When the path forward feels uncertain, opportunity is born. Every challenge is a chance to build purpose, strengthen community, and lead through service. The YLD Pro Bono Leadership Cohort Application (2025-2026) is an opportunity to turn uncertainty into impact, for yourself and for others.

I was in my third year of law school when I was laid off from the law firm where I worked. Each day, I searched for jobs and internships on sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, studied during the day and attended law school at night.

Situations like this happen, and in those moments, it’s easy to second-guess our choices. When I was laid off in September 2017, I questioned whether I had made the right decision to leave my full-time position at the Durham County Department of Social Services. Although balancing a full-time job with evening law classes was demanding, I loved helping Durham residents navigate their Adult Medicaid and Food and Nutrition Services applications. Part of me wondered if I had made a mistake in seeking out legal experience.

But through that period of uncertainty, I found an unexpected opportunity.

During my job search, I came across an in-house legal internship in the construction industry — a field in which I had no prior experience. Still, I applied. I wanted to gain transferable skills in contracts and negotiation and to experience a corporate legal setting. During my interview, I emphasized the strengths I had built in my previous roles and, most importantly, demonstrated my willingness to learn.

Spoiler alert: I got the internship.

I worked with that construction company for a year until I graduated from law school, and in 2021, I returned to the same company full-time as in-house counsel.

I share this story because many of us will face moments of doubt, transition, or challenge early in our legal careers. These moments can become catalysts for growth if we remain creative, persistent, and open to new paths. Through that first in-house counsel role, I gained not only legal experience but also confidence, resilience and a sense of purpose that continues to guide my career today. I now serve as in-house counsel in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry and as an adjunct law professor, helping law students learn how to negotiate and navigate real-world scenarios.

If you’re a law student or young lawyer, now is the time to invest in yourself, build your community, and give back. I invite you to join us in the YLD Pro Bono Leadership Cohort Application (2025-2026) — a new initiative designed to help emerging legal professionals develop leadership skills through service.

Whether you’re a first-generation law student, a second-career professional, or someone pursuing a nontraditional path, whether you’re passionate about civic engagement, networking across practice areas, or simply finding meaningful ways to serve — there is a place for you in this cohort.

Let this be your call to action. Even in challenging times, there are opportunities to grow, lead and make a lasting impact on your community and the legal profession.

November 11, 2025/by NCBA YLD