I flunked out of law school in 2014. Now, in 2020, I’m a licensed attorney and a law clerk to the Honorable Reuben F. Young on the North Carolina Court of Appeals. The story of how I got to where I am today is significant and life-changing.

We are more than our setbacks. Those of us who have faced a perceived “failure,” including those who have been academically dismissed or had to sit for the bar exam more than once, should stand just as much of a chance as those who did not. “Qualifications” are extremely important, but seeing a person as more than a resume is important, too.

North Carolina Central University School of Law gave me not one but two chances to achieve my dreams. During my 1L year, I did the required reading and prepared to respond to cold calls, but I did not study effectively for exams. I worked hard but not smart, and I was ultimately dismissed. When I was readmitted to law school in 2016, I was so focused on my grades that I did not build my resume by becoming involved in many student organizations or other extracurricular activities. When it was time to apply for post-graduation jobs, I was just an average candidate, but that did not stop Judge Young from giving me the opportunity of a lifetime. In one hiring decision, he changed the whole trajectory of my career.

We have all heard the long list of successful people who failed the bar – Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Benjamin Cardozo – just to name a few. Many of us even used these individuals as encouragement while we studied for the bar. Their stories show us that “failure” does not deem one incapable of success. Imagine where they might be if they had been refused opportunities because of their perceived failures. Academic dismissals from law school are not talked about as frequently, but they happen to people who also are capable of success. Here are testimonials from anonymous members of state bars in various states, including North Carolina, who have experienced “failure” and are now living success stories:

“I was academically dismissed from law school after my first year. Afterwards, I obtained my MBA and was then readmitted to law school. My first-year failure propelled me into a more academically mature person which led to my passing the bar exam on the first try and securing an incredible job in the highly coveted field of Higher Education Law. I truly don’t believe that I would be here if it weren’t for my failures . . . they made me a better student and now, a great member of the profession.”

“I was academically dismissed from law school. Returning to law school was the best thing that happened to me. It gave me a chance to rebuild what I wanted. On the second attempt, I held an executive position on the law review and passed the bar on my first attempt. I am now a telecommunications attorney for a federal government agency.”

“My perceived ‘failure’ was not passing the bar the first time. When you sit for the bar a second time, you level up mentally, physically and emotionally. I am now licensed to practice law in North Carolina and New Jersey, and I work for a full-service law firm. The bar does not define the type of attorney you will be or the level of success you will achieve as an attorney.”

These attorneys are the epitome of dedication and hard work. They have owned their perceived failures and made great strides to overcome adversity and prosper. But when it comes to a job interview, each of them may have to explain why they had a gap in time between starting law school and graduation, or between graduation and becoming licensed. It is the responsibility of the candidate to present themselves in the best light, but it is the responsibility of the employer to look beyond perceived failures and to see the resilience demonstrated as a result of such perceived failures.

One of the most common questions I hear from law students and attorneys applying for jobs or other positions is, “How do I set my resume and application apart from other applicants?” On paper, we may seem less marketable as job candidates, but in reality, we may have just the type of resilience a legal department or law firm needs. We are the employees who will not give up when the going gets tough. We are the employees who are so grateful for the opportunity that we will pour ourselves into providing the highest quality work product.

A distinguished, but anonymous, legal employer stated, “While a lawyer’s academic success is important, one’s life journey, successes and challenges, are most predictable of their professional success. There is no substitute for hard work and persistence.” These words lay the foundation for new beginnings in the legal field.

I hope that you will see the setbacks and comebacks of others and your own as assets rather than liabilities. I encourage employers to provide opportunities to those individuals who would not otherwise be granted such an opportunity. Look beyond the paper, the rank, the positions, and take a deeper look into what individuals have to offer. I will continue to advocate for those who have refused to give up, those who keep fighting despite obstacles, and those who are no less worthy of the chance to embark upon a life-changing legal career.

September 23, 2020/by NCBA YLD