Former Delaware Journal of Corporate Law External Managing Editor, Sabrina Hendershot, gives us some insight into her experience during law school and her career today.

(1) What was your position on the Journal?
External Managing Editor 2015-2016.

(2) Where did you earn your undergraduate degree and what was your area of study?
Texas A&M University—Corpus Christi, B.A. Political Science.

(3) Where are you currently employed?
Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, LLP, Wilmington, Delaware

(4) In what area of law do you practice?
Corporate & Business Litigation.

(5) What do you wish you had known about law school while you were a law student?
As Muhammad Ali said, “What you’re thinking is what you’re becoming.” It’s easy to slip into self-doubt in a competitive environment like law school. But I’ve learned that the practice of law is a meritocracy. If you keep working hard and visualizing your success, you absolutely will achieve it. Although your path to success may be non-linear, if you continue to work hard to achieve your goals despite the obstacles in front of you and truly believe in yourself, you will make it. It will take time—but don’t settle. The only person who can get in your way is you.

(6) Aside from excelling academically and joining the Journal, what are some ways that students can stand out to secure job offers?
Judicial internships and clerkships are incredible opportunities for a variety of reasons. During law school I interned for then-Master now Judge LeGrow in the Delaware Court of Chancery, and served as a Josiah Oliver Wolcott Fellow to Justice Collins J. Seitz Jr. in the Delaware Supreme Court. After law school, I was fortunate enough to serve as Justice Seitz’s full-time law clerk. I cannot overstate the value of these opportunities. Every case I worked on was unique, and presented a new learning opportunity. I also learned how seriously our judicial officers take their positions. Both Justice Seitz and Judge LeGrow were fantastic mentors who taught me to think critically and challenged me to dig deep into the issues in the pursuit of justice. Not only was I able to take part in the administration of justice, I also formed close relationships with the judge/justice, their administrative staff, and my fellow clerks and interns which I truly value. It is an honor to clerk and I highly recommend students consider it.

(7) What are some lessons you’ve learned during your professional career that will be valuable to current Journal members and recent graduates?

To be a lawyer generally, and a junior associate specifically, is to be a life-long learner. You will often have assignments that you find interesting, and others you will find not so interesting. Regardless of how you feel about the assignment, use it as an opportunity to learn. For example, when it was time to write my note for the DJCL, I knew nothing about my topic—I just knew the case I wrote about interested me. So, I reached out to the attorneys on the case and they were kind enough to share their thoughts with me. Speaking with them helped me narrow in on the issue I wanted to write about, and was also an excellent networking opportunity. It also made writing the article much more enjoyable.

Similarly, what you put into an assignment is what you will get out of it. If you spend the time outlining for your classes early, you will retain information on a deeper level and will have less work to do come exam day (and bar exam day). Likewise, if you spend the time carefully reviewing the discovery in your case and closely reviewing applicable case law, you can help the partners make smart decisions about how to proceed. Partners are busy and they rely on junior associates to take a deep dive into the facts of the case. I’ve had cases where at face value it looked like we would lose on an issue. But after digging deep into the case law, I found a doctrine that applied to our case that nobody had considered. By putting in the time and energy to thoroughly research the facts and law, I was able to help our client survive a motion to dismiss. Put in the time, and don’t assume the law is static on an issue. If you treat your clients’ situations like they are your own and exhaust all options before accepting a loss, you will add significant value.

(8) What experience have you gained since graduating from Widener University Delaware Law School?
After graduation, I was privileged to clerk for Justice Seitz for a year. I have been working in the corporate and business litigation department of Morris Nichols since September 2017.

(9) What are your future career goals?
I plan to continue working hard and learning as much as I can. I’m grateful to have fantastic mentors here at Morris Nichols, so with their help I hope to continue building my career and reputation within the Delaware bar.

(10) What are some of your other interests outside of the law?
I’d like to take this opportunity to shamelessly plug the Delaware SPCA and Delaware Humane Society. I adopted my best friend Waffles the cat (who is my favorite interest outside of the law) from the Delaware SPCA. She is the sweetest, goofiest, most well-behaved little lady, and I am so happy to have found her! If you’re looking to purchase a new friend, please look into adopting. All pets come spayed/neutered, up to date on vaccinations, and microchipped. And if they’re anything like Waffles, they will love you fur-ever.

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