To celebrate Cleary Gottlieb’s 75th anniversary, alumni around the globe are taking time to reflect on their experiences at the firm.
Ian Scott, Founder and Executive Managing Attorney at Scott Legal in New York, shared his thoughts below.
What lessons did you learn at Cleary that prepared you for your future career?
Two things I learned at Cleary were the importance of paying attention to detail and creating a great work product. Cleary always stressed these two elements, and they are two things that are so often lacking in the legal world.
What Cleary person and/or experience had a lasting impact on you personally?
As a Cleary alum, I participated in an initiative to assess why underrepresented groups tend to leave the firm before partnership. The initiative was also undertaken to come up with recommendations to address the problems or issues that some associates faced. I really felt that this initiative went well beyond what most firms do, and it showed a strong commitment to diversity.
Why do you participate in the alumni network, and what would you say to someone who is considering getting involved?
I initially started attending alumni events to expand networking for business development at my firm, but it only took one event to change that. I have consistently attended events over the last several years because they are fun. I have reconnected and met many wonderful people at these events, and I really look forward to them.
To learn more about Cleary’s global alumni network, click here.