STUDENT AND ALUMNI PROFILES

Professional experience prior to Law School:

After graduating from Davidson, I wanted to get some professional experience outside the classroom and spent two years as a healthcare investment-banking analyst at Wachovia Securities in Charlotte, NC. Then, because of my interest in religion, ethics, and politics I completed a Master of Divinity degree in Princeton while working at a large church in Manhattan before coming to Penn Law.

What I Am Hoping to Do with My Law Degree:

Since studying political theory in college, I have been fascinated by the intersection of law and politics, particularly the issue of religion in the public square. Law continues the be the vehicle for addressing these social and policy issues—even in the field of religion. I expect my legal training will enable me to participate more effectively in these ongoing debates, perhaps leading one day to some form of public service. In the near term, I’m very excited about beginning my legal career at a law firm in litigation.

My Best Experience at Penn Law:

I look back and think how much I really enjoyed the orientation dinner that we had at the National Constitution Center. It was very memorable that our first interaction together as a 1L class was having this great reception and dinner overlooking Independence Hall.

Professor Who Influenced Me Most:

Professor Stephen Morse (Criminal Law) has done a lot to impress upon me the virtues of what it means to be a great advocate: being well prepared, thinking on your feet, and making great arguments rather than just giving conclusions. Though he holds strong opinions and doesn’t hide from them, he is a model professor in that he respects differing points of view and gives them honest attention. Plus, he’s got the best jokes, obscure 80s movie references, and is the only professor we have who consistently talks about Bulgarian secret agents.

My Favorite Course:

It’s a very close call, but I have to give the nod to Property, partially because I never would have expected that I’d pick this one going in. This has been a course that is about so much more than medieval rights about who owns the pasture over the hill. We have touched on everything from housing discrimination, to copyrights, to who owns Barry Bonds’s 73rd home run ball, and it is all relevant and fascinating. This has also been a great class to consider the often far-reaching public policy implications that legal decisions bring about and upon which they can rest.

An Example of How the Law School's Cross-disciplinary Approach Influences My Legal Education:

Two of my first-semester professors have a PhD in a non-legal field in addition to their JD. Any time class discussion turns to philosophy, psychology, ethics or any number of other fields that influence law, they are able to guide a richer cross-disciplinary discussion because of their unique expertise.

Penn Law is known for its collegial environment. Why is collegiality important to a legal education? How has it affected your legal education?

Especially during the first semester, there is inevitable stress and anxiety, even for people who normally don’t feel either. Having a warm environment where people genuinely want to help rather than sabotage is an asset Penn has that should not be underestimated. The intellectual environment at Penn is every bit as rigorous and stimulating as any other top school – we just don’t see any reason not to be friendly and social too.

My Favorite Philadelphia Moment:

Philadelphia offers a surprisingly strong collection of restaurants, and my favorite moment in Philadelphia is any time I get the chance to go out with friends and enjoy a long, delicious, relaxing meal. Philadelphia’s mild weather means you can often dine outside around one of the city’s famous squares or on the main street of a quaint historic township. I also have to mention the obligatory rating of the best cheesesteak in town. Even though every inclination I have is to give the nod to the city’s famous institution, Pat’s, I just can’t deny that Jim’s really has the best.

What I'm Most Proud Of:

Working hard to learn both what the law is and how all of us can work to make it more just and more effective.

My Extracurricular Activities at Penn Law:

My favorite extracurricular activity is serving as one of the student representatives on the Building Committee. It’s truly fascinating to be part of such a talented group of professors, administrators, and other students working on the upcoming renovation of part of the Law School.

I also serve as an event coordinator for the Federalist Society and am a member of the Christian Legal Society.

My Favorite Place or Activity on the University Campus:

As a college football fan, there is a lot of history to respect in Franklin Field. It’s the oldest stadium in the country still used for football games, and even though they don’t pack in 80,000 like they used to it’s an enjoyable place to see a game. And did you know that it’s also the site of Vince Lombardi's only NFL playoff loss?

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