Meet Demi Johnson, Esq., an Assistant Legal Counsel at Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities! OOD is a state agency in Ohio that connects Ohioans with disabilities with meaningful job placement opportunities.
Demi majored in Political Science and minored in French and Vocal Performance at Denison. She appreciated the academic rigor of Denison and had no trouble in finding a wealth of opportunities to take advantage of on the hill. Demi was involved in gospel/concert choir, Operation Smile, the Black Student Union, Denison Community Association, Greek life, Denison Admissions Office, and the theater department. Despite her busy schedule, as an upperclassmen Demi still found the time to research law schools, study and take the LSAT, and gain acceptance to Capital University Law School.
“I knew that I wanted to be an attorney since second grade,” Demi said when asked about her interest in law school. Originally fueled by curiosity from TV show lawyers, this interest soon turned into a solidified postgraduate plan for her through law school research. “I wanted to help people, to have an impact,” she emphasized. Demi prepared to enter law school by keeping up good grades, researching different law school programs, creating a well-rounded resume, and, of course, studying for the LSAT. “Know what it is you hope to obtain,” Demi stressed when asked about what it takes, in her opinion, to be successful in law school. “If you don’t have a goal in mind then law school is a big endeavor.”
During her time at Capital University Law School, Demi was able to narrow down her law interests. “You learn lots of different facets of law in law school,” she said. Through learning a little of everything, she could then determine the areas of law that really caught her attention. As a law student, she clerked for a variety of law firms to gain hands-on experience. While she is not certified in a specific practice area, Demi mostly practices in education law and disability law. Specific topics she has worked on include K-12 student representation and disability access and rights.
Demi was drawn to Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, her current organization, because she wanted to pursue new endeavors in her career. Thought she has spent much of her career as an attorney in the public sector, OOD, in her opinion, was going to allow her to help people in new, worthwhile ways. In Demi’s own words, “OOD offers vocational rehabilitation services for folks with disabilities.” She describes her position as Assistant Legal Counsel as a “diverse job” that challenges her to fill a variety of job functions, including working on litigation issues and assembling contracts.
“Everyone should always be looking towards how they can grow professionally,” Demi said in reflecting upon her career goals. She continues to be challenged in substantive ways at OOD and strives to advance her professional career. In doing so, however, she also reminds herself that “boundaries and work life balance are so important.” Demi stresses that today’s society encourages rapid progress from young workers and that it can be easy to get burnt out in a career fresh out of college. Therefore, she encourages people early on in their professional careers to reserve plenty of time for family, friends, and self.
In discussing advice for Denison students in general, not just those interested in law school, Demi had many meaningful pieces of knowledge to share. “Be true to yourself and what your goals are,” she stated. This worked in her own favor, as she stayed true to her interests and went on to develop a purposeful law career. Demi also believes deeply in networking, especially with Denison alums like herself. She describes networking as a “great opportunity to do career exploration [and pursue] mentorship opportunities.” As an involved Denison alumni herself, Demi is happy to connect with current Denisonians interested in her career. “There is a wealth of information and knowledge to be tapped from alumni,” she concludes.
Connect with Demi on LinkedIn if you are interested in discussing law school!
