I often receive emails from incoming or graduating law students who want to know what careers at Google best match their skill sets and resumes.

Since I just received another one of those emails today, I'm turning my usual answer into a #lawtwitter thread.

First, I just want to note that I love and welcome these emails. I wouldn't be where I am today without the immense help and support I received from so many people in this field. So many Googlers entertained coffee chats with me throughout law school and for that, I am grateful.

I think the question: "what jobs at Google fit me?" is somewhat backward. The short answer is that companies like Google have tons of different teams, projects, and opportunities. A better question, imo, is "what kind of role am I seeking?" or "how do I fit at Google?"

I was asked a similar question the first time I met w/my law school advisor. It seemed like an easy answer -- I want to be a tech lawyer. But that's not the answer my advisor was looking for. Before I left that meeting, he tasked me w/the challenge of designing my dream role.

The @TechEdgeJD program gave us a similar exercise with which we designed our careers. We were challenged to articulate what exactly we would be doing from 9am-5pm, each day, 2 years, 5 years, and 10 years from now.

It wasn't an easy exercise. But it was crucial.

I still find that exercise useful today, especially as I think about how I want to progress in my own career. Instead of scrolling through open positions, I go back to the drawing board and list out the specific responsibilities I want my dream role to include.

I ask students who email me about Google jobs to do the same. I think we sometimes get caught up in wanting to work for name-brand firms and we lose sight of why we went to law school in the first place. Forcing that fit without considering your interests is a recipe for burnout.

With that, my best suggestion to any student wondering about what roles are out there in this industry is to first create a list of things you hope to be doing and things you absolutely wish to avoid. Then read through open career listings and match those positions to your list.

Even better, set up coffee chats with people that work at the companies and in the roles that match your interests. You'll gain even more insight into whether those roles are the best fit for your skills and career goals.

The number one question that I was always asked at any company I applied to throughout law school was "why do you want to work here?"

Having already designed my dream role, I always had the perfect answer prepared.

My answer: I'm passionate about Internet law/policy. My role must include advocating for online expression, user rights, and offline regulations that are conducive to preserving and promoting speech. I want to make a real impact in this space. I'm confident I can do that here.

Getting to that answer requires a lot of research, coffee chats, and some trial and error. But that work upfront is so worth it when you finally land what truly is your dream career.

Above all, it's a recipe for a happy, healthy, and fulfilled legal professional.