As a native Virginian and graduate of the College of William and Mary, Untiedt had every intention of moving back to her home state after law school graduation—but she just couldn’t bring herself to leave Gainesville.

“As graduation drew closer, I realized I wasn’t ready to leave Florida—we call it the ‘Gainesville Curse,’” she said. “I had been working at the Public Defender’s office as an intern, and I really enjoyed the experience, so I interviewed there and was hired for a full-time job.”

She got her start in the public interest field by working with professors who focused on issues that children and families face.

“I was a fellow with the Center on Children and Families under Professor Barbara Woodhouse and the Center for Governmental Responsibility under Tim McLendon,” she said. “My experiences with these renowned UF Law centers further cemented my commitment to public interest law.”

Untiedt enjoys her role as a public interest attorney because it allows her to express her passion of helping the less fortunate who have serious legal issues.

“I believe every attorney has a duty to use his or her degree to make our world a better place, whether by working in a public service position, volunteering pro bono hours, or sharing the wealth with service organizations,” she said. “I’ve chosen to provide direct client services to people who couldn’t otherwise afford a lawyer, and I have really enjoyed the experience.”

In August, Untiedt began a one-year Equal Justice Work AmeriCorps fellowship at Three Rivers, where she focuses on teaching UF Law students the clinical skills they will need to work with clients after graduation.

A great way for current students to make connections and find jobs is to reach out to UF Law alumni who work in their fields of interest, Untiedt said.

“Do whatever it takes to get real-life experience before you graduate, so you can make an informed decision about your career path,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to call up alumni who work in a field that interests you—even if you don’t know them—to ask questions and learn more about the day-to-day aspects of the job.”

Instead of following the big dollar signs, UF Law alum Scott Atwood (JD 95) says becoming a successful, happy attorney is about building relationships with others and being involved in the community.

Atwood currently practices labor, employment and business litigation with Stout Walling Atwood LLC in Atlanta, and runs Scott E. Atwood P.C. in Sarasota.

At UF Law, he served as the editor-in-chief of the Florida Journal of International Law and was a recipient of the President’s Award for outstanding contributions to UF. He also served as secretary of the John Marshall Bar Association and was the editor of the law schools weekly newspaper, The Docket.

“Being so involved in law school prepared me so much for what I do today in my practice,” he said. “Every day I deal with reading, writing and editing. Plus the experience of managing and supervising others was important as well.

He recently was installed as president of the Florida Bar’s Young Lawyers Division, which represents more than 22,000 members of the Florida Bar. He says being involved in the community adds another dimension to his career.

“I always tell young lawyers how important it is to get involved with something in their community,” he said. “Whether it’s the state bar or any other organization, it will make their careers much more enriching.”

Atwood first worked for a large firm and just recently merged his own firm with two other attorneys. He says starting off with a firm is a good idea, but that he likes being his own boss.

“It makes a lot of sense when you’re first starting out to work for a firm that knows the ropes, and I definitely would not advise starting my own firm out of school,” he said. “There’s lots of pressure running a small firm when it comes to paying the bills, getting clients in the door and being prepared for your current clients as well.”

Being at a smaller firm allows Atwood the chance to create stronger relationships with the people he represents, he said.

“I love that I have a job where I have constant client contact where people rely on me,” Atwood said. “You end up developing strong, trusting relationships, and many of them become my good friends.”

He says the allure of high salaries for new graduates out of law school occasionally steers people the wrong way.

“Sometimes it’s better to take less money and get a better development experience, better life and better surrounding environment,” he said. “Don’t automatically assume the highest paying job is the best.

Now that Atwood runs his own firm, he not only gets to help people with their problems, but is living his dream as well.

“Being a lawyer allows me to help people solve their problems in a way they can’t do on their own, and I like that,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to run my own firm and it allows me to do what I want to do, how I want to do it.”

Payne, who practices in the area of commercial litigation for the law firm Rogers Towers, in Jacksonville, graduated first in his class, worked on Florida Law Review, interned at the Supreme Court of Florida for retired Justice Leander J. Shaw Jr., and did pro bono work during law school. After graduation, Payne clerked for United States District Judge Wm. Terrell Hodges and then United States Circuit Judge Susan H. Black.

Being a law clerk was the best career decision Payne ever made because he entered private practice with a much better understanding of the judicial system, he said.

“Clerking is an ideal environment for someone coming out of law school to sharpen their skills before going into private practice,” Payne said. “The opportunity to write, research, analyze, watch trials and see how judges make decisions was an invaluable experience.”

It was his experience as an intern for the Supreme Court of Florida in Tallahassee that motivated Payne to become a law clerk after graduation. Working with a legendary judge like Leander Shaw left him with a tremendous appreciation for what judges do, he said.

Of Justice Shaw, Payne said, “He has a great innate sense of justice and what the law should be. He can get right to the heart of even the most difficult case with his questioning, and was just a remarkable jurist to work with.” Perhaps working with judges was in Payne’s genes, given that his father is retired Chief Judge Richard G. Payne of Florida’s Sixteenth Judicial Circuit, in his hometown of Key West.

The ability to focus, persevere, and overcome obstacles is the best attribute a law student can have, he said.

“Whether it’s studying in law school, clerking with the court, or working in private practice, the ability to challenge yourself and persevere through difficult times and learn from those experiences is a key to success,” Payne said. “I’m one of those kinds of people who like to be good at something right away, but when I’m not as good as I’d like to be right away, I’ve learned I have to always push on and try harder.”

To be prepared for the world after law school, students need to work together, write as much as possible, and be involved in organizations, he said.

“You need to get on any journal you can and look to publish your work as much as you can,” he said. “Make the most of your experience by interning for the courts and working pro bono.”

When it comes down to a career, Payne says being surrounded by lawyers who have pride in the profession is most important.

“At Rogers Towers, I’m surrounded by lawyers who have a great deal of respect for the profession and the law and who pride themselves on providing high quality legal representation for their clients,” he said. “I’m happy that I share those goals too.”

Jason Silver