"From a Place of Genuine Compassion”: Simone Senior (‘20)
Written by Asia Reid
Throughout her career, Simone Senior (‘20) has striven to live by a principle her mission president, Brian K. Taylor, taught: “Whomever you’re with, you need to lift.” Her approach to life, work, and service is outward-focused, considering how she can help others rather than what she can gain; she centers her interactions on this same principle. “If we treat each other, our colleagues, and our friends in an uplifting way, we can be our most fulfilled, our strongest.” Whether advocating for business owners big and small or overcoming challenges during the pandemic, Simone helps others with compassion and finds gratitude in whatever curveballs life throws.
Simone is no stranger to promptings, chance meetings, and twists and turns in her life. She was a pre-law major at the University of Chicago, where her love for advocacy blossomed while taking classes on human rights, sociology, and political science. In the last year of her undergraduate studies, her life took a transformative turn. She joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and decided to serve a mission–two major changes that had not been a part of her original plan. While on her mission in Dallas, Texas, another major turn changed the trajectory of Simone’s life.
"I had no intention of applying for law school while on my mission," Simone confirmed. Instead, she planned to take the LSAT again after her mission or perhaps pursue a career in teaching. However, after receiving a strong and distinct prompting that she needed to apply to BYU Law, Simone decided to apply. With the support of her mission president, Simone spent her preparation days preparing her application. She was even able to meet with Gayla Sorenson, Dean of Admissions, at the time when Gayla passed through Texas on a recruiting trip for the Law School. With all of these efforts and her faithful following of a prompting, Simone was accepted at the only school to which she applied–BYU Law.
Simone describes BYU Law as both a supportive community and a rigorous academic environment. “The culture at BYU Law is one of excellence and support. Academics are taken seriously, and the community is so incredibly supportive.” She is also thankful for her professors who were “phenomenal people who truly care about their students...All of the professors genuinely wanted to help us become the best attorneys we could be.”
It is no surprise that some of Simone’s favorite experiences at BYU Law were those that gave her an opportunity to help others. In the Law and Entrepreneurship Clinic, she represented local, small business owners, an experience she found immensely fulfilling as someone who wanted to become an entrepreneur herself. Simone also reflected on unexpected opportunities to help others during law school, such as helping a BYU undergraduate student search the law library for materials to advocate on behalf of his mother in a dire legal situation in Europe. These experiences not only equipped her to help others but also instilled in her a deep sense of humility and awe with regard to the law. “We have this power and a great capacity to research and write and advocate for people, but it’s also a humbling experience to have the ability to help people from a place of genuine compassion, to put ourselves in their shoes and advocate for them instead of considering this as being just a way to pay the bills,” she mused.
Graduating in the unique class of 2020 without a job secured, Simone faced the challenges of entering the job market and moving across the country during the COVID-19 pandemic. After months of networking and cold calls, she was able to land a job in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where her husband would be starting his graduate program. However, after taking the bar exam in October, she received the devastating news that she didn’t pass.
Despite her initial apprehension, Simone used this setback as an opportunity to share her experience with others and was overwhelmed to have numerous people reach out and explain their own similar experiences. Her courage and strength in sharing her story allowed connection between friends and colleagues, something that garnered her both empathy and support as she moved forward. In February of 2021, Simone took the bar exam again, passing with the support of her husband, friends, and a supportive law firm.
Simone now works in the Global Corporate Group at Reed Smith LLP, working primarily on mergers & acquisitions, private equity transactions, and venture capital financings, a good fit considering her entrepreneurial passions and background. She thrives in a fast-paced environment and appreciates the diversity of matters and clients she encounters. “I’ve been able to work with companies big and small in every industry you can imagine. It is fascinating to learn about how a business works,” she said. In efforts to specialize within her practice area, she is now attending New York University School of Law, part-time, as an LLM in Taxation candidate. “Being able to pursue what feels right for me and have that support has been so amazing,” Simone remarked.
Simone’s passion for helping others extends to her pro bono work, which includes writing wills for cancer patients and local firefighters (via Wills for Heroes) and participating in adoption hearings. Outside of her legal career, Simone enjoys singing, recording, and producing music, dancing ballet, and has a keen interest in French culture, art, architecture, and interior design.
Simone’s story is one of purpose, resilience, and compassion. Her journey from the University of Chicago to BYU Law, and on to a thriving career at Reed Smith, is a testament to her humility and openness to spiritual promptings and her persistence amidst life’s unexpected turns. As she continues to navigate her career and life, Simone remains committed to making a meaningful impact in both her professional and personal spheres and striving to serve and “lift” whoever she’s with.