Young Lawyers Diversity Fellow Spotlight – Lloyd Ocean

Catalina Fonseca: Thank you for joining me and I’m excited for our readers to learn more about you! Could you first tell us more about yourself and your career journey to date?

Lloyd Ocean: I currently work as the Executive Special Projects Officer at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University where I support senior leadership with school strategy, policies, operations, and academics. I am also a masters student at Fletcher focusing on US policy and international law. In my current role I support the Fletcher's Dean, Executive Associate Dean (AKA COO), and Academic Dean. My responsibilities have ranged from brainstorming on strategy and policy to representing the School with various stakeholders to planning and executing VIP programming. Most recently, one of my newer responsibilities has been to support the School's efforts to cultivate connections with employers. While my role has not been a legal one, I have found my law degree to be inimitably helpful with perspective, critical thinking, analysis, and much more

Prior to work at Fletcher, I was a Special Assistant Attorney General at the Rhode Island Department of the Attorney General (RIAG). There I was responsible for supporting the Civil and the Criminal Division’s administration of justice within the State of Rhode Island. Prior to joining the RIAG’s Office, I worked as an Associate at the law firm Goodwin Procter LLP where I focused on business law matters, particularly: capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate. At Goodwin I also devoted a significant amount of time to Pro Bono matters with an emphasis on assisting neighborhood businesses, members of the LGBT community and veterans. As a US Army Officer of 9.5 years, I have traveled across the world supporting the execution of large-scale logistics projects while connecting with and learning from an array of people and cultures. I have also worked to advance policy as a law clerk with the United States Senate Committee on Finance. I was inspired to pursue a career in law because of the wide array of tools and opportunity it provides to impact the world for the better.

Catalina Fonseca: Thanks for sharing your background and your expertise and great to learn about your journey. What are your plans or aspirations for the future in your legal career?

Lloyd Ocean: I aspire to continue to find unique ways in which the benefits of my law degree could allow me to add value to the organization.  I believe, also , that the non-legal experiences and skills I learn will help me to be a better professional in the legal field as it helps me to bring a different perspective. My ultimate plan is to find a way to marry my legal background, my experiences at Fletcher, and my ultimate degree from Fletcher.

Catalina Fonseca: What are the most important skills for a young lawyer in your practice?

Lloyd Ocean: From my time practicing, the skills I found most important were attention to detail, communication, the willingness to ask questions and be resourceful, the willingness to think ahead, and the ability to consistently work on these aspects of oneself.

Catalina Fonseca What do you enjoy most about your current role at the ABA?

Lloyd Ocean: Easily, what I enjoy most about my current role at the ABA is the opportunity to connect with other ABA professionals. My colleagues within the ABA have made my experience enriching, to say the least. They have provided me with so much professional insight and friendship. Also, with the goal of raising our Committee's profile among younger attorneys, I also enjoy brainstorming how we can grab their attention.

Catalina Fonseca: Can you share an experience or project from your time with YIN that you found particularly impactful?

Lloyd Ocean: I joined YIN and SLIN Mentoring Breakfast event at the International Law Section Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. in May (2024). It was helpful for showing me the richness of the ABA network.

Catalina Fonseca What advice would you give to young lawyers who are just starting their careers?

Lloyd Ocean: It may sound cliche but there is no substitute for hardwork, resourcefulness, and forethought, and a great mindset. At a point in time where your legal skills are still in their nascent phase, these are the things you can control now. They help to make a great foundation.

Catalina Fonseca:  How do you believe the ABA can better support young lawyers from diverse backgrounds?

Lloyd Ocean: One way I believe that ABA and its members can support lawyers from diverse backgrounds is by simply reaching out and connecting with said lawyers - especially in person. It can be intimidating for any newer, younger attorney to "break into" a new field, group, or even conversation to say nothing of the layer that being from a diverse background adds. Some of the times I have felt the most included have been when attorneys have reached out and invited me to contribute - helping me to feel seen and heard. Collaborations between YIN and other groups and other committees sounds like great opportunities for this.