This month’s professional spotlight features Yodit Tewolde. Yodit is a criminal defense attorney and legal columnist/analyst. Learn more about Yodit and her work as an attorney:
Could you briefly explain some of your responsibilities in your current career role?
I’m a criminal defense attorney. It’s my job to defend those, both adults and juveniles charged with a criminal offense. I offer clients legal counsel while helping to safeguard their constitutional rights.
How did you come to decide that this was the right career path for you?
It started in high school when I was on the debate team. I learned with ease how to research and articulate my thoughts clearly and concisely, so being a lawyer was a natural choice for me.
Is there a philosophy that drives your career?
“Nothing will work unless you do.” ~ Maya Angelou
This rings true to me and my upbringing. I watched my parents work for everything they have and they instilled in me at a very early age that you can’t get what you want without putting in hard work. Period.
What do you consider to be your greatest professional accomplishment?
Passing the bar exam. Hands down. Studying for such a difficult exam was both physically and emotionally draining. The exam was a grueling 3 days long. Waiting 4 months for your score was agonizing. But seeing my name on the “pass” list had to be the greatest feeling to date because it was officially the start of my professional career as an attorney.
What’s one piece of advice you would give someone looking to transition into your line of work?
Know exactly why you want to be a lawyer and how you would use that law license.
Outside of all of your hard work and efforts toward building your brand, what do you do for fun? Hobbies?
I honestly just love to eat. Eating is an experience for me that I don’t get to relish in as much because of my hectic schedule…its pretty much grab and go most days. So, I like to go to a restaurant with great ambiance and energy, meet up with close friends and break bread.