Deacon Spotlight: Taylor Fowlks

Taylor Fowlks (2020, BA Politics & International Affairs)

Assistant Corporation Counsel at New York City Law Department in New York, NY

Tell us about your current job role/employer and what you’re currently working on. 

I currently work at the New York City Law Department as an Assistant Corporation Counsel in the General Litigation division. I have a varied caseload, representing different city agencies, including the Department of Education, Human Resources Administration, and Board of Elections. The beauty of my role is that I get to appear in both federal and state court, as well as gain exposure to various intricacies within government. As a person with political aspirations, my role is a great intersection between politics, law, and government.

What personal and/or career experiences did you have prior to landing your current job and leading to where you are now?

Although my role at the NYC Law Department is my first full-time position, I realized my passion for advocacy during my time at Wake. During a period where much of the tradition and history of Wake Forest was being challenged, I was part of the student-led group that coordinated much of the on-campus advocacy. It was from that experience that I truly appreciated the power of collaboration, innovation, and ambition.

Although I already had plans to pursue a political career, I recognized a need to enhance my legal knowledge, as well as my skills in policy construction and defense. Law school seemed like the most logical next step. Fortunately, I was also able to pursue a Master’s of Public Administration while also obtaining my Juris Doctor. With this degree, I gained the necessary expertise to both construct and deconstruct laws and regulations, as well as the analytical skills to evaluate the efficacy of those laws. Moreover, I also learned how to apply my legal skills to governance.

In addition to my full-time experience, I have held many part-time jobs. I gained valuable soft skills from those positions, but my time at Wake and subsequently Syracuse Law revealed the necessary hard skills for a successful and impactful legal career.

What was the most challenging aspect of your first “real world job” and what did you learn from it?

Nobody tells you how difficult the transition is from full-time student to full-time employee. I have been enrolled in an upper-level college course since I was a freshman in high school. I was very comfortable with the collegial environment and academic calendar, so adapting to the work day has been very difficult for me. I knew that I would no longer have breaks between classes, but sitting in an office for eight hours every single day was an adjustment. I learned to be intentional about giving myself periodic mental breaks to separate the otherwise longer work day.

Another challenging has been creating a routine for the hours after work. Although balancing my academic obligations with personal responsibilities and self-care has never been a problem for me in the past, prioritizing it after a full day at work was a different learning curve . I found that preparing for the week ahead of time, such as meal prepping or daily calendar planning, was crucial to overcoming my evening slump. Although it has certainly been an adjustment, it has been a rewarding self-discovery process.

What advice would you give to new Wake Forest graduates about developing their personal life habits after college (finances, health, values, work/life balance)?

My biggest priority during my job search was finding a place where I could have a healthy work/life balance. I would suggest the same to a new graduate. Especially in my field, it is easy to become consumed with your work. Lawyers often have 12+ hour days, even at the beginning of their career, and I knew I wanted to avoid that. I asked questions during the interview process and spoke with current and former employees to learn about their experiences. This was a crucial step in evaluating whether my current job would be a good fit to achieve both my personal and professional goals.

How have you made personal and professional relationships in your city, company, or community?

Creating relationships in a city as large and busy as New York City can be very tough. However, I was fortunate to have friends from different periods in my life, including law school, who relocated to NYC around the same time as me. Through these relationships, I have been able to meet other people, allowing me to expand my personal and professional networks.

Similarly, networking has always been very important to me. I recall an experience when I was a student at Wake, where I attended the Black Student Alliance’s annual Black Professionals Forum. Cheslie Kryst was one of the panelists, and her words moved me greatly. At the time, she was an attorney in Charlotte and I was only a freshman who was too intimidated to speak with her. She went on to win Miss USA a few years later and become a notable public figure. Had I had a conversation with her then, I would not only be able to say I knew Miss USA, but it could have blossomed into a relationship or an opportunity. From that moment forward, I vowed to disregard any nerves and actively seek networking opportunities. After all, I have seen the rewards and relationships that can come from networking. It is also a chance to learn, both from people already working in your profession and those who work in different industries.

Have you been mentored by anyone at Wake Forest or in your professional life? If so, what impact has that relationship had on you?

I have an incredible mentor that I met at an alumni event on campus where I was a panelist. Following the event, he approached me to discuss my interest in law school. He gave me his card and told me that when I started the process to apply to law school to give him a call, and I did.

Will Perry, a fellow alum, has guided me every step of the way- from studying for the LSAT, to applying to law school, to navigating and graduating from law school, to passing the bar. He has graciously bestowed a great deal of wisdom as I have navigated this complicated process, and it has truly been a blessing.

In addition to Will, I have had countless others that have provided advice, shared opportunities, and introduced me to people who are also interested in helping propel my career. Mentorship is something that I hold very dear. It is truly invaluable to have someone who can help you navigate professional hurdles based on what they have learned in their own experiences. As I have had some phenomenal mentors, I look forward to doing the same for someone else in the future.

What advice would you give to current Wake Forest students and/or young alumni who are about to start their first professional job?

Similar to my advice for new graduates, I would suggest they evaluate their priorities prior to searching for a job. For some people, work/life balance isn’t as important as other professional aspects, like opportunities for career advancement or a remote work environment.

Although a recent grad may struggle to pinpoint their needs, I would urge them to evaluate the job during interviews. My mom always advised me that an interview is equally an opportunity for the company to see if you are a good fit for them as much as it is an opportunity for you to see if they are a company for you. It is important to ask questions to learn more about the company before you commit to it.

Most importantly, I would advise them to remember that you should work to live and not live to work. Do not allow a job to prevent you from enjoying special moments with friends and family.

What are your future career goals or plans? How are you being intentional about working towards them?

My reason for attending law school is to later pursue a career in politics. It has been very important for me to develop relationships with people at various levels of government with various interests. From these relationships, I have garnered advice about breaking into the space and doing things now to set the foundation for my pursuit in the future.

Story published in November 2024. For current updates on Taylor’s career path, visit her LinkedIn profile.