Jason Brown is an honors graduate of the William Mitchell College of Law and former clerk to the chief judge of Minnesota's 10th Judicial District. He is a founding partner with the Brown Law Offices, P.A, a Twin Cities divorce and family law firm. As Brown states on his blog, Minnesota Divorce and Family Law Blog, Brown Law Offices offers services relating to the state's family law issues, including contested divorce, child support, child custody, alimony, spousal maintenance, paternity, domestic abuse, prenuptial agreement, uncontested divorce and mediation. 

Why did you decide to pursue this career field?
I decided to pursue a career in law for two main reasons. First and foremost, I was interested in helping people in a meaningful way. Second, the challenge of thinking critically and creatively, day in and day out, appealed to me.

What type of preparation did you do to get into this field?
To prepare for my work as a lawyer, I obtained a B.S. in speech communication, with a minor in technical writing. Following college, I earned a J.D., studied for and passed the bar exam.

What types of classes and projects did you have to do?
Law school directly prepared me for my work as a lawyer—both practically and intellectually. Classes included evidence, civil procedure, constitutional law, criminal law, family law, contracts and property.

How did your education help you in your career?
My education helped primarily as qualifying me to sit for the bar exam. Lawyers are required to obtain a J.D.

What was your career path like in this field? 
My career path has shifted over the last 11 years. I started working for other attorneys to gain experience. Then I clerked for a district court judge for a year. Three years after law school graduation, I opened my own law firm.

What types of skills is someone required to have to work in your position?
In terms of skills, I think the best lawyers are described as critical thinkers, good writers, effective communicators and passionate about their work.

What do you do on a typical workday?
On any given day, I may find myself meeting with clients, talking to potential clients, handling court hearings, conducting legal research, writing legal briefs, attending mediation or tending to the tasks associated with operating our firm.

Do you plan to advance to another position within your career field? 
At this point, the next step in my career would involve expanding our firm. I would be responsible for overseeing a group of lawyers and staff, while continuing to handle cases. At some point, I would like to become a district court judge.

What type of person do you think is best suited for a job in your field?
There are so many areas of the law—from divorce to corporate—that one size doesn’t fit all.

Do you have any advice for those who are looking to launch a career in your field?
My advice to those interested in becoming lawyer: 1. Work hard academically (law schools are looking for students with a high college GPA). 2. Talk to some attorneys in your area and shadow them for a day (get a real sense of what it’s like).