Her Story
About DeJa
I originally was a journalism major and took a media and ethics law class that really interested me. I just really enjoyed the intersection of journalism, media, and law overall, and then I decided to take the leap forward into law school. I graduated from Cal State University, Northridge for undergrad, and then attended Pace Law School in New York, graduating in 2023. Moving across the country for law school was eye-opening - I met a lot of different people, and I think a lot of the professors and people at Pace Law School are really amazing and really good at what they do. My journey in law has been interesting and unique, not the traditional path that most JDs take, but I think it's taught me a lot. I've been in big law, corporate law, and entertainment. Going into big law was a really notable achievement for me - although I didn't stay as long and didn't necessarily move up to the associate level, I think that being able to get there in the first place is hard enough, and I was blessed and lucky to be able to do that. Aside from that, just being able to pivot to different things and work with large brands has been meaningful. I've worked as a corporate paralegal, law clerk, and chief of staff in entertainment, and more recently I've been consulting and doing paralegal work. I've published articles through a nonprofit I worked with called Take Creative Control, and I've also published work with JD Supra.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with DeJa
01What do you attribute your success to?
I would say just having a great support system. That's really what I attribute all of my success to - the people around me who have supported me throughout my journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to never count yourself out. Your experience and resumes and all of that can only do so much, but you always can learn something new, and you can always figure things out. Don't let what's on paper limit what you think you're capable of achieving.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I'd say just be yourself, and don't let the patriarchy change who you are. It's okay to find a healthy balance - you can be soft-spoken but stern, or you can be polite and still be assertive. Law isn't always argumentative, and you don't have to fit into a certain mold to be successful. Find your own balance and stay true to yourself.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the opportunities are endless, especially with technology and how it's advancing. There are so many different ways to incorporate tech into legal spaces. But the challenge is balancing what exactly that looks like, because everything isn't so black and white. The challenges are making people realize that even though technology is advancing - and I'm saying specifically AI - you still need people who understand the law, because there are nuances that even technology can't pick up on. I'm a fan of AI as a tool, but just not as an end-all, be-all, because it doesn't always have discernment.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are authenticity, integrity, and having fun with it. Have fun with life, have fun with work. Don't let it consume you. Your job is not your identity, but it's just a small part of who you are as a person and what you contribute to society.
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