Lee Szor
Senior Employment Counsel, Instacart
Fox Rothschild, 2015-2021
- J.D., The University of Texas at Austin, 2010
- B.A., Tulane University, 2007
What attracted you to your current position?
As an employment lawyer, I am fascinated by the cutting-edge employment law issues that app-based companies like Instacart face. From worker classification to arbitration, app-based companies are helping shape the law on many critical employment law issues. And, through measures like Proposition 22 in California, we're also helping define the future of work for workers who choose to participate in the app-based economy.
Polling shows that a majority of app-based workers prefer to be classified as independent contractors because they enjoy the flexibility of being able to work when, where and how they want. If app-based economy companies can develop a statutory scheme that allows these workers to maintain that flexibility, but with more certainty surrounding their status, everyone—the workers and the companies—will benefit.
The opportunity to work on these important issues is what most attracted me to my job at Instacart. Plus, my values align with the company’s mission of giving people access to food and more time to enjoy it.
Who were your most memorable mentors and how did they shape your career choices?
When I joined Fox, I had employment law experience from the plaintiff side and had done a little bit of defense work, but I was relatively new to “Big Law” employment defense work. Alex Hernaez and Keith Chrestionson in Fox’s San Francisco office were both helpful mentors. They threw me into the deep end and allowed me to work with important clients and litigate cases from start to finish, which involved a level of trust that I think is unique to Fox.
What nugget of professional advice would you give to a recent law school graduate or new associate?
Once you figure out which areas of law you want to focus on, completely immerse yourself in them, particularly during your first several years out of school. Stay on top of the trends concerning your chosen areas of focus. At the same time, get out from behind your computer and connect with clients and network internally in your firm. Make yourself “sticky”—someone clients rely on and turn to directly for help. In short, become an expert in your field, but also make sure you’re making the type of connections that will help you advance your career.
What skills did you hone as a Fox lawyer that remain with you today?
At Fox, Alex and Keith taught me how to prepare a deposition properly, which may be the most important skill you need as a litigator. I learned to treat the plaintiff’s deposition like a summary judgment motion and to make sure I knew the answers to all of the important questions before the deposition even began. You need to have thought everything through beforehand.
Is there anything you miss about working in Big Law?
I do miss being on the front lines. I miss drafting motions, going to court, taking depositions — the day-to-day of being a litigator.
When you're not working, what do you like to do?
I've got two young kids, so when I'm not working I spend my time with them. Right now, I'm teaching my five-year-old how to read and how to ride a bike. My 2-year-old is really into sports, so we play soccer with him. We try to keep them active and running around.
