From Transfer Student to Busy Attorney: Alumna is Thriving in Sunny Los Angeles
Julie Gladstone ’14 is a busy employment attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Los Angeles, CA, who says she found her purpose at Westminster College after a crucial decision to transfer from a larger university.
“I was at Mizzou, and I didn’t like the lecture setting,” Gladstone explains. “In my experience, nothing was gained by going to class there, because time was spent recasting the readings without any interaction.”
At Westminster, Gladstone encountered faculty members who challenged her intellectually and encouraged her to attend law school. Read further to learn more about Gladstone’s life then and now.
Can you tell a little bit about your legal career? I aid in the representation of employers in single-plaintiff and class-action lawsuits. I also draft and revise employment agreements, employer handbooks, and related corporate policies.
Do you enjoy what you do? Employment law is complex and constantly evolving; I enjoy the challenge it affords.
Where are you from originally? I’m originally from St. Louis and went to Lindbergh High School.
What was your major at Westminster? Political Science and French.
What other degrees have you earned? I graduated from Washington University in 2016 with a juris doctorate.
What organizations outside of work are you involved in? The St. Louis Suit Project and Both Ends Believing.
How did your Westminster education help you find your purpose? Westminster prepared me for the rigors of law school and fueled my intellectual curiosity.
What is your favorite Westminster memory? There are too many to count, but the opportunity to live with my best friends tops the list (I have Westminster to thank for three of my closest friends: Kaelin O’Connor ’13 ΚΚΓ, Emily McDaniel ’13 ΚΚΓ, and Brooke Norath Magruder ’13 ΚΚΓ).
Would you recommend Westminster to prospective college students? Absolutely! I’d recommend Westminster to anyone who is intellectually curious and looking for an opportunity to learn in a hands-on setting.
Favorite Westminster faculty member(s)? To name a few: Drs. Cliff Cain, Ingrid Ilinca, Kurt Jefferson, and John Langton.
Favorite spot on campus? The Columns — my husband and I took photos there during each season our senior year.
Spouse? James Gladstone ’13 KA, Senior Assistant to the General Manager/Coordinator of Player Personnel for the Los Angeles Rams.
Last book you read? I just finished Thinking in Bets and The Path Made Clear. I’d recommend both.
Do you have a favorite quote? “Be humble: You could always be wrong.”
What do you do in your free time? I enjoy reading, painting, working out, and spending time with friends and family.
