When he was in law school, T. J. Duane ’02 set up HL Central, to make it easier for fellow students to network and socialize. More than a decade later, he wanted to do something similar for young alumni. In response, the Harvard Law School Alumni Association formed the Recent Graduates Council, the latest in a series of shared interest alumni groups, and a complement to the online directory and networking services available at the school’s site HLS Connect.
In January 2011, after Duane put out a call to young alumni to submit proposals, they came flooding in. The council now includes more than 40 volunteers living and working around the country. Some of these alumni are helping to shape regional networking groups. Others are using tools such as Google Docs, LinkedIn, and teleconferencing to connect alumni in different locations to trade stories, ask for and give advice, and learn more about particular types of practice. Highlighted on these pages are just a few of the alumni volunteers and the groups they’ve helped to shape. For more information on the Recent Graduates Council or to find the group that best suits your needs, contact tjduane@gmail.com.
Laura Mutterperl ’02
Senior Director, Associate General Counsel of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.
HLS In-House Counsel Network
“There is a great void when attorneys leave law firms and go in-house,” says Mutterperl, who herself is a former associate at Kirkland & Ellis. The group she has created in response “provides HLS alumni with a platform to meet others in the industry encountering similar issues, share ideas and resources, and develop relationships across companies.” So far, this fall they have held panel discussions, in New York and LA, on transitioning from a law firm and building your career in-house.
Wade Ackerman ’04
Associate Chief Counsel for Drugs, U.S. Food & Drug Administration
Health Careers
David Pearl ’08
Associate, Antitrust & Competition Law Group, Jones Day
Washington, D.C., “Mystery Dinners”
John Snyder ’02
John H. Snyder PLLC
HLS Solo and Boutique Law Firm Network
Melanie Howard ’01
Associate, Loeb & Loeb
Microfinance Careers
Other shared interest groups in the works include:
- HLS New Parents Group
- Middle East International
- HLS Public Defense Network
- HLS International Affairs and Human Rights Network
- HLS Gives Back
- “Real Life Lawyers” skills series
- Environmental Law Network
- HLS Private Public Interest Firm & Nonprofit Network
- The Harvard Law School International Justice Assistance Network
- HLSA Mentoring Initiative
Regional Groups Include:
- Atlanta
- Boston
- Cleveland
- Dallas
- Florida
- Indianapolis
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- Michigan
- New York
- Raleigh
- San Francisco
For more events planned by Recent Graduates Council volunteers as well as events planned by other shared interest group organizers, go to HLSA.org.