How I Made Practice Group Chair: 'Try to Keep Your Career in Perspective,' Says Rachel Faye Smith of Morrison Foerster

Rachel Faye Smith was profiled in Law.com's column, "How I Made Practice Group Chair: 'Try to Keep Your Career in Perspective,' Says Rachel Faye Smith of Morrison Foerster." In the Q&A, Rachel describes her professional journey and why she enjoys the benefits and ERISA practice.

Rachel shared, "I found that I loved it. ERISA is a technical, bookish area of the law. I enjoyed that it required deep analysis and attention to detail. Even after 20+ years I am still doing research to answer questions. I also like that ERISA challenges me to explain complex legal issues to clients in an accessible way. While my practice has evolved to be more client-facing, I still love that I get to pick up the tax code and do the legal analysis."

She also shares her current areas of focus, "Helping our clients navigate the current regulatory and economic environment is my key priority. Employee benefits regulation is overseen by the IRS and the Department of Labor, and we are watching Washington’s developments closely. The other priority is staying on top of changes in the law and providing updated practical guidance. This is an evolving area."

Rachel ends the Q&A with reflection on the practice she has chosen, "Try to keep your career in perspective and be open to opportunities. There are infinite ways to be successful. I didn’t even know ERISA existed when I went to law school, and here I am, two decades later, happy and with a career that I am proud of. "

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