Cristina Velez: Freelance Legal Researcher; Adjunct Professor, Florida State University; Tallahassee, FL

							           LAWCROSSING
           THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL JOBS ON EARTH



   LAW STAR                                                                                              www.lawcrossing.com        1. 800.973.1177




                            Cristina Velez: Freelance Legal Researcher; Adjunct
                            Professor, Florida State University; Tallahassee, FL
                            [By Megan Rellahan]
                            Cristina Velez broke all boundaries and became a lawyer. Leaving New York City behind, she discovered a perfect balance
                            between her artistic life and her legal career in Tallahassee, FL.




After finishing her undergraduate program            When Velez’ boyfriend graduated from                employment discrimination practice, where
at Wellesley College, Velez, whose pen name          Columbia University and moved to                    she assists people such as the elderly,
is Nina Parrilla, viewed the world as a place        Tallahassee, she often visited him. While           women, and religious groups. At Florida
filled with unlimited opportunities. Having          there, Velez spent most of her time                 State University, Velez also teaches a course
an adventurous spirit, she spent the bulk of         outdoors biking or hiking. She missed that          entitled Genocide and International Law.
that summer in Boston Common reading,                in Manhattan, along with the more relaxed
writing, and contemplating her next chapter.         lifestyle Floridians seemed to live.                “I love my students because they make me
As a woman who values her free time to                                                                   look at the topic from 40 different ways and
write poetry and live life to the fullest, Velez     Throughout Velez’ second and third years at         also because a good chunk of them feel
followed in the footsteps of her favorite poet,      Columbia, she worked at a small plaintiff-          compelled the way I do,” said Velez.
Martin Espada, whose work as an attorney             side employment discrimination/personal
showed her that she could lead, as she puts          injury practice and loved every minute of it.       Velez’s poetry reminds her of why she is
it, a bifurcated life.                                                                                   practicing law. According to Velez, “I cannot
                                                     “I got my hands dirty, and it just let me           disconnect the artist I am from the law I
“There were several factors that made me             know that I couldn’t do big-firm work,”             practice. I cannot try to make the world
want to pursue a J.D.,” said Velez. “First           stated Velez. “I liked interacting with clients     beautiful through art and then undermine
off, I love reading, researching, and writing.       too much to let myself be swamped in                it by working for a law firm that defends
Several people who knew me well thought              paperwork. I also liked knowing that I was          companies that harm the environment or
that law school would be a good fit for me.          directly helping someone.”                          people.”
Also, I knew that with a J.D., I could do
many things; and I wasn’t just restricted            Having spent time working at a big firm in          “You are what you do,” said Velez. “If you do
to practicing law. And I knew that as an             D.C. as well, within two weeks, Velez said          worthy work—work that contributes to the
attorney, I could work part time and support         that she knew big firms were not for her.           world in a positive way—everything else falls
myself. I really value my free time and knew I       After exploring all of her options during           into place. The present is fleeting, so enjoy it
wanted to do many things. Being a lawyer fit         school, when graduation neared, Velez made          to the fullest. Eat good food, drink good wine,
my goals.”                                           the decision to leave the big city behind and       and spend time with good friends. However,
                                                     join her boyfriend in Tallahassee.                  make sure that whatever you do, you are
Velez took the LSAT and applied to Columbia
                                                                                                         creating something lasting.”
University, where she was accepted.
                                                     “The cost of living is cheaper, the lawyers
“Columbia was a good fit for me for many             work fewer hours, and, in general, they seem        ON THE NET
reasons. I knew I wanted to do work in the           to have more control of their time,” explained
human rights/international law field and             Velez.                                              Florida State University
Columbia has an amazing program. I also                                                                  www.fsu.edu
wanted access to [the School of International        “I didn’t want the hectic life. I didn’t want the
and Public Affairs].”                                commute. I wanted to be able to lie on grass        Columbia University
                                                     and have a flexible work schedule. New York         www.columbia.edu
“And I wanted to live in Manhattan. Just             didn’t seem to offer that. Big firms certainly
as much as I wanted to learn about law, I            didn’t offer that.”                                 Wellesley College
wanted to be exposed to more poetry and                                                                  www.wellesley.edu
to the vibrant community New York offers,”
                                                     In Tallahassee, FL, Velez landed a
explained Velez.
                                                     job working three days a week for an


PAGE