Daphne Ekpe ‘22
March 19, 2023
Daphne Ekpe is an alumna of the American University Washington College of Law and graduated in December 2022 with an LLM in IP and Technology. Prior to her LLM program, Daphne practiced law in Nigeria for three years. Currently, Daphne works as an Associate Counsel with Welsh Flaxman & Gitler LLC (WFG), where she engages in IP prosecution. Additionally, she serves as a Senior Social Impact IP Law Leader at Technology Innovation Law LLC (TIL) due to her passionate interest in democratizing intellectual property rights for underrepresented entrepreneurs.
As an international student, what was your experience like attending AUWCL? Can you share any challenges you faced or highlights from your time at AUWCL?
It was a wonderful experience because I met and interacted with other students from different parts of the world and had the opportunity to learn about other cultures. I remember the Cultural Exchange Program held by the LLM Board during my time in school because I was exposed to the food, lifestyle, and other interesting facts about diverse cultures. However, I did experience cultural shocks when I first arrived in school and had to adapt to the American culture. One shock is the way the professors relate to students in a friendly manner because back in my home country, we don’t necessarily have such cordial relationships with our professors. Generally, I enjoyed my experience at AUWCL.
How would you describe the job market for you during your time at WCL? Were there any particular factors or strategies that helped you secure employment?
I will talk about the time I sought a summer job because that was my first encounter with the job market in the U.S. To be honest, it was not easy because I got a lot of rejections after applying for jobs and some after the interview process. Eventually, I got a summer associate job offer at the firm I currently work with, Welsh Flaxman & Gitler LLC (WFG). My summer experience made the future job market easier, but prior to that, I recall having different coffee chats with several professors, IP professionals, alumni, and students. I got to know about the opportunity at WFG through my interaction with Kelly Welsh, who was doing her J.D. program at the time.
Regarding advice on job hunting strategies, I will say network within your community, be open about your interest in the job market, and be intentional about searching online and applying. My advice to anyone at this phase will be to keep pushing and do not give up. It only takes one YES to get in. These were the factors that really helped me in my time at AUWCL.
Given the opportunity to go back in time, would you still choose the same path of attending AUWCL and pursuing your chosen career? Why or why not?
Yes, I would choose my career in IP and Technology Law because it’s what I enjoy doing and I derive career satisfaction from it. I would still pick AUWCL because even though there were ups and downs, it was a great experience overall. I consider my time at AUWCL a blessing.
What advice would you give to international students trying to navigate the American system? Are there any specific resources or strategies you found helpful during your time at AUWCL and beyond?
My advice to them will be to take it one step at a time because I know it can be overwhelming trying to figure everything out at the same time. They should attend professional events within the school and in the DMV area. They should engage with organizations such as the American Bar Association and volunteer for programs, so they can meet other lawyers in various practice groups. They should be open-minded and interact with students, alumni, and professors. The Office of Career and Professional Development (OCPD) has several job search resources which will be helpful for them to consult. I wish them the very best!