Recently the Department had a chance to catch up with Reva Tharwani, Class of 2024. Keep reading to learn more about her career and tips she has for current undergraduates.
Let’s start by having you tell us about your current role. What do you do?
Reva Tharwani: I’m a legal analyst at Pasricha & Patel, which is a law firm out in New Jersey. I work remotely for them. My primary role includes working in the immigration department, so I help with a lot of the visa filings and getting that from point A to point Z until the end of the process. I also do some policy work, mainly revolving immigration law policy, but I also help with the corporate world as well. If there’s anything that goes on in the corporate world in terms of policy developments or anything specific about loans or estate planning, I’ll research and write about that and I get published on our law firm blog.
How did you get your first job? How did it lead to your current role?
Tharwani: It’s kind of funny, because this was my job senior year, and technically was my first job postgrad. I stopped for a second, because my family has a business, so they were opening up another clinic and I was helping that get up and running, but then I rejoined the same firm. So, I’ve been with them for two years now. I think the skills I’ve learned are super transferable and for someone like me who wants to pursue a career in policy and law.I am super grateful for this experience right now because it sets me up really well to go into law and graduate school, but also, I already have a lot of those interpersonal skills, a lot of the foundational knowledge of immigration law specifically, but also corporate law.
What advice do you have for undergraduates who want to break into your field?
Tharwani: I have one route, which is public policy, and then I have another route, which is law. You can intermingle them, but they are too distinct routes. So for public policy, the advice that I have for students is really hone in on your analytical skills. Whatever opportunities you’re able to take advantage of during your undergraduate career, whether that’s classes, or extracurriculars, or your internships, look for things that you think will propel you. I think those are the skills that Rutgers at least prepared me for, and I was able to do that through the class that I took and the things that I was involved in. As far as route B, have a great GPA, have a great LSAT score and be a well-rounded candidate, and that’ll set you up. So, that’s just the advice I wish I had. It was like the reality check that I wish I got when I was an undergrad.
How important is networking in your field and how do you do it?
Tharwani: Networking is extremely important. Although I just said that the school matters, which it does, I think, another layer to that is it’s all about how hard you work and who you know, because those really open up doors for you, regardless of where you are, regardless of whatever field you’re in. It’s really important how you go about that and just try to put yourself out there as much as you can. Go to events, be involved in organizations, things that’ll connect you to A and B. Look on LinkedIn to see who is in a role that you would want to pursue or who are alumni of Rutgers. Cold message them, reach out to them.
Thank you, Reva! For more networking opportunities, be sure to join the Rutgers Political Science Alumni Network on LinkedIn.