Youth Wisdom Unveiled with Paralegals of Groombridge Wu Baughman & Stone, LLP | Virtual Water Cooler Chat Podcast – Empowering Voices (Episode 68)

This episode of Virtual Water Cooler Chat podcast features three Gen Z paralegals, Bijan Khaghani, Crystal Kang, and Theo Ennis, who are currently working on the team at Groombridge, Wu, Baughman, & Stone, LLP, as a step in their journey toward a degree in law. In this conversation, they explore shared experiences, growth in the legal profession, and the value of networking and mentorship in their careers. 

Bijan Khaghani aspires to become a lawyer committed to advocacy and mentorship. He graduated cum laude from Kenyon College in 2023 with a B.A. in Sociology and learning meaningful lessons during his time at Kenyon in and outside the classroom. 

Throughout his life, community has been central to Bijan’s identity. At Kenyon, he served as Chairperson of the Committee on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Vice President of Student Life, demonstrating his commitment to fostering a more inclusive campus. Beyond academics, Bijan actively organized and fundraised for local and national causes, including New Directions, a domestic-abuse shelter in Knox County, Ohio, and gun-violence prevention organizations across the United States. 

Mentorship is one of Bijan's greatest passions. He believes in uplifting others and fostering an environment where everyone can thrive. Bijan strives to embody these values in both his personal and professional life, mentoring young professionals and building connections within the legal community. As he continues to develop his career, Bijan aspires to become not only a skilled lawyer but also a compassionate advocate, dedicated to empowering others and driving meaningful change. 

Connect with Bijan on LinkedIn. 

 

Crystal Kang supports lawyers in patent litigation cases, which informs and inspires her own aspirations to pursue a career in intellectual property law representing innovators working at the cutting-edge of science and technology. At the University of Pennsylvania, Crystal was a Research Assistant at the Penn Carey Law School’s Center for Technology, Innovation & Competition where she explored the legal implications of advances in quantum technology. She also helped establish PIT@Penn, the first organization of her university dedicated to public interest technology, was a Legal Humanities Fellow at the Collegium Institute, and worked as a Programming & Communications Associate at the Penn Undergraduate Law Journal. 

Passionate about mentorship and outreach, Crystal advises students though events hosted by organizations such as the Conference for Undergraduate Women in Physics in Pennsylvania and Asian Americas for Equality’s Youth Center in New York. She has also led several projects donating to and fundraising for the Ali Forney Center, a New York-based non-profit organization that provides wrap-around services for LGBTQ+ homeless youth. 

She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, School of Arts & Sciences in 2022 with a B.A. in Physics, summa cum laude, and a concentration in Computer Techniques.  

Connect with Crystal on LinkedIn. 

 

Theo Ennis graduated cum laude from Kenyon College with a B.A. in Philosophy in 2023 and will be starting at The New York University School of Law in August. 

Connect with Theo on LinkedIn. 

 

Virtual Patent Gateway (VPG) reduces overhead costs by providing PTAB attorneys with on-demand and affordable paralegal support services. Virtual Patent Gateway Founder Ashley Cheung has a passion for supporting the next generation in the workplace and is committed to developing a growth mindset within VPG.   

Learn more about VPG here.