Student and Alumni Profiles

Professional Experience Prior to Law School:

I worked for a first-time candidate for U.S. Congress in a suburban-Philadelphia district. After the election I became a part of the Congressman's legislative staff in Washington, D.C.

What I Am Hoping to Do with My Law Degree:

I hope to be a litigator, either in a law firm or perhaps as a government prosecutor. I am still unsure what the best practice area is for me, but I am interested in First Amendment/ church-state issues and administrative law.

My Best Experience at Penn Law:

I am blown away by my student peers. There is such a great mix of different academic and professional backgrounds among the student body. But most importantly, the students I have gotten to know are genuinely nice and friendly people, which makes the atmosphere welcoming and fun.

Professor Who Influenced Me Most:

So far, Professor Jody Kraus. In our Contracts class, he is an unbelievably dynamic and compelling teacher. It is counterintuitive that an entire class of students could be laughing and on the edge of their seats during a Contracts lecture. But Professor Kraus's class is as lively as it is intellectually stimulating–he forces us to get to the very heart of each issue of law that we are dealing with, and as a result we all look forward to his class each day.

My Favorite Course:

Civil Procedure. To me, the big questions in Civ Pro— about how and when it is legitimate for the state to assert its power over citizens, the proper role of judges and courts in settling disputes, and the interplay between state and federal legal systems— are truly fascinating. Professor Tobias Wolff is a brilliant teacher, who makes it exciting to study a subject that is commonly thought to be a thorn in the side of 1Ls everywhere.

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

My Torts professor, Jonathan Klick, was trained in statistics and economics before becoming a law professor, and as a result he teaches us Torts from a really interesting, cross-disciplinary perspective.  It has been a great experience to look at Torts from a different angle, raising different questions.  Plus he is a really funny guy.

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

Law school is known as a hyper-competitive environment, and the amount of work combined with the pressure to excel is daunting.  But I have been pleasantly surprised that I am not miserable, like everyone told me I would be before I started.  I attribute that to the collegial atmosphere at Penn.  Everyone is smart and everyone is trying to do well, but there is a sense that people help each other succeed, that we are all in it together-- rather than a winner-take-all attitude which does pervade at many schools.

My Favorite Philadelphia Moment:

If you haven’t been to a Phillies game, it’s a must-do for any baseball fan. Citizens’ Bank Park is really cool, and the Phillies are a fun team to root for these days.

My Extracurricular Activities at Penn Law:

I am involved in the Law School’s Council of Student Representatives. I’m also a member of the Christian Legal Society, the Federalist Society, and the Penn Law Catholic Students Association.

What I Did For Public Interest:

I haven't had the chance yet, but I hope to get involved in a pro-bono clinical program through the Public Interest center that works with real clients in a child advocacy setting.

My Favorite Place or Activity on the University Campus:

The rock climbing wall in Pottruck Gym—if you’ve never tried rock climbing, you’ve got to—it’s the best.

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