Student and Alumni Profiles

Professional experience prior to Law School:

I came to UPenn directly from undergrad. However, during my summers in college, I worked as an industrial roofer...It's a very common pre-law career.

What I Am Hoping to Do with My Law Degree:

I have become extremely interested in developing my skills as a litigator. I'm thinking that I'll spend a good amount of time in a law firm litigation department, and beyond that, who knows.

My Best Experience at Penn Law:

I've really appreciated the opportunity to get to know my professors. I've had lunch with all four of my first semester professors, and it's been great getting to hear about their lives outside of the classroom. Obviously, our faculty members are extremely busy people, so it means a lot for them to open up their schedules for lowly 1Ls. This is a huge benefit of life at Penn.

Professor Who Influenced Me Most:

Professor Paul Robinson, my Criminal Law professor, is terrific. He is clearly an expert on the subject matter, but it also helped that he took a really unique approach to the way class was taught - lots of student involvement and interaction. This class would have been interesting no matter what, but his method really made it great.

My Favorite Course:

I actually ended up really enjoying Administrative Law. The class is very practical; I felt like I had a better grasp on current events just by doing my reading. But it also raises a lot of interesting questions about policymaking and how government best should operate. Plus, my professor (Cary Coglianese) has the same last name as me, which is actually not as common as you might think.

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

As a 1L I haven't had the opportunity to take any classes through the other schools at UPenn...However, I am planning on pursuing a Certificate in Business and Public Policy, which will require me to take at least three business courses at Wharton.

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

I've never been enrolled at another law school, so I don't know how content/friendly/sane law students are elsewhere. But at Penn, I've literally never felt like there was any sort of competition between myself and my classmates. There is literally a website run by the school where people upload their class outlines, which can be tremendously helpful when it's time to start preparing for finals. I've literally never discussed grades with my classmates or worried about anything like that whatsoever.

My Favorite Philadelphia Moment:

Going to the bar to watch Steelers games and getting harassed by Eagles fans.

What I'm Most Proud Of:

Not crying the first time I was called on in class.

My Extracurricular Activities at Penn Law:

I'm a member of the Penn Law Boxing Club. Every spring we have "Philly Fight Night," where Penn Law students box students from the Wharton School of Business. All the proceeds go toward charity, and it's a great chance to show off the superior value of a legal education. I'm also involved in the Christian Legal Society and the Federalist Society, both of which are great groups. This year I’m also a member of the Law Review.

My Favorite Place or Activity on the University Campus:

If people have leftover food from meetings or events, they usually put it on a table in the Clock lounge...That's worth getting excited for.

Do you still have a life outside of law?

Yes- going to law school does not mean that you have to kiss your loved ones goodbye for three years and lose your social life. A large part of Penn Law is time spent meeting people and taking breaks from the work. It is very possible - and necessary - to maintain a healthy balance. However, once final exams start drawing close, it's time to buckle down.

Previous

Next