Student and Alumni Profiles

Professional Experience Prior to Law School:

I taught 1st and 2nd grade for 2 years at a public charter school in Brooklyn.

What I Am Hoping to Do with My Law Degree:

I don't know. I'm interested in cyber law because it seems like an area that will be evolving quickly over the next few decades. I'm taking a course next semester – Privacy & Data Protection – that will cover some of the issues I'm interested in surrounding the rise of the internet.

But I suspect my interests will change many times over the next 2.5 years. I'm trying to do things that interest me and see where that takes me.

My Best Experience at Penn Law:

I came to Penn Law in large part because of the class size. I'd gone to a big public school and I wanted to go somewhere smaller for law school. A benefit of Penn's size has been the lunches: I've gotten a chance to eat lunch with each of my professors, our dean, multiple advisors, and distinguished alumni. Each time I sit down with a member of the faculty or staff, I feel valued by the school and I'm reminded of why I wanted to be a member of a smaller class.

Professor Who Influenced Me Most:

I honestly couldn't say. Each of my professors is very different, and they each challenge and influence me differently. I've called my parents many times to tell them about my new favorite professor. Each of my professors has been the subject of such a call.

My Favorite Course:

I like Torts the best because it gives me a chance to use what I studied as an undergrad. I came to law school knowing a little bit about morality (philosophy) and public policy (political science). I find that Torts really lends itself to these kinds of analysis.

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

It enriches classroom discussion. Professors constantly elicit policy arguments that derive from disparate fields of study. Understanding the reasoning behind the law in this way really helps me to remember and apply what I learn.

Meaningful Cross-disciplinary Experience at Penn:

I'm applying to the JD-MBA program this winter. I hope to have a foot in both disciplines.

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

Collegiality is important, for starters, because as 1L's we're on a curve. I could imagine a law school where students try to improve their own grades by hurting their peers'. Penn's not like that: students trip over themselves to offer help. Notes are exchanged freely. The competition is there – everyone wants to do well – but it doesn't undermine the collegiality.

My Favorite Philadelphia Moment:

I discovered the Reading Terminal Market. Go there, if you haven't: it's packed with great food and interesting boutiques.

My Extracurricular Activities at Penn Law:

Flag Football. Rules are pretty much full contact around the line of scrimmage. Didn't expect the roughest football I've played to be in law school. It's a great break.

PA Innocence Project. I've been reviewing petitions of incarcerated persons who claim to be innocent. It's humbling work – I didn't expect to be given so much responsibility so soon into law school – but I have really enjoyed it.

My Favorite Place or Activity on the University Campus:

Eating food from the food trucks on the undergraduate lawn. It's nice to step outside of the Law School, eat a burrito on the grass, and remember that you're still a student.

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