Great careers are made with good people, and better questions.
This week I spoke with Betsy Bass, a 2025 UVA alumn (French & Government Double B.A.) who’s now a Litigation Paralegal at Sullivan & Cromwell LLP.
The Rundown:
COLD OPEN: Getting a job from on grounds interviews
TURNING POINT: Facing lots of job rejections
STEAL THIS: What would you tell your younger self?
INDUSTRY INSIDER: What she thought a paralegal was vs. what it actually is
IF I WERE YOU: Be open to any opportunity and create your own through networking
COLD OPEN
How Did You Get Your Start?
For a long time I wasn't sure what I wanted to do. At UVA I thought about government, politics, and law. I liked political theory, so I started looking into law oriented careers.
I had a friend who knew a paralegal in New York who really liked it, so I started looking on Handshake and LinkedIn, applying to any legal jobs I could find.
The law firm Sullivan & Cromwell came to grounds for in person interviews in February and March. I really connected with the people there, and got a job in April. It’s a 2 year paralegal program, where we can opt to stay longer if we want.
I like the idea of law school, but I also want to do something in the interim to save up some money and decide if it’s really a good fit for me.
TURNING POINT
What’s A Challenge You Faced Early On?
I got a lot of rejections at the beginning of my job application process. The biggest challenge was staying persistent and not losing hope after being rejected or not hearing back from places.
There are so many external factors we can't control. Staying persistent is the best way to get through it.
STEAL THIS
What’s A Question You Love To Be Asked (Or Asking)?
I love asking “What’s something you wish you could tell your former self?” or “What’s something you wish you knew when you were in my position?”
I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons from asking those, and as I get more experience under my belt I’d hope people would ask me that.
INDUSTRY INSIDER
What Do People Misunderstand About Being A Paralegal?
A lot of what I do, which I didn’t expect, is clerical work and document organization. I’ve gotten perspective on what lawyers do day to day, but I’m not as directly involved in the cases they’re working on.
Another misconception I found was that cases take a lot longer than I expected. A paralegal I work with brought me onto a case that she’s been on since starting 2 years ago.
Lastly, although it’s technically a 9-5 job, the hours of a paralegal, as with most others in the legal field, are primarily dictated by caseloads and deadlines. Attorneys expect us to be available for any urgent matter, whether it’s an hour before the workday starts or after 5pm on Friday during a slow week.
IF I WERE YOU
Do You Have Any Advice For Students?
Be open to any opportunity that comes your way.
Some of my friends had jobs going into 4th year, some got one right after grad, and others are still looking.
You can create opportunities for yourself by networking. Reach out to anyone you see on linkedin who's in a position you’d want to be and talk to them. Connecting with people for the sake of connecting might get you further than you think.
CLOSING TIME
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