Season 1: Episode 6: Gabriela Rendon
Staff Attorney at Gender Equality Law Center
How did a multilingual professional dancer find her calling in public interest law?
Gabriela first came to the U.S. to pursue her career as a professional dancer with Martha Graham School in New York City. Fluent in English, Spanish and French, she studied law in Argentina and France. Eventually she found her calling in public interest law. How did she turn her post-graduate fellowship into a permanent position? How did she find a career that enables her to do impactful and meaningful work? Why is it important for lawyers to keep a creative outlet?
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Where did you grow up? What languages do you speak?
I grew up in Ecuador. I speak Spanish, English and French. I grew up speaking Spanish, which is the language spoken in Ecuador. I also learned English in elementary, middle, and high school. Additionally, I studied law in French for two semesters in Paris, during an exchange program. Prior to my travels, I took a beginner's course in French. For my law courses, which were taught completely in French, reading was not too difficult for me as the language structure is similar to Spanish. In the beginning, it was challenging to be in the classroom with the French-speaking students, but the professors spoke slowly and enunciated their words, making it easier to understand. The only difficulties I encountered were with the local slangs. Nevertheless, after the two semesters, I became proficient in French. I moved to New York in 2012 to pursue a career in dance first, then I decided to become a lawyer.
Why did you choose to become a lawyer?
Perhaps you've heard this answer from many attorneys, but I've always considered myself to be bad with numbers. I knew I didn't want to pursue a career that involved math or calculations. Instead, I excelled in philosophy classes in high school, and found that to be my strong suit. I thought that maybe law was the right path for me. I enrolled in the pre-university program in Ecuador and did well, solidifying my decision to become a lawyer. In 2005, there were only a few careers available, such as becoming a doctor, architect, engineer, or lawyer. Dance was also a passion of mine, but it wasn't considered a viable career in Ecuador at the time.
What do you do as a lawyer?
I currently work at a nonprofit where we represent victims of gender-based discrimination in employment law. We handle many cases, such as sexual harassment in the workplace, LGBTQ discrimination in the workplace, pregnancy discrimination, among others. Although I didn't want to deal with numbers again, I do have to calculate damages in some cases. Our nonprofit is in New York and, in addition to litigation, we also provide legal education. I am responsible for outreach and community engagement. We collaborate with many community groups and other organizations to create materials that educate the public on their legal rights. I believe that providing education and resources is vital because it can help people to self-advocate and avoid legal issues in the first place.
I would say that most of my clients are Spanish speakers, and that's a huge advantage for me. I can communicate with them easily without having to rely on an interpreter or translator. It also helps me to connect with them better. When I have to switch to English for the legal part, I have the necessary language skills. This gives me the flexibility to connect with my clients and do my job efficiently.
What leads you to choose the nonprofit path for your legal career?
I'm still an idealistic person who believes in justice. I know some may wish that I had become a little more cynical, but I still believe that attorneys can do good and impactful work. We cannot erase what happened in our clients' lives. What is done is done. However, if the work that I am doing, working at least eight hours a day, can impact someone's life in a meaningful way, then it is worth it. Before doing this type of job, I also worked in immigration. That was also very rewarding, seeing families reunited. As attorneys, we are often called upon to fix problems when they arise. However, it's so rewarding to be able to impact someone's life in a positive way. That's why I chose this path and will continue to do so.
I have participated in litigation such as discovery and deposition. I find it fun to build a case and hear the other party's story, as well as identify arguments and evidence to support our argument. It's a process that takes years to build and it allows us to connect with our clients and help them through a challenging situation.
Why did you choose to study law in the United States?
Initially, I came to the US to pursue my other passion, dance. I attended dance school here in New York, but I never lost interest in law. When I decided to stay in the US and practice law, I realized that I did not want to give up my other passion. So, I asked myself, "What are the steps to become an attorney here?" The first step was to earn an LLM, then take and pass the bar exam to practice law in New York.
Do you still have time to dance? And what kind of dance do you do?
I don't dance as much as I used to, but I still take classes whenever I have time. Now that I have a family and work, it's difficult to find time to dance, but if I can, I still try to do it. I used to do modern and contemporary dance, but I started with classical dance in Ecuador when I was four years old. I have always danced, and I think it's important for lawyers to have an artistic outlet. It keeps your creative side of the brain active. It's good to move away from the desk, get out of the office and move your body. You should give that to yourself.
How does your legal education in the United States impact your subsequent career? How did you find your fist job in the US?
I received a public service fellowship after completing my LLM. It opened doors for me to work in an organization that aligned with my goals and values. The fellowship allowed me to gain the necessary experience, and after that, they offered me a permanent position. I believe this is a positive and beneficial aspect of studying in the US, as students have access to resources like fellowships and internships, which can help them get their foot in the door.
In Ecuador, we don't have these resources available, and in Argentina, where I obtained my law degree. I only heard of these opportunities, but it wasn't as structured or supported by the school. I found the assistance with the fellowship application process and resume writing very valuable, as they are different from what I am used to in Latin America. We use superfluous language and legalese in legal writing in Latin America, whereas here in the US, my professors encouraged me to cut unnecessary words and use plain English.
What is your impression of American legal profession? And are there any movies or TV shows informing you that impression?
When I was younger, I was impressed by the typical movies where attorneys fight for the good cause, but as I grew older, I realized that reality is not always like that. However, I find the legal profession here in the US very respectful. In my experience, I have not encountered any opposing counsel who were disrespectful or unprofessional. Unfortunately, in Latin America, I have seen more contentious and unprofessional behavior from opposing counsel. The legal system here in the US promotes professionalism, and I appreciate that.
Some of my favorite movies about lawyers are Erin Brockovich and Dark Waters, both based on real life events. Erin Brockovich portrays a lawyer's passion for defending families affected water contamination caused by a large corporation. Similarly, Dark Waters tells the story of a former corporate lawyer who defends families impacted by chemicals dumped by a big corporation. These movies give me hope that there are lawyers fighting for good causes. Another movie I enjoy is Legally Blonde, which is a fun and humorous portrayal of legal stereotypes.
Who is your role model in a law?
My grandfather was a judge in Ecuador, and I always admired him. He used to wake up very early, around 5 am, to do his job and he devoted his entire career to public service. He served as a counsel for the Senate and then became a judge. I think one of the reasons why I decided to study law was because of him. I remember many conversations we had during dinner, and he was always a person who deeply cared about social justice.
Is there any advice you would give your younger self?
It's okay to be afraid, and it's okay to not know all the answers. Something that I have learned lately is that as a lawyer, you don't have to adopt the stereotype for lawyers who often seem superior and distant. When I was younger, I thought lawyers were people with a lot of knowledge, but without much of a human component. Being empathetic, kind, and understanding of their emotions is what's needed. If I could go back in time and tell my younger self something, it would be that I can be who I am and still do my work effectively.
