By SARAH CLARK
Contributing Writer
On weeknights, James J. Sandman’s family sits down for dinner without him, as he tirelessly works in order to make a difference in the community around him. As president of the Legal Services Corporation, and a trustee of The College of Saint Rose, Sandman has been able to offer his talents and services in pro-bono cases, which he refered to as a “labor of love.”
President Carolyn J. Stefanco of the College of Saint Rose, who has an extensive history of serving her community, held a presidential conversation with Sandman to help attendees gain knowledge on the careers that law has to offer on Wednesday, Feb. 13. Not only did those who attend the event gain valuable insight on what a career as a lawyer can be, but Sandman left the audience with more than just advice on influencing public policy, but how we can better ourselves on any career path.
“You need to find a harmony between your job and who you are as a person,” said Sandman. When choosing a career, Sandman said to focus on three rules: like what you do, be good at it, and make a difference. He says that if you live by these, you will have a fulfilling career. “Be open to the opportunity you thought could never happen.”
Sandman also made it clear that students do not need to have a law degree to have a career in the field. He used his daughter, who is a social worker, as an example. Part of her job entails going to prisons and meeting with the families of those are are incarcerated. Although she is not in the courts defending clients like her father, she is still able to have a job close to law—which runs in the family, as Sandman, his wife, and son are all lawyers.
Important advice that Sandman offered to the audience was time management and to prioritize tasks, especially when starting a family. Chris Gabryszewski, a senior in marketing, says this resonated with him because it’s important to have a balance between work and your personal life.
“Some days it will be all about work, some days it will be all about family. It’s just important that you can figure that out long term,” said Gabryszewski.
Sandman described how lawyers fall under the service profession, in which clients expect you to be available when they need and how they need you. Not being home for dinner during the week is hard, but it is possible to have a positive family environment.
“I’ve had amazing times with my kids, but was rarely home for dinner on the weeknights,” said Sandman. Every year, he has taken his children on individual vacations, and throughout their lives, it has been a ritual that Sandman takes his son out for breakfast on the weekends, and then his daughter to lunch. Clearly law is a time consuming career, but Sandman proves that you can balance both. “You can’t have it all, all of the time, you need to be patient.”
Networking is an important tool as well, as it can help introduce you to people who can create opportunities for you. Sandman used the anecdote of one of his first experiences with a federal judge, who took him out for lunch in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. He was thrilled, and recalls how the judge interacted with other people.
Sandman recognized how many people he knew, and how he treated each individual with kindness and attention. This is one way to increase connections.
“I’m a terrible networker,” said Sandman. He is open about being an introvert, and that networking is “an extroverts sport.” Sandman prefers informal networking, and by that he means fostering relationships on a more personal level. He does this by getting to know coworkers and creating connections through jobs. “It takes longer, but the relationships you establish are deeper than the ones you establish at a cocktail party.”
Stefanco acknowledges the different ways to network, too. She recognizes how social media can enhance business relationships for those who are shy. If you are introverted, like Sandman, who thrived off of networking in the businesses he worked in rather than large parties, then the social media approach is acceptable too.
“I think that there are different ways that will be authentic for different people,” said Stefanco. She believed that face to face networking is best. “Ideally if you can walk up to someone and make good eye contact, shake their hand, and say something about who you are, and what your ambitions are, generally that kind of person to person contact is the best way to do it,” she said.
As Sandman has excelled at his career through building relationships, keeping a happy family, and serving the community with his pro-bono work, it is evident that he has made a positive impact that can be inspiring to all. Though the talk was aimed at those seeking a law degree, the takeaways can be offered to those in any field: those being to persist in your goals, be kind to those you meet, and love the career path you follow.
