Even after their time with the Miami Law’s Professional Responsibility and Ethics Program, PREP alumni remain tied to it. As proud members of a diverse alumni group, we celebrate their professional achievements, personal growth, and contribution to the PREP legacy!
Meet Nikki Friendly, J.D. Class of 2014. Nikki currently lives in Miami, FL, where she works as an Associate Attorney at Richard P. Joblove, P.A. Nikki’s now husband, Matthew Friendly (UM Law, 2013), was also in PREP and was the one who encouraged her to join the program. They have since been married and are expecting their first child together in August 2019—a future PREP baby!
Please share your best PREP memory and share any way in which you think your PREP experience has benefited you in your career.
“My favorite PREP memory would have to be my very first presentation that was done at a local Big Law firm. I believe it was on E-Discovery. I remember being really nervous because it was my first presentation and at a very prestigious firm. Sure enough, my group shows up to present and literally NOT ONE person attends. The room was EMPTY. (Jan recalls that it was during Ultra and a big tennis tournament!) The coordinator from the firm was beyond embarrassed. We rescheduled for a few weeks later and the presentation ended up being packed. We killed the presentation and the attorneys were very impressed with us!”
Where have you been working since you graduated and where are you now?
“I have been working at Richard P. Joblove, P.A. since I was in law school. I was a law clerk for the firm since 2012, then became an associate once I graduated and passed the bar in 2014. I practice Collections Law.”
What advice would you offer to current law students or recent graduates?
“The best advice I can give law students and recent law grads is BE PATIENT with yourself. What you learn in law school is very different from what you will learn as a practicing attorney. I remember graduating, passing the bar, and thinking I would know exactly what I was doing as attorney. WRONG. Law school teaches you how to think like a lawyer, not how to actually be one. Understand that every day is a learning experience and it will take you years to master your craft. I am five years out of law school and still learning something new each day.”
