When asked what they look forward to most in their budding legal career, recent law school graduate Cole Vick’s answer is immediate: “I am just so excited to be Cole.” Vick’s law journey and personal journey are closely intertwined. When they began attending law school, Vick had very recently come out as trans and nonbinary. Now, preparing to begin their legal career at Axinn, Veltrop & Harkrider LLP (“Axinn”) with a new name that reflects their identity, Vick is optimistic about their next chapter as a legal professional and an individual. “My legal career to date has really been in the midst of my transition, and I’m so excited to reach this milestone. I’m ready to be a trans attorney, to do what I love while living as my true self.”
Vick’s interest in law began early. In high school, Vick found a deep passion for service when they organized their school’s March for Our Lives in response to the Parkland, Florida shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. That experience also bolstered their interest in a legal career. “While organizing the march, I pushed back on challenges to my activism by citing Supreme Court precedent,” they explain. “It made me realize the power of the law as a force for good.” After earning their bachelor’s degree in international relations at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, Vick began thinking about how to create the biggest impact they could. “A law degree made the most sense to me. Whether I am working with big corporate clients or indigent clients, I want to help people across the spectrum of need.”
When Vick began attending the George Washington University Law School in 2021, they simultaneously embarked on another, more personal journey. “I had identified as queer for half of my life,” they say. “But 1L year was when I first began to modify my self-expression to better reflect who I am as a trans and nonbinary person.” During that time, Vick began coming out to their family, friends, and law school colleagues. “It felt like a fresh chapter, but it was also a very difficult time,” they reflect. As is the case for many other first generation law students, law school and the legal profession were uncharted waters for Vick. On top of the expected challenges of 1L, Vick also had to navigate challenges unique to their gender identity. “I struggled with misgendering, but my biggest struggle was lack of support regarding my career search,” they say. “I was very nervous about my pronouns – whether to include them on my resume, how to do that, what to do if I am misgendered in an interview, and how to breach that conversation in the application process. All of that was new for me and I was worried that my identity would make it harder to achieve the career I was working towards. At times, it felt impossible to find the help I needed.”
In search of greater support, Vick turned to their queer legal community. They joined their school’s chapter of Lambda Law and got very involved, but still sought more community and advice regarding their career goals. “It was so meaningful to be in community with other queer law students, but I wanted to connect with the queer legal community more broadly. I needed to see people like me who were already in the legal profession.” As part of their search for community, Vick joined the National LGBTQ+ Bar and soon attended their very first Lavender Law® Conference and Career Fair in 2022. “That was a radical shift for me,” they say. “The minute I walked in I felt welcome. It is a place where instead of fighting for bathroom access, signs are already up to make it clear that you can safely use the restroom. Little things like that make such a huge difference.”
When Vick arrived at Lavender Law, they came with a plan. “I was going through the application process for OCI and had my screeners the week after Lavender Law®, so I knew which firms I wanted to talk to at the Career Fair.” While Vick was partially motivated by wanting to get some face time with the firms to which they were applying, they also wanted to learn more about the culture of those firms. “I wanted to meet the recruiters and see which firms would be a good fit for me.” One of those firms was Axinn, where Vick met Jason Murata, a Partner in Axinn’s San Francisco office and a member of the National LGBTQ+ Bar’s Judicial Nominations and Executive Appointments Committee. “I introduced myself and we began chatting,” Vick remembers. “Jason and I talked for a long time about issues ranging from bathroom access to programs for LGBTQ+ people at the firm. He answered both my career-oriented questions and questions more specific to my lived experiences. I left that conversation with a real sense of comfort and excitement.” Vick received a callback after their screener, followed by an offer to join the firm as a Summer Associate. This month, Vick joins the firm full-time as an Antitrust Associate. Looking back, Vick believes that their conversation with Axinn at Lavender Law® was invaluable. “It made a huge difference,” Vick says. “I really recommend that law students seek out the firms they are applying to at Lavender Law®. It goes such a long way. You get face time with the recruiters so that your resume is flagged, and you can learn what those firms are about and whether you will be comfortable working there.”
At Vick’s second Lavender Law® this past August, they experienced an immense personal milestone. “The name Cole is new, but it also isn’t new. I’ve been sitting on it for a while, but this year I decided to register for Lavender Law® with that name.” Vick wasn’t sure whether “Cole” or their legal name would be printed on their nametag, so when they arrived at Lavender Law® and saw their printed name badge, it was a powerful and joyful experience. “It was the first time I’d seen my name on something official: Cole Vick. It was a huge moment.” When they reconnected with Murata over lunch later during the conference, Vick reintroduced themselves as Cole. “Jason and the other attorneys from Axinn picked it up seamlessly,” Vick says. “They helped me navigate how to inform the firm of my name change. They made the rounds with folks at the firm and helped me make a plan with Human Resources. The firm has been very transparent about where I will see my name and where I will see my legal name. It has been such a validating experience. It truly has been phenomenal.”
At Axinn, Vick will practice antitrust law, an area in which the firm specializes. “I’m really looking forward to it,” they say. “We are a boutique law firm with Biglaw resources and world-class expertise. I’m excited to build the foundation of my legal career with Axinn.” Vick is also looking forward to their continued personal journey ahead. “I am excited to finally be Cole, and I am so grateful for firms like Axinn, people like Jason, and to the National LGBTQ+ Bar because they all made it possible for me to embark on this next chapter of my life. I get to be a trans attorney now, and I’m looking forward to helping pave the way for more to follow after me.”
The National LGBTQ+ Bar is proud to count Cole Vick amongst its membership, and looks forward to supporting them in their legal career. The LGBTQ+ Bar would also like to thank Axinn for its generous Patron level sponsorship of the 2024 Lavender Law® Conference and Career Fair. Registration for the 2025 Lavender Law® Conference and Career Fair in New York City will open in early 2025. Learn more here.