Part of what makes New England Law | Boston special is its extensive alumni network. With over 14,000 members, the network is a point of pride for the school. Esteemed alums, such as graduate McKenzie Cotter ’13, serve as examples of where a New England Law education can lead current students.
A love for school and learning first led Cotter to law school. “Once I was there, I thrived on the challenges, the complexities of the law, and the endless opportunities that a career in law would provide,” she notes, knowing she wanted to make a positive influence on people’s lives. Her time at New England Law was impactful in many ways, but especially for the connections she made. “Law school is demanding,” she admits, “but having a core group of friends who offer support and opportunities to step away from studying and enjoy life in the city made all the difference.” She notes that those relationships, many of which still endure, often helped her through more challenging moments in her education.
Following graduation, Cotter set off on a career that, as she explains, has been anything but linear. She says it has evolved as she has come to understand what motivates her, where her strengths lie, and where she can make the most impact. After starting in general practice in a small Boston firm, she moved into family law, but eventually realized her strengths and priorities were better suited to an in-house environment. This realization led her to Dell Technologies, where she began on the commercial legal team before transitioning to the corporate legal team. Now, Cotter is Senior Legal Counsel, where she partners with business units across the company while supporting the corporate impact team on disclosure strategy. “I love it,” Cotter says, explaining how she gets to balance the business side with the legal side, giving practical guidance to ensure legal compliance while driving key business initiatives.
Since she first entered the legal field, Cotter has watched it evolve in exciting ways. The standout? “The impact that AI has had on the legal field,” she says. “It has created incredible efficiencies and has allowed me to focus more on substantive strategic legal work that I’m passionate about.” Ideally, Cotter sees a future with more ways to leverage artificial intelligence in the field; she hopes this will provide more time to focus on learning opportunities, cultivate peer relationships, and immerse herself in strategic projects.
Given her love for learning, it is no surprise that Cotter sees her career as a second education: “Every role has taught me something unique, and each experience has helped me to build the unique skillset I draw on daily in my work.” Cotter credits the teaching and experiences at New England Law as having helped her get to where she is today. “New England Law really laid the foundation for my career,” she explains, highlighting how it taught her to think critically, adapt quickly, and push herself beyond what she thought were her limits.
When the opportunity arose to speak at New England Law’s upcoming Career Forum, it was an easy decision. One of the most rewarding aspects of her career has been supporting others in the profession, both through mentorship and as a Certified Career Coach. So, it is no surprise that Cotter is looking forward to the event: “I want to bring a positive energy and enthusiasm to the Forum, and I want to create a space for students to feel comfortable asking their questions.” And at the end, she hopes students leave inspired, taking with them both practical insights and confidence to create a career aligning with their strengths and goals. “One of the most exciting things about a career in law is that it's full of opportunities. You can dedicate your career to mastering one area, or you can follow your curiosity and apply your legal skills across many different fields,” she explains.
Reflecting on her first year at New England Law, Cotter would share two pieces of advice, one practical and one motivational, with her 1L self. “Practically, I would say immerse yourself in a broad range of classes and opportunities.” She explains that, when she first enrolled, she was sure she would practice either family or criminal law, so she focused much of her experiences on those areas. “Motivationally, I would tell myself that everything’s going to turn out great. I knew having a law degree and becoming a lawyer would open doors, but I had no idea of the full picture.” Cotter knows that being a 1L can be difficult, and she believes all 1Ls should have a mentor, carved-out time to themselves (“I’m talking, for example, one night a week that they do not study,” she clarifies), and someone to hype them up. “It’s important before every exam to tell yourself: ‘You got this. It’s going to turn out okay,’” She knows first-hand that there are so many times in law school when students question their abilities, but she also wants to remind them that simply being in law school is an incredible accomplishment. “You just don’t feel that when it’s happening!”
Years from now, Cotter wants people to remember her positive contributions to the field. “I hope to be remembered for my dedication and for helping others in the legal field succeed,” she explains. Both through her mentoring and coaching, she focuses on empowering current and future lawyers to intentionally design careers aligning with their strengths, interests, and priorities. And through that, she hopes to leave a meaningful, lasting impact on both the profession and the lives of those individuals. “I feel incredibly fortunate for where my life has taken me and where I am today.”