National Jurist - March 2009 - (Page 21) Justin Xenitelis keeps busy inside and outside the office supervising law students of his alma mater. PHOTO BY MICHAEL FALCO “I had to do some of the basic things that I require my interns to do now,” he said. “I was always interested in the business side, and that helped guide my interest towards real estate and commercial leasing.” Xenitelis’s new boss, who served as a part-time general counsel to a company, quickly became a mentor who introduced him to the world of in-house work. For students who are interested in real estate law, Xenitelis said practical skills and experience — whether through an externship, transactional clinic or work — can help land the job. In fact, he said his employers were very interested in his relevant experience during the interview process, as well as in his relevant drafting coursework at NYLS. “Think ahead,” Xenitelis said. “Gain practical skills before you practice.” In-house work is fast-paced, sometimes with little formal training. “I remember my first day,” he said. “I was given a file and told to abstract a lease. The fact that I abstracted leases while in school really helped a great deal.” But the fast-paced corporate world doesn’t stop him from doing his part in the community and networking in the profession. He’s active in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Committee of the New York City Bar, and a member of New York Law School’s recent graduate committee for alumni affairs. As a law student, Xenitelis was also involved on his campus. He said staying busy and active made for a gratifying law school experience. He organized his school’s AIDS fundraiser three years in a row, and he founded the Stonewall Law Students Association, which focuses on LGBT rights. “I think it’s important not only to attend classes, but to be involved on campus,” he said, adding that staying active teaches important practical skills, such as learning how to work with students, faculty and others in small groups. Today, Xenitelis also oversees his employer’s legal internship program, having volunteered to supervise student interns from his alma mater. “I think it’s important to give back, and it’s sometimes very difficult as a young attorney to devote the time outside of work to give back,” Xenitelis said. “This way, I’m able to have a good balance.” Specialize Your Practice With an LL.M. Degree Graduate Programs to Help Your Career The John Marshall Law School Centers for Excellence offer the largest selection in the Midwest of graduate courses for practicing attorneys. Through evening and weekend classes, on a full-time or part-time schedule, attorneys can move into a specialty area of law. Our LL.M. specialties are: Employee Benefits Information Technology and Privacy Law Intellectual Property Law International Business and Trade Law Real Estate Law Tax Law For details on our 21st century curricula, with day, evening and weekend options contact Silvia Rodriguez, assistant director of Graduate Admission, at 800.276.0003 or srodrigu@jmls.edu. 315 S. Plymouth Court, Chicago, Illinois 60604 March 2009 THE NATIONAL JURIST 21 http://www.jmls.edu
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.