Life After Law School: Ali Odermann

Life After Law School is a new series from Tulane Law School checking in with recent graduates as they begin their legal careers. In each spotlight, we’ll hear about their experiences after graduation, from navigating the transition into practice to finding their place in the legal profession. In this edition, we’ll hear from Ali Odermann (L ’25), a first-year associate at Jones Walker. 

Tell us about your current role. What do you do? What does a typical day look like? 

I am a first-year associate in Jones Walker's maritime litigation practice. I work on a variety of cases, including maritime contract disputes, personal injury matters, and marine insurance disputes. No two days are really the same. On any given day, I might be drafting a motion for summary judgment, preparing for/taking a case, researching a legal issue, or helping prepare a case for trial. 

As a new attorney, I spend a lot of time learning. I'm fortunate to work with experienced lawyers who are willing to teach, so I try to be a sponge and absorb as much as I can. Every case presents something new, and right now I'm focused on building my skills, gaining practical experience, and becoming the best advocate I can be for my clients. 

How did you land your first position after Tulane Law? Was your path what you expected, or did it take a few twists? 

My path was a little unconventional at first, but it ultimately turned into a fairly traditional one. 

I grew up in Kansas and had no idea maritime law even existed, so I certainly did not come to law school planning to become a maritime attorney or even expecting to stay in New Orleans after graduation. 

During my 1L year, though, I decided to give maritime law a chance because Tulane is widely regarded as having the premier maritime law program in the country. I figured that if I was going to law school at a place with such a strong reputation in the field, I should take advantage of the opportunity to learn more about it. Through Tulane, I was introduced to an incredible maritime community and had the opportunity to meet practitioners who were passionate about the field. I secured a 1L summer internship with the Center for Mariner Advocacy through OCI, and that experience really opened my eyes to the breadth of maritime law and the people who work in it. 

After that summer, I knew maritime law was what I wanted to do. I also knew that Jones Walker had one of the premier maritime practices, and it was a team I wanted to be a part of. I applied for the firm's summer clerkship program and spent my 2L summer at Jones Walker. At the end of the program, I received an offer to join the maritime practice group after graduation. 

Looking back, what experiences at Tulane Law best prepared you for your career? 

The most influential experience was definitely being a part of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal. I was fortunate to be selected as Editor-in-Chief, and that experience was invaluable. It gave me the opportunity to meet incredible practitioners from across the maritime industry and sharpen my research and writing skills. Just as importantly, it allowed me to build lasting friendships with my fellow students, many of whom are now colleagues and friends in the legal profession. 

I was also fortunate to participate in the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic. During my time in the clinic, the case our team was working on went all the way to trial, and the student attorneys, alongside our supervising attorneys, secured a successful result for our clients. Having the opportunity to work on a real case and gain trial experience while still in law school was incredibly rewarding and gave me practical experience that has helped me tremendously as a young attorney. 

Finally, I would be remiss if I did not mention the classes I took at Tulane, especially Admiralty I and Admiralty II with Professor Robert Force. Having Professor Force as both a teacher and mentor was instrumental in developing my understanding of maritime law. Beyond the classroom, he is someone who genuinely invests in his students and helped foster the strong maritime community that makes Tulane so unique. His guidance had a lasting impact on me, both professionally and personally. 

What has surprised you most about practicing law (or working in your field) since graduating? 

I think the biggest surprise has been realizing that learning the law and practicing law are two very different things. Law school does an excellent job of teaching the basics of legal research, writing, and analytical thinking, but being an attorney involves so much more than that. 

As a first-year associate, one of the biggest challenges is learning how to manage all of the responsibilities that come with the job. The legal research and writing still has to get done, and often under tight deadlines, but you are also juggling a calendar, managing an inbox, preparing for meetings, communicating with clients, coordinating with colleagues, and keeping multiple cases moving forward at the same time. There are constantly competing priorities that require your attention. 

I think what has surprised me most is how much of practicing law is learning to balance all of those responsibilities effectively. Developing that skill takes time, and it is something I am still working on every day. Fortunately, being surrounded by experienced attorneys who are willing to share their advice and mentorship has made that learning curve much easier to navigate. 

What advice would you give current Tulane Law students as they prepare for graduation and their first job? 

I'd tell students to find a place where they genuinely like the people they work with. Being an attorney is incredibly rewarding, but it can also be demanding. The job takes up a lot of your time and, often, a lot of your mental energy. You're working through difficult problems, managing deadlines, and handling responsibilities that don't necessarily end when you leave the office. Because of that, the people you work with really matter. You'll spend a huge portion of your day with your colleagues, so finding a workplace where you enjoy being around them and where you feel supported can make all the difference. Skills can be taught, and you'll continue learning throughout your career, but it's much harder to replace a positive culture and strong mentorship. 

I'd also encourage students to make time for the things you enjoy outside of work. Whether that's working out, painting, cooking, playing music, etc., make sure you have something that helps you disconnect from work. Even if it's only an hour after work or an afternoon on the weekend, protecting that time is important. As a new lawyer, it's easy to spend all of your time thinking about your cases and your never-ending to-do list. The reality is that you'll come back to the office on Monday as a better attorney if you've spent some time over the weekend doing something you genuinely enjoy. Filling your cup outside of work makes it much easier to handle the demands of the job and helps make a long career in the law more sustainable. 

What's next for you? Are there any goals or areas of practice you're excited to explore? 

Right now, my biggest goal is simply to continue learning and become the best maritime attorney I can be. What excites me most is the opportunity to further immerse myself in the maritime industry. One of the things I enjoy about maritime law is that it's a relatively small community with a wide range of interesting clients, cases, and issues. The more time I spend practicing, the more I realize how much there is to learn, and I'm excited to keep building those relationships and deepening my understanding of the industry. 

I'm also really looking forward to gaining more courtroom experience and, eventually, trying cases. For now, I'm focused on learning from the attorneys around me and taking on new challenges. Wherever that leads, I'm excited to see where a career in maritime law takes me. 

Connect with Ali on LinkedIn here.