Student and Alumni Profiles

What I Did Before Law School:

Lived and worked in Japan as a part of the JET Programme.

What I Am Hoping to Do With My Law Degree:

For now, litigation. As for my long-term goals, I am interested in working internationally or working for a non-profit organization and hope to find something that suits me in either of those areas or that allows me to do both.

My Best Experience at Penn Law:

Participating in Street Law and being able to teach area youths about their constitutional rights.

Professor Who Influenced Me Most:

Professor Clyde Summers – I felt that Prof. Summers, without espousing one political view, taught me about having a sense of community responsibility as a lawyer, finding understanding in the opposing side’s views without having to compromise my own, and that being logical and reasonable does not mean that a person has to lose sight of compassion.

My Favorite Course:

Constitutional Law with Professor Matthew Adler was such a complete law school experience. The professor was engaging and thought-provoking, the subject was something I could relate to personally and academically, and I left every class thinking about an issue in a different way and feeling as if I were actively learning.

What Three Words or Phrases Would You Use to Describe Penn Law?

Supportive, Laid-back, Bustling (with students, energy, activity)

Penn Law is Known for Its Collegiality. Why Should That Be Important to Law Students?

The last thing you need when you’re stressed out about classwork, exams, and the job hunt, is a group of people you don’t like being around. The collegial atmosphere at Penn Law not only provided me with a great group of encouraging friends, but it also allowed me to function in an environment that lessened any unnecessary anxiety.

What Do You Wish You Had Known Before Starting Law School?

That despite the fact that law school is a very specific field, the law school experience itself does not have to follow any set path. Of course, everybody has the same first year courses, but that does not necessarily mean that there is only one way to succeed in them. Everyone has different ways of doing things and finds different things interesting. The beginning of law school doesn’t mean the end of what works for each person.

My Favorite Philadelphia Moment:

Autumn in Rittenhouse Square, right before the chill sets in; being amongst the crowds during First Fridays; going to any of Philly’s numerous awesome restaurants.

What I'm Most Proud Of?

I spent my summer after my 1L year working for the Legal Aid Society of Orange County and really felt absolutely productive and helpful.

My Extracurricular Activities at Penn Law:

Street Law, Journal of Law and Social Change, Journal of International Law and Policy

My Favorite Place or Activity on the University Campus:

I love reading at the Graduate Student Center, because it has free coffee (although not the best) and gives me a short break from the Law School library. I also love the Annenberg Center (http://www.pennpresents.org) because it has cheap student rush tickets for its shows. And in light of how much I eat while studying, I couldn’t survive without the gym (http://www.upenn.edu/recreation).

Based on Your Experience Visiting Other Schools, How is Penn Law Different?

I was abroad when I applied to law schools and so my experience with the different law schools was the exposure I had to the various law students I met. The one thing I noticed was that Penn Law students had more compliments and fewer complaints about their school than students from other law schools. Now as a student, I can really see that Penn Law has a certain reputation and it continually attracts the kind of people who place importance on it.

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