We all have a role to play in closing the representation gap that continues to persist within the legal profession. This couldn’t be truer for Sarita Venkat VP & Deputy General Counsel, Global Litigation & Competition who shared, “Lighting a path for the next generation means creating opportunities that expose them to career paths they might not have known about or considered before, especially for those from communities that are underrepresented in the legal profession.” In partnership with lawyers and staff from Desmarais LLP, Cisco was able to host students and alumni from the Silicon Valley Urban Debate League (SVUDL) in our San Jose HQ office.

The event’s theme focused on “IP in the Real World” and brought the SVUDL community together for academic and professional development with a variety of professionals involved in the IP realm. Attendees gained a deeper understanding of the basic aspects of intellectual property law, including how companies protect their innovations and advocate in courtrooms.

SVUDL Board member, Partner at Desmarais, and event presenter, Leslie Spencer, highlighted that the morning provided students and alumni with “a range of backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences that enriched their understanding of technology, its role in their lives and the careers that it offers”, sharing further that she “could not have been more pleased to participate in such a rich learning experience for our students.”

After the session, participants had the opportunity to chat with representatives from many of the professions that contribute to the success of the Legal Department and Cisco more broadly, including attorneys, legal interns, project and program managers, engineers, and data analysts.  Students left the day feeling informed and inspired as they head into high school graduation and their college years with more knowledge about the opportunities and career paths available in the Legal profession and IP.

Published October 2024