Davis Polk Revisited is a year-long reentry program for former Davis Polk lawyers who have taken a break from the legal profession and wish to return to full-time legal careers.
Natalie Thomas first joined the firm in 2012 and worked in our Intellectual Property practice until 2016. She participated in the Revisited program as part of the class of 2023-2024 and, upon completing the program, permanently joined our Washington DC office as a manager in Client & Practice Development.
What has been most surprising about returning to the firm?
I was pleasantly surprised at how familiar it still felt, like a return home, even though I had relocated from New York to Washington DC during my time away from the firm. From day one, I encountered familiar, friendly faces during my information systems training. The qualities that drew me to Davis Polk in the first place – the collegiality, talent and dedication of the business professionals and lawyers remained unchanged. I also found – much to my relief – that it was easier than I expected to adapt to changes that had occurred in my time away.
How did working as a lawyer at Davis Polk prepare you for your client and practice development role now?
My training as a Davis Polk associate provided me with a skill set and understanding of the firm’s matters and operations that I believe have helped me better anticipate and respond to the needs of the teams I work with. An attention to detail and the ability to issue spot and look around corners are skills that translate to almost any context. Similarly, I believe that the adaptability, resourcefulness and communication skills necessary to work as a lawyer enabled my transition into my current role.
What do you enjoy about your work?
First and foremost, I like the people who I work with. It has been a true pleasure to get to know my Davis Polk colleagues in a newto- me office and to reacquaint myself with those I knew from my prior time with the firm. Since returning to Davis Polk in a different role, I have enjoyed the exposure that I have had to other aspects of the client relationship and business development activities that were less visible to me as an associate. I appreciate that my days involve a variety of tasks, some of which require research and writing and others which involve more number-crunching and analytical skills.
How have the resources provided through the Revisited program helped facilitate your transition back to the firm?
There is a lot of thought behind the resources offered to Revisited participants. Beyond the standard orientation sessions required for all new hires, the Alumni team created a customized training program to ensure that I was sufficiently equipped to successfully transition into a new role. I appreciated the check-ins with the Alumni team and was happy to take advantage of the offers of additional training and information gathering sessions over the course of the year. Coaching sessions with Alison Hornstein have also provided a valuable means for assessing my progress and setting forward-looking goals.
What guidance would you offer to someone considering the Revisited program or a return to the legal field, whether in a legal or business capacity?
Listen to that voice asking “what if?” and believe in yourself. If you feel at all called to return to the legal field, make the effort to explore your options. If you are curious about Revisited, dedicate the time to learn more about the program. I found speaking with various contacts at the firm about Revisited to be extremely beneficial. I was able to get a better sense of the program and realistically assess whether I felt ready to make the transition back to the legal field. While of course I had some nervousness about the transition, having faith in my underlying skills and ability to adapt to new challenges (which I largely developed while working as an associate at Davis Polk) was key to deciding to take the leap.
Is there any part of your time between leaving and rejoining Davis Polk that you would be open to sharing?
During my time away from Davis Polk, my husband and I relocated from New York to the DC area and welcomed our second daughter. I enjoyed the time home with my children and embraced the opportunity to spend significant time volunteering in my daughter’s school. One of the volunteer projects I participated in was helping coordinate and lead small group sessions to bring a Junior Great Books program to the secondgrade class at her school. It was a challenging and worthwhile experience, which reinforced my appreciation of and gratitude for teachers. Organizing the program and planning and delivering the lessons also reminded me that I enjoy challenging myself and learning new things, which helped me appreciate the opportunity that Revisited presented. In addition, I realized that if you can hold the attention of class of second graders for a close reading discussion, you can do pretty much anything.
Tell us about yourself outside of work.
I enjoy spending time with my family and continuing to explore Virginia and Washington DC. Depending on the time of year, this might look like a long bike ride on the Washington and Old Dominion bike trail, or a weekend spent cheering for my children and their teammates from the sidelines of a soccer field or
basketball court. During college basketball season, I am an avid Duke Blue Devils fan.
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