance of staying true to my dreams. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to work alongside brilliant legal minds at the The Law Offices of Melissa A. Day, PLLC. Each day, I am inspired by their expertise, passion, and commitment to justice. Their mentorship and support will play a pivotal role in shaping my journey and reaffirming my belief in the power of teamwork and collaboration. To those who may be treading a similar path, facing their own set of challenges, I offer this reminder: never underestimate the strength that lies within you. In the face of adversity, let perseverance be your guiding light, and let your dreams be the compass that leads you forward. Remember that every setback is merely a stepping stone to success, and every obstacle is an opportunity for growth. If you find yourself at a crossroads, unsure of which path to take, know that you are not alone. Whether you have questions about studying in the U.S., navigating the bar exam, or approaching the job search as a foreign-trained attorney, please don't hesitate to reach out. My journey has taught me the importance of paying it forward and supporting others along their path to success. In closing, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all who have supported me along this journey — family, friends, mentors, and colleagues. Your unwavering belief in me has been the fuel that propelled me forward, and for that, I am eternally grateful.

I decided to explore returning to private practice roughly 18 months ago.  Amazingly, my 1 year anniversary at BrownWinick came and went last Wednesday.  As I’ve spent time reflecting, I’ve asked myself many questions.  Has private practice been more demanding than my last position?  Yes.  More challenging on a daily basis?  No doubt.  Humbling?  Often.  Have I worked more late nights and weekends?  Duh.  Has it been disorienting at times?  Mm-hmm.  But has it also been rewarding leveling up as a lawyer?  Yeah.  Satisfying building my own book of business and taking more control over my own destiny?  Hell yeah.  Exhilarating closing deals and regularly working on complex transactions and problems alongside talented and collaborative attorneys who hold themselves and me to high standards that make me better every day?  Without question.  Have I found new role models?  Several.  Am I a better attorney than I was this time last year?  Yeah, a lot (and I was good before).  More capable than before?  Uh-huh.  Any regrets?  Nadda one.  Doesn’t mean I haven’t had hard days - but reentering private practice has been what I bargained for.  I remain grateful to be at this firm, working with this team, and serving our clients.

This month I marked two milestones: my 20th Harvard Law School reunion and the 10th anniversary of the Houston office of Kirkland & Ellis. The Texas LawBook article linked below captures the uncertainty and possibility that Andy Calder, John Pitts, Will Bos, Matt Pacey, Rhett Van Syoc and Bill Benitez faced in launching Kirkland's new office. Eighteen months later, I embarked on the same roller coaster in launching our Houston litigation practice. My big insight from marking both of these occasions? Absolutely take the hard option when you are young. Why? Honestly, because you have less to lose. Walking the halls of Harvard Law now feels much more intimidating than when I arrived as a student. Back then, I just put one foot in front of the next and did the work. Today, I appreciate what's at stake: the unbelievable talent and smarts of my classmates and professors, the intense work, and the precariousness of the career paths that followed. Likewise, my thought process in joining Kirkland was simple: "Kirkland is hiring young partners so someone of my vintage in Houston is going to get this job. Why not me?" Having now done the job, I can come up with all sorts of reasons why not. But I grabbed it because I didn't have much to lose. Here's to embracing the hard option to get me to my 30th HLS reunion and 20th Houston office anniversary! And always encouraging my kids do the same. https://lnkd.in/gnyrB2k2

Our Vice President, Charlotte S., is here to be Amelia’s right hand man! She’s about to start final year of her law degree, so here are three facts about our VP: - She’s an avid crafter; her crochet skills are off the hook ;)🧶 - She’s a Brownie and Guide leader, making her perfect for VP - She’s been playing the piano for 13 years 🎹 Charlotte is also undertaking the role of Treasurer this year – check out her second post to see her aspirations for the role! #womeninlaw #lawstudent #universityofreading

How can we best learn about #servantleadership? How about ........... from amazing public servants: Ron Galperin, former City of Los Angeles Controller, provided servant leadership insights at Loyola Law School, Los Angeles' Leadership for Lawyers class. Great stories about the inner workings of Government and the offices of the City of Los Angeles Office of the Controller, Los Angeles City Mayor and Los Angeles City Attorney. ✔ Transparency builds trust ✔ If there is no such job, create the job   ✔ Leadership: Vision, Purpose, Integrity, Good Judgment, Fiduciary   ✔ Many people want to make decisions based on ideology rather than facts     ✔ To check your perspective, find people who disagree with you, not people who just says”yes”   ✔ Best decisions are often made when trusting your gut.    ✔ We are more likely to regret what we did not do, rather than what we do.    ✔Pursue your passion I love this one:   ✔ Spend less time in your devices and more time with people Thank you Ron for the great conversation. Next up, another wonderful public servant - Julie Rodriguez, Captain in the Los Angeles School Police Department.

