The One Where I Visited Google

San Francisco was never high on my list of places to visit prior to law school, but when the opportunity arrived to visit, I was unexpectedly excited. After a quick four-and-a-half-hour flight, we landed in the city by the bay.

As part of the law school immersion, we spent a few days at Google and a few at a litigation firm in downtown San Francisco. So, this post will be part 1: my days at Google.

The Google campus has allure, and I am not immune to it. I have always found the tech sector fascinating, with its varying approaches to the workplace and divergent business models. I woke up at 7 am, ready to make my pilgrimage to the Google campus. I arrived at the “Big G” entrance and immediately felt the intention behind the design of this particular area of the campus. Everything about the Google space has been thought out, and as someone who has been a user of Google products for a long time, it was very on-brand. From the “Big G” entrance and the Google bikes to the “dragon scale” roof, it felt futuristic, as though Google knows what lies ahead (and they probably do).

Everything from the food to the atmosphere felt open and accommodating, a place you would want to spend time. Of course, Google created a space in which their Googlers feel comfortable because they want them to spend time there. Some could say that Google motivates their employees to work more, but most employers would also expect their employees to work more without providing the additional perks that Google does.

When not in class, I saw people deeply engaged in their work, spending time with their families at the Google restaurants (Googlers can bring guests to campus), and even pets being welcomed into the workplace.

After spending multiple days at Google as a guest, I could be biased, but Google was every bit as cool, interesting, and innovative as I hoped.