How I Got My Securities Job: Karen Martinez, the Assistant Director of the Salt Lake Regional Office of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and Maria Heckel, an associate at Ray Quinney & Nebeker
Career Brief continues its feature of S.J. Quinney alumnus who are work in the securities and securities litigation field. In this article, we feature interviews with two of these alums, one with the working for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and another working at a local law firm.
Karen Martinez, Assistant Director, Salt Lake Regional Office of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
What do you do?
I am the Assistant Director of the Salt Lake Regional Office of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
Where are you from and where did you go to law school?
I was born and spent the first 16 years of my life in the United Kingdom. After moving to the United States, I obtained my undergraduate degree from the University of Idaho. After a few years in the work force I obtained my law degree from the University of Utah College of Law.
What kind of activities did you do in law school?
I did not participate in many activities in law school. I had young children. Juggling kids, classes and reading assignments did not leave much time for activities.
How did you first make contact with your employer and how did you get this job?
After law school, I clerked for Christine Durham on the Utah Supreme Court then went to work in private practice where I specialized in securities litigation, primarily representing accounting firms and broker-dealers in large class action suits. While representing a local broker-dealer in one such class action I met Tom Melton who was representing the Securities and Exchange Commission in a related enforcement action. We on opposite sides of the case for several years and developed a mutual respect. When the Securities and Exchange Commission had an opening for Trial Counsel, Tom called me to see if I would be interested in the job. I interviewed and was offered the position.
What does your typical day involve for you/your work?
My typical day can involve a number of different tasks. Primarily, I supervise the enforcement staff in the Salt Lake office. This involves providing strategic guidance during the course of investigation, participating in testimony or reviewing the written recommendations to the Commission drafted by the staff. I travel from time to time. I recently returned from witness interviews in Borneo.
What are the best (and worst, if you want) parts of your job?
The best part of my job is working with the talented and dedicated staff in the Salt Lake office. In addition, I believe in the Commission’s mission and think that the enforcement staff does important work. The job provides a great deal of satisfaction. The worst part of the job is dealing with government bureaucracy which is probably the case with any job for a large agency.
What tips and advice do you have for job-seeking S.J. Quinney law students and alums?
Job seekers should keep all their options open. So often, I hear students saying I don’t want to apply for this or that job because that’s not what I want to do. It is much easier to move to the job that you really want when you already have a job. Moreover, any legal job will provide excellent learning opportunities which will serve you well when looking for that perfect opportunity. Networking is also a key part of any job search. Keep in touch with friends from law school, people you volunteer with or anyone who may be able to help you get that perfect job.
Maria Heckel, Associate, Ray Quinney & Nebeker
What do you do?
I am a litigator at the law firm of Ray Quinney & Nebeker. I specialize in securities litigation as well as in environmental and natural resources matters.
Where are you from and where did you go to law school?
I am originally from Flagstaff, Arizona. I attended the S.J. Quinney College of Law.
What kind of activities did you do in law school?
I was on the boards of several student organizations including the Women’s Law Caucus and the Public Interest Law Organization. I also served on the Utah Law Review editorial board and as a TA for Legal Methods. The later two activities were a lot of work, but they provided helpful cooperative writing and editing experiences that translated nicely to my work–first as a law clerk to Utah Supreme Court Justice Durrant and then as a law firm associate.
How did you first make contact with your employer and how did you get this job?
My first contact with Ray Quinney & Nebeker was through the law school’s on campus recruiting process. Ray Quinney & Nebeker interviewed me during my first year, but it did not offer me a first year clerkship. Instead, I worked for the local office of the United States Securities & Exchange Commission that summer. I applied to Ray Quinney & Nebeker again my second year and they offered a summer associate position and, later, a job. They held the job for me while I worked for a year as a law clerk to Justice Durrant.
Ray Quinney & Nebeker initially hired me as a general litigation associate. I developed a practice in securities litigation over time by asking for work from a partner who is a well-known securities litigator and making myself valuable to his cases. I am fortunate that this partner, Mark Pugsley, has also been a great mentor who actively promotes my development as an attorney.
What does your typical day involve for you/your work?
I represent both defendants and plaintiffs in securities fraud cases in a variety of civil, administrative, and arbitration forums. On the average day, I usually have at least a couple cases involving investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission or Utah’s Division of Securities. I am also usually preparing cases for arbitration in the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority’s (“FINRA”) arbitration forum. These arbitrations are a lot like civil trials, but the entire process takes only one year from filing the Complaint through the final hearing. The short time frame of FINRA arbitrations gives me the opportunity to engage in actual trial-like hearings more frequently than most other law firm associates. In addition to my securities work, I find time to engage in a natural resources and environmental law matters. I also enjoy working on occasional appellate briefs.
What are the best (and worst, if you want) parts of your job?
I like investigating the facts and legal theories of securities cases. Although many people seem to find securities law intimidating, I think many of the basic securities claims are pretty easy to understand and much more interesting than run-of-the-mill contract disputes. I also really enjoy working at Ray Quinney & Nebeker. It is a great, well respected firm that makes me feel valued and it also allows its attorneys to maintain a reasonable work-life balance.
The worst part of my job is a downside of litigation generally. Litigation schedules are hard to control and sometimes I need to put in weeks of long hours in preparation for a big hearing. Fortunately, my job allows me flexibility so I can offset crazy weeks with time away from the office at other times.
What tips and advice do you have for job-seeking S.J. Quinney law students and alums?
In the litigation arena, finding a specialty can be a very valuable business and job development strategy. It can set you apart from the many other well-qualified litigators out there. However, don’t panic if you don’t know what you want to do yet. Sometimes you actually limit your prospects if you come to a firm saying you want to be a [fill-in-the-blank] lawyer and the firm does not have staffing needs in that area. Be open to allowing your practice to grow organically from the relationships and opportunities that open up to you as well as from your interests. My undergraduate degree is in Geography and I never considered securities law before my first year summer at the Securities & Exchange Commission.
When you do get an interview at a firm, be yourself. Don’t let nerves get in the way of a great interview. Ray Quinney & Nebeker focuses a great deal on personality and fit. If you get the interview, you are smart enough for the job.