In honour of the Law Society of Scotland's 75th anniversary, they have published an article which discusses the evolution of paralegals over the decades, whose roles have expanded from basic legal tasks to covering various practice areas, allowing for greater career development. Looking ahead, hopes are for clearer career progression paths and greater recognition of paralegals' contributions, particularly in adopting new technologies, thereby helping to solidify their status as essential partners in the legal profession. https://lnkd.in/ek9x5UE2

Jeff Payne, 61, is a shareholder at Turner Padget Graham & Laney, P.A. in Florence, South Carolina. In a new Q&A up now on Law.com, he talks about his rise to firm leadership and his new perspective. Here are one of the questions and answers from the interview: 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗶𝗴𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲, 𝗱𝗮𝘆-𝘁𝗼-𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝗶𝗻 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺? "You must set aside time each day to address pending issues. It’s easy to get caught in a game of phone tag, so I block time each day for conversations with our attorneys and staff to address personnel and other questions that contribute to our effectiveness." https://lnkd.in/gt6X9Zue

Are you an attorney ready for a new professional odyssey? Like Odysseus navigating the ever-shifting seas, many of us yearn for a career path that reflects our true essence. You 𝙘𝙖𝙣 break free from professional stagnation and set sail toward career opportunities that resonate with who you truly are. It's just a matter of following the right process to get you there. This Friday, March 15, at 2:15 pm. EST, I've joined with the New York County Lawyers Association to take you on a journey to understand this process. The goal: to empower you to leave misery and frustration behind, emerging as a leader who experiences connection, creativity, and resilience in a career that you love. Don your armor and be prepared to: ⚔️ Confront the Sirens of risk aversion. ⚔️ Seize the Golden Fleece of professional freedom. ⚔️ Carve out a plan to take your winged horse onward and upward to a better life. Oh, and if you need CLE credits, those are available too. This odyssey is more than a mere voyage; it's a complete professional transformation. Secure your place in this pantheon of change by visiting NYCLA's event page at https://lnkd.in/eP_SCkrG . Don't hesitate to share this with anyone you know who may need it. BTW, if you've ever switched careers, do you have a secret to success that you'd like to share below? Others may find it helpful. I want your future to be epic! #careertransformation #lawyerslife #cle #scottmason #nyclawyer

Meet Cole Buffa, a senior at the University of Florida, who is sharing his journey with Workforce Ready Now. From undergrad right to law school, watch how we helped shape his path to success! #WorkforceReadyNow #SuccessStory #CareerJourney #LawSchool #ApplicationAssistance

🌩️ How do you handle tough decisions or life changes? Years ago, during law school, my roommate and I always said "10-10-10" whenever something challenging happened: ▪️ 10 minutes from now, how will I feel about this decision? (Sometimes we said 10 days instead) ▪️ 10 months from now, how will I feel about this decision?  ▪️ 10 years from now, how will I feel about this decision? Exactly 10 years ago, I went through a challenging time. I had to make many hard decisions quickly. Many days were harder than the one before, but I kept focusing on the bigger picture. Here I am, "10 years from now" and I am so proud of the bravery and resiliency the "past Celia" showed. Having a "broad view" has always assisted me through tough times and is one of the reasons why I named my firm Broadview Legal LLC. If you have a mantra that works, share it below. If you don't, try the 10-10-10 principle and let me know what you think. And here's to the next 10 years! - - - - I just googled where the 10-10-10 principle originated and it's credited as a principle from Suzy Welch's 2009 book. What's wild is I remember us doing this in 2007/2008. This was pre-influencer time, so I'm unsure how the two of us learned to do this. Likely therapy!