In-House Counsel

One In-House Counsel’s Anti-Resume

Part of why I wanted to share some of my anti-resume is to give some of you who need it, a little hope.

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While it’s my understanding that my fellow writer’s piece about the anti-resume was met with some controversy, I personally was tickled. I’d like to think it’s not because I need one to keep my own ego in check, but who knows how I land with the few who read my musings? My internal dialogue may be fraught with Imposter syndrome, but my persona may well be interpreted as more on the Kardashian side of the world.

So for my personal growth and your entertainment, here are a few things I would include on my anti-resume.

My LSAT Score Was 153*

I have no idea if this is a wise confession or not, but this fact often comes to mind because I have had a number of aspiring law students as mentees, and it always shocks them when I divulge my low score. By the way, this is after taking a paid Princeton Review course. My sweet mentees, no doubt, wonder how I got accepted to law school but were too kind to ever ask. I have no substantive response, but I am eternally grateful to the folks in admission for seeing me as more than a terrible LSAT score.

(*I have to confess that this is based on my best recollection. I certainly didn’t keep any official record of my score — but rest assured that I am confident that it was not 160 or above.)

After My First Semester, I Was In The Bottom Half Of My Law School Class

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For what it’s worth, I ultimately graduated with honors, but it was a very rocky start. After my first semester of law school, I was in the bottom 50% of my class, which left me questioning my life decisions and dubious about my future. I couldn’t tell if my class ranking was a sign from the universe that I should quit law school or if it was the beginning of a great comeback and something I had to endure, a “resiliency” character test. As someone who historically excelled in anything high school-related with little effort, graduating from high school as salutatorian and from undergrad with honors, I couldn’t understand how I could try so hard for the first time in my life and fail so much. On a more serious note, I actually sought  counseling because, as a person who had unhealthily defined who I was solely by my academic achievement, my self-worth plummeted.

I Didn’t Have A Legal Job At Graduation

Despite ultimately graduating with honors and being in the top third of my class (yay comeback!), I didn’t have any employment prospects at graduation. In fact, I didn’t land a legal job until a few days before taking the Texas Bar. Part of why I think I landed the job is because no one else probably interviewed for the position at the small firm because everyone else was wisely busy cramming for the bar exam. Notably, I was so grateful to have gainful employment that I didn’t even mind that I had to start the very Monday after taking the exam.

For some of you, you may very well be wondering how I ended up working for the phenomenal company that I do. That’s OK. I still pinch myself and wonder that too. But if I were really honest, part of why I wanted to share some of my anti-resume is to give some of you who need it, a little hope. Everyone loves a comeback — don’t be afraid to lean into yours.

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Meyling Mey Ly OrtizMeyling “Mey” Ly Ortiz is in-house at Toyota Motor North America. Her passions include mentoring, championing belonging, and a personal blog: TheMeybe.com. At home, you can find her doing her best to be a “fun” mom to a toddler and preschooler and chasing her best self on her Peloton. You can follow her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/meybe/). And you knew this was coming: her opinions are hers alone.

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