Meet Kaylan! Kaylan was born and raised in San Diego, California, leaving only for a brief period of time to attend law school (and MANY Dodger games) in Los Angeles, California. Kaylan, the only sister to four brothers, developed a penchant for sports, the outdoors, and mediating amongst her brothers.
Though Kaylan always knew she wanted to pursue a legal career, she was the first to graduate from college in her family and wasn’t quite sure where to start. After graduating from high school, she applied for a position with Costco Wholesale. She was promoted to a supervisor position after just 4 months with the company, where she developed a basic understanding of premises liability and negligence actions until she was admitted to law school. Once accepted, Kaylan continued her supervisory duties with Costco on a part-time basis, enabling her to sharpen her time management and leadership skills while simultaneously building her legal foundation.
When out of the office, Kaylan enjoys spending time with her three nieces, watching baseball, visiting Disneyland as much as possible, and supervising her husband in the restoration of their “water condo,” a 1980 custom houseboat trawler.
Q&A
Q: What advice would you give someone who is interested in pursuing a legal career but doesn’t know where to start?
A: Networking is crucial. Get out and talk to the people who are doing it and learn about their journeys. As attorneys, we are problem solvers, but we also know there’s really no blueprint for what we do, and there’s more than one way to solve a problem! As such, while you should have a goal in mind, realize there’s more than one way to get there.
Q: How did having all brothers shape you in your professional and personal life?
A: Having brothers made me very competitive and driven. They kept my parents pretty busy growing up, so I learned how to be self-sufficient and independent at a young age to make things as easy as possible for them, which is still something I strive for to this day.
Q: Being the first in your family to graduate from college and law school is a huge milestone. What are you most proud of from your professional journey?
A: I had a lot of people questioning my goals and doubting I’d ever “make it,” so I’m most proud of my tenacity, as it really helped develop a “winners don’t quit” mentality, which is crucial in our profession.
Q: What is your favorite ride or attraction at Disneyland?
A: Tower of Terror was my jam before it got replaced, so now I have to go to Disney World to get my fix for that! Since I go to Disneyland pretty frequently, the people watching has become one of my favorite things to do. There is nothing like seeing the magic through someone else’s eyes for the first time!
A special thank you to Kaylan for sharing her experience with us!