Diversity Scholar Spotlight - Q&A with Carina Tenaglia

Carina Tenaglia is a rising 3L at the George Washington University Law School who plans to pursue a career in white collar crime and fraud, with a focus on the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), where she can use her Brazilian Portuguese and Spanish language skills to bridge legal gaps between the U.S. and Latin America.

Carina spent her 2L summer working at Hogan Lovells and is incredibly involved in her school, serving as a research assistant, student ambassador and the coordinator for the Inns of Court, as well as being a member of the Moot Court and Alternative Dispute Resolution Boards, and the International Law Review.

Prior to law school Carina graduated from Florida State University, with a B.S. in International Affairs (concentration in Public Administration and counter-terrorism studies), and a B.S. in Business Management. Carina enjoys painting and making crafts in her spare time, and credits competitive swimming with giving her the discipline to work hard.

PracticePro

Tell us about any leadership positions, student journals/organizations, or projects you’re involved with in law school or in the community.

Carina

I work as a research assistant to an Assistant Dean of my law school where I research issues related to anti-corruption and the FCPA. I periodically attend events and American Bar Association (ABA) teleconferences and have written a few articles and blog posts for the ABA newsletter and FCPA blog. I also work as a coordinator for our Inns of Court program. Through this, I help the faculty coordinators facilitate programs that are designed to help 1L students cultivate skills to become self-directed learners.

Additionally, I’m a member of the Moot Court Board, Alternative Dispute Resolution Board, and International Law Review. I also volunteer with the Admissions office as a student ambassador. Within the larger Washington, D.C. community, I am a part of the local Hispanic National Bar Association chapter.

PracticePro

What did you do (where did you work or intern) last summer?

Carina

I’m currently wrapping up my experience as a Summer Associate at Hogan Lovells. I’ve had the opportunity to work on several pro bono projects, assist with an asylum witness interview translation, and conduct research for various other litigation and investigation-based practice groups. Last summer I was a legal intern at the Department of Commerce, Office of Chief Counsel for Industry and Security. I conducted extensive research regarding export controls and worked on an export controls enforcement matter as well.

PracticePro

Where do you to see yourself professionally in 5 or 10 years from now?

Carina

I see myself (hopefully) developing my craft in the private sector within the White Collar Group at my firm. I would particularly like to continue exploring the FCPA field and utilize my language skills and cultural knowledge to bridge legal gaps between the U.S. and Latin America, and develop effective proactive compliance programs for multinational companies.

PracticePro

Where are you working this summer (Summer 2018) and what are you hoping to accomplish during your internship?

Carina

I’m working at Hogan Lovells (and loving it!). Although our summer program comes to a close this week, I think I’ve been able to accomplish most of the goals I set out initially. I’ve been able to learn a great deal about many of the firm’s different practice areas, attend practice-specific trainings, learn more about clerkship opportunities, work on cross-office teams, and even communicating with a client on several occasions and having the opportunity to travel with our team to present on our findings at the client’s headquarters.

It was a summer filled with a lot of growth, with a healthy balance of hard work and a lot of fun. I think my favorite part about the experience has been seeing the personality of the firm and how it has really aligned with what we were told. From the recruiting staff, to associates, to partners, everyone has been incredibly down-to-earth and enjoyable to work with. I think that was part of my largest goal -- deciding if this was the kind of place I could work, and if big law was the right decision for me.

PracticePro

What do you do for fun? Tell us one fun or interesting non-law school related thing about yourself.

Carina

I love painting and making crafts! I recently launched an art-based Instagram page to publicly share my pieces. It’s the best stress reliever and creative outlet. I also enjoy weight-lifting, hiking, and swimming. I used to be a competitive swimmer and get antsy when I’m sitting for too long, so I try to get up and move at least a few times a week.

PracticePro

Tell us about a struggle or challenge you faced growing up, how you overcame it, and how it shaped who you are today.

Carina

I used to be a competitive swimmer and had a series of injuries to my ankle and back. I had trained to become a swimmer in college, and it was very difficult to continue training at the same level after so much time out of the pool, having surgery, and suffering from some post-trauma pain. I decided to focus on my studies and partake in other activities, but eventually decided to join my undergraduate university’s swim club. At Florida State, the club was available to students at every skill level. I took it one step at a time and was able to compete at nationals where I ran into many swimmers I knew from earlier competitions. It was a great feeling to be back in competitions after so many years, but I would not have been able to get there if I continued to push myself without healing first.

I think swimming provided me with the discipline to work hard, but also with the opportunity to meditate each day and just think. When your head is under the water, you are left to your own thoughts. I would think about life, plan, and problem-solve at each practice, without actively realizing it. Swimming taught me to reach goals, but it also taught me to taper (rest) when I needed it. I pushed myself when I knew I could and when it mattered most, but also enjoyed other things in life. All of these lessons have translated into everything I do to this day. I continue to work hard, maintain discipline in school and work, but also acknowledge that there are times for rest and recovery. Today I am healthy, I have been able to work on my physical as well as mental strength since my injuries and enjoy both working towards my goals and also taking time to relax and reflect.

PracticePro

Tell us a quote or saying by which you live your life or the best life advice you ever received.

Carina

“Celebrate little victories.” I watched a Ted Talk with this message and I think it’s a testament to how we tend to only celebrate these huge long-term goals without accounting for the small victories along the way.

PracticePro

What is the one accomplishment you are most proud of?

Carina

Remaining authentic to myself and those around me. I think that this profession in particular can oftentimes make people think they have to change, or be the best at everything, and sometimes that translates into an elitist mindset. I believe that I do my best to practice humility, to check up on friends, and continue making the time for people and activities that I enjoy. This probably isn’t the typical “achievement-based” answer you were looking for, but I think that many of us at this stage in law school have achieved many things. I think this is an ongoing achievement that sets the stage for other accomplishments in life, and it’s tested over time.

PracticePro

What is one thing you wish you had known before law school? Do you have any advice or book recommendations to incoming 1Ls to help them succeed or better handle the rigors of law school?

Carina

Don’t feed into the hype. Other 1Ls that think they know everything do not (because they’re in the same shoes as you are) - and treat law school as continuing education with much more reading and some harder questions. I perhaps naively entered law school without giving into the mindset that many peers had about trying to read every law blog and find everything out, which in turn stressed them all out more. I would encourage students to stay ahead, ask questions often, and ignore those around you who are stress-mongering or claiming to know how things work. Everyone has their own style but I think incorporating these practices will lead to a healthier and more productive law school experience - even beyond 1L.

PracticePro

What has been your favorite law school experience -- one you would suggest other students look into?

Carina

Interning! I interned with the Department of Justice Fraud Section this past spring and it was the best experience. I absolutely loved the attorneys I worked with, and I learned way more than I could have done in three years of law school. I was invited to participate in witness interviews, internal investigation presentations by counsel, a small conference-room meeting with Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein for the FCPA unit, and so much more. I met some of the most brilliant legal professionals who were so generous of their time and mentorship. I would suggest interning places where you might have an interest working. The experiences you have and people you meet can largely help shape your career moving forward.