Gabriele Josephs joins the firm next month as a member of our inaugural class of diversity fellows. He is a 1L at the University of Virginia School of Law, where he serves as a legal fellow at the LawTech Center. He graduated from University of Richmond with a B.A. in Political Science.

When did you become interested in law?

My passion for policy work has always driven my career goals. I was initially intent on getting my Ph.D., but eventually I realized I wouldn’t be able to make much of an impact from within academia. With a J.D., however, I could build a skillset that’s far more applicable to the professional world. My time interning for Jennifer McClellan, a member of the Virginia State Senate, was also really formative. She was a wonderful mentor and persuaded me to pursue law school.

Because my policy interests lie in the areas of antitrust and renewable energy, I knew the Houston legal market, where so much energy policy is actually formulated, would be a good fit. SHJ specifically appealed to me based on their reputation as elite trial lawyers who handle top-tier work.

What were your first impressions of the firm?

I was really impressed by how accomplished each lawyer at the firm is, as well as by the depth and breadth of their experience. Some of them have been trial lawyers for decades; some have worked in government, some on antitrust cases, some do general commercial litigation. I felt like I would be able to absorb so much, even just being there for two weeks.

What’s one thing you hope to get out of your time at SHJ?

I’d like to improve my legal writing skills. I want to learn how to make a reasoned, effective legal argument, which is a totally different animal than the undergraduate essay writing I’m used to.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I hope to be involved with policy somehow, whether it’s working for a federal agency or just in key areas like technology or renewables.

Why do you think programs like SHJ’s diversity fellowship are important?

A number of reasons. First, they help create a pipeline for diverse talent and broaden the profession’s demographics. They signal a “come as you are” environment, where everyone’s talents, backgrounds, and experiences are respected on their own terms, without those differences being assimilated out of them. They also make the firm’s stance crystal clear: diversity is valued and valuable, both internally and in the legal marketplace.

SHJ’s diversity fellowship offers two-weeklong summer fellowships to 1Ls from historically excluded backgrounds. Fellows work closely with our legal team on substantive matters, gaining firsthand insight into life at a boutique litigation firm.