Biglaw Partner Dishes On Her Unique Path To Partnership

Summary Gloria Park always wanted to be a storyteller. She just didn't expect to find that career in litigation. In this episode, the Susman Godfrey partner talks with Kathryn Rubino about growing up in a first-generation immigrant family, choosing law school because it let her "tell stories for a living," and the mantra, why not me, that carried her through six tough years as an associate to partnership.

They cover what actually separates strong litigators (hint: it's not the closing argument), why Park chose a litigation-only boutique that hires exclusively from federal clerkships, and how she balances high-stakes cases with church, choir, and a new kickboxing habit. Park also shares her most memorable war story: taking her first deposition eight weeks into practice, alone, against a firm's global head of litigation.

Key Takeaways Litigation is storytelling within strict limits: the facts don't move, but how you frame them does.

A "why not me" mindset can replace the imposter syndrome that comes with being the first in your family in Big Law.

Attention to detail, not courtroom theatrics, is what actually separates strong litigators.

Susman Godfrey hires only federal law clerks, which gives its litigators a shared foundation and an edge in the courtroom.

Pro bono work outside your paying caseload can sharpen your skills as a litigator, not just your firm's PR

Links and Resources [Above the Law](https://abovethelaw.com/)

[The Jabot Podcast](https://abovethelaw.com/tag/the-jabot-podcast/)

Keywords Big Law partnership, litigation career, Susman Godfrey, federal clerkship, first-generation lawyer, women in law, litigation boutique, associate to partner, legal storytelling, deposition tips, pro bono litigation, work-life balance lawyer, Above the Law, The Jabot Podcast, career advice for lawyers, patent litigation, jury trial strategy, law school advice, big law culture, legal career path

Episode Highlights [00:00:35 - 00:01:15] Gloria explains why storytelling, not the law itself, drew her to law school.

[00:03:45 - 00:04:30] "Facts are facts. You can't really change it," but there's always a way to frame them accurately.