R. Amani Smathers

Senior Practice Innovations Specialist, Chapman and Cutler LLP

2013 | Chicago, IL

Tufts University | Economics and Political Science

“MSU Law was one of the first schools to recognize the changes facing the legal marketplace, and actually respond to them--to help prepare students for legal jobs in the 21st century, and not pretend like it's still the 1990s.”

R. Amani Smathers is Senior Practice Innovations Specialist at Chapman and Cutler LLP where she works to anticipate, identify, and design technology based solutions to meet legal and business challenges. One of her favorite aspects of job is that she is on the cutting edge.

“My job didn't exist a few years ago,” she said. “One of the most exciting aspects of my job is that I'm a part of an office that is leading the industry in legal technology and data analytics for corporate clients, while other firms are playing catch-up.”

Amani credits her success with MSU Law’s ReInvent Law Program. Between the classes, networking, and mentorship opportunities, she was able to take on her new role at Seyfarth.

ReInvent Law’s summer program in London allowed her access to key leaders involved in new law in the United States and Great Britan, including James Peters, vice president of Legal Zoom.

“I was also selected to be a student speaker at the first ReInvent Law London ‘unconference,’ and was offered a paid summer position at a legal technology company in California as a direct result,” she said.

In addition to ReInvent Law,  Smathers learned a great deal from the Small Business & Non-Profit Law Clinic because it helped her with the day-to-day processes of legal work.

She said she recommend MSU Law because the school recognizes the changing face of the legal market place.

“MSU Law was one of the first schools to recognize the changes facing the legal marketplace, and actually respond to them--to help prepare students for legal jobs in the 21st century, and not pretend like it's still the 1990s,” she said. “A key strength of MSU Law is that it has a genuine goal to place students in meaningful positions after graduation, even if those positions look different than they might have 10 years ago.”