We are so pleased to have a great legal team at Marzulla Law. So much so that we want to share a bit about our team members here on our website.
Today we are sharing a Q&A with our associate attorney Mollie Jackowski.
Mollie, what inspired you to pursue a career in law?
I grew up with two incredibly smart, capable attorneys as parents. And, while getting to see their lives as lawyers gave me a great insight into what life as a lawyer could look like, I only really thought about being an attorney once I participated in a mock trial as a sixth grader.
I’m from Iowa, and the Bar Association has an incredible mock trial program for middle and high school where students are given a fact pattern, witness statements, exhibits, jury instructions, and the rules of evidence. They use all of that to prepare both sides of a case and compete against other teams. I remember working on the case with my teammates and my coaches and piecing together the evidence and our theory of the case. When we got to the competition and completed our first trial, I fondly remember how accomplished I felt even though nothing went as we had planned. After that, I was drawn to the process of analyzing a fact pattern, strategizing how to present witness testimony and exhibits, learning the rules of evidence, and then standing up and making an argument.
Marzulla Law has given me an opportunity to be heavily involved in several cases. With my caseload, every day looks different, and I work on multiple cases most days. I love that no two days look the same.
Aside from your parents, was anyone else influential in your decision to pursue the practice of law?
I was also fortunate to have coaches who were attorneys to show me that resourcefulness, excellent writing, analysis and strategy, research skills, communication, compassion, and problem-solving were just as important to being a successful lawyer as passion and being a fierce advocate were.
It was those experiences working with my teammates and coaches that inspired me to pursue a career in the law. I chose this career path because it utilizes so many skills. I get to research and write, negotiate, be strategic and analytical, and work in a team, all while being an advocate and a problem solver.
What was your biggest surprise in transitioning from being a law student to a practicing attorney? If you could, what advice would you give yourself as a first-year law student?
My biggest surprise has been that sometimes you can’t find a straight answer to a question or a research assignment. That is just so different from my experience in college, law school, and even when studying for the bar because I was almost always able to find the answer or an applicable case.
Now, as a practicing attorney, I’ve had to retrain myself on how I research case law and how I analyze and apply it to the cases I am working on. I’ve had to be more flexible and creative, but ultimately I’m seeing myself improve and become a better advocate.
I also enjoy the teamwork aspect of litigation and the collaboration and creativity that teamwork brings. In addition, working at a small boutique law firm has given me incredible practical experience outside of research and drafting pleadings.
The advice I would give to myself as a 1L is to avoid unnecessary stress as much as possible. I made myself stressed over things that, in hindsight, did not impact my grades or what and how I was learning. I would tell myself that it’s okay to miss an answer on a cold call or to not understand something right away. The only time getting the correct answer matters is on the exam. Everything else, including getting an answer wrong, is just helping to train you to become a lawyer.
What do you enjoy about being an associate in a litigation practice?
Marzulla Law has given me an opportunity to be heavily involved in several cases. With my caseload, every day looks different, and I work on multiple cases most days. I love that no two days look the same.
I also enjoy the teamwork aspect of litigation and the collaboration and creativity that teamwork brings. In addition, working at a small boutique law firm has given me incredible practical experience outside of research and drafting pleadings. In my first six months at Marzulla Law, I’ve already defended depositions, helped prepare depositions, worked with expert witnesses, and drafted, edited, and finalized appellant briefs and summary judgment motions. I feel fortunate to have had such hands-on opportunities.
What are your goals for the next year?
I’m looking forward to my first trial with Marzulla Law in May. One of my other goals is to get involved with the legal community outside of work. I also aim to continue honing my research, writing, and communication skills so that I can be the best advocate I can be.
On the personal side, I want to attend more concerts and events, find a new hobby, and spend more time outdoors and in nature once it gets warmer.
What do you do in your free time?
I love all things food, whether that is experimenting with new recipes or trying out different restaurants within the DC area. I also enjoy reading (mostly fiction books that have nothing to do with the law) and collecting old books.
