New Associate Dean of Professional Development and Career Strategies Suzanne Hard joins GW Law with a diverse background in the law. She is devoted to the mission of guiding law students to be their best selves. “Law careers are critical to our democracy,” she said. “We need as many people who understand why we need the rule of law and why these things matter.”
Q: What is your legal background and how has it informed your career?
SH: “After graduating, I came to Big Law in D.C. where I worked in energy and international trade. I loved the work, but when I was expecting my first child, I could not figure out how to continue. There were no role models around me. There were very few women partners and none of them were parents. So I left, returned to my home state of Connecticut, and focused on parenting for several years. Then, despite being very active in my community and doing some part-time work, it was difficult to return to a full-time legal career. With my work, I hope to help make paths into the legal profession visible and also more accessible and inclusive. I want to help students count themselves in and be the strongest job applicants possible, as we all benefit when people get to contribute their best selves to the workplace.”
Q: What are the most important values you bring to your practice?
SH: “Currently, my work is what I like to call ‘law-adjacent,’ so I wouldn’t say I practice. But the values I seek to integrate into my work are respect for every single person I have the privilege of working with, curiosity about their goals and their strengths, and integrity.
In addition, legal education – particularly the kind of critical thinking that is taught in law school – and legal careers are critical to our democracy. We need people throughout society who understand such principles as the rule of law and due process and why these things matter. I appreciate that I have the opportunity to assist those seeking legal careers to achieve their professional goals and to make an impact.”
Q: What do you hope to bring to the GW Law community?
SH: “I am hoping to build a holistic, organized, and empowering program of career counseling. My goal is to ensure that each student has the information and resources they need to be strong candidates for legal employment. We start working with students even before they start their classes, as I do not take for granted that people know anything about the very arcane and particular world of legal hiring, and we don’t want anyone to miss out on opportunities.
In addition, we are out there meeting with legal employers each week, sharing the great news about our students, strengthening our relationships in the community, and also actively seeking new opportunities.”
Q: What drew you to GW Law and what is your vision for the career center and beyond?
SH: “I was interested in the role as I truly love the work of helping people find and sustain a place in the legal profession. I was doing this work in Connecticut but saw the GW opportunity as a chance to work on a larger and more impactful scale in an amazing city. Also, my daughter and her family are here, including my first grandchild, which played no small part in my decision.”
Dean Hard will be a great asset to the GW Law community through her individualized focus on students and their career trajectories. Dean Hard can be reached at suzanne.hard@law.gwu.edu.
