Patrick S. Opdyke '15

Tell me about your decision to attend UNLV Law.
 
I chose Boyd for several reasons. To begin, Robert, my older brother, is a Boyd Law Class of 2012 graduate. He spoke very highly of the faculty and the school. Its strong ranking among all law schools in its nascence was another factor. Because of his familiarity with many of the professors and the curriculum, Robert was a fantastic source of edification on the materials and discussion. I was also fortunate enough to receive a scholarship from Boyd, signaling the school’s commitment to my attendance and keeping the cost of law school affordable.
 
What drew you to Winston & Strawn LLP, and what do you like most about your work at this firm?
 
I met the head of Winston’s summer program at that time at an event in Washington, D.C. My interactions with him, and subsequent interviewers, instilled in me a respect for the culture and personality of the firm. Following my experience as a summer associate, I was struck by the degree of collegiality and camaraderie among the attorneys. I found the same true when joining the firm full-time. Apart from this friendly environment, I most enjoy that I am able to work on all manner of assignments — spanning the full life of a case — and that the factual backgrounds among cases are so unique, even when the underlying law may be similar.
 
Any business advice you would give to someone just starting in the profession?
 
I was introduced to Winston, and achieved my position in the summer program, due to networking and persistence. Upon joining the firm, I found that an upbeat and positive attitude, focusing on teamwork, augmented my acceptance and ability to work with others at the firm; and contributed to a higher quality for my work. In my experience, partners go out of their way to work with staff and attorneys with whom they enjoy working. Thus, my advice would be to network; to be persistent and patient; and to maintain an upbeat attitude.