STUDENT AND ALUMNI PROFILES

Nicholas Murphy

Hometown:

Bluffton, S.C.

Class Year:

2008

Prior Education:

Dartmouth College, A.B.; Georgia St. University (Certification in Early Childhood Education)

Professional Experience Prior to Law School:

Teach for America (3rd & 5th Grade Teacher/Coach in Atlanta, Georgia)

What I Am Hoping to Do With My Law Degree:

I hope to practice civil rights litigation and eventually to run for political office.

My Best Experience at Penn Law:

Intramural flag football and basketball is a blast!

Professor Who Influenced Me Most:

Professor Wendell Pritchett because his easygoing demeanor and support both inside and outside of the classroom have showed me that the sometimes choppy waters of law school are definitely navigable.

My Favorite Course:

Religion, Law & Lawyering because Prof. Howard Lesnick's discussions really make you think and re-evaluate both your personal and the social moral and philosophical order.

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

The many opportunities to pursue joint degrees and certificates from various Penn schools.

Meaningful Cross-disciplinary Experience at Penn:

My pursuit of the Certificate in Business and Public Policy from Wharton because Penn affords you the unique opportunity to take and combine classes from two first rate institutions into a meaningful learning experience.

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

Mastering the law is challenging enough without having to worry about doing so in an unfriendly and unsupportive environment. At Penn we get the best of both worlds by getting a top legal education with brilliant peers and faculty, while also being able to do so in an environment built by the administration and your peers that is very friendly and supportive, rather than super competitive and stressful.

My Favorite Philadelphia Moment:

Walking around the city the day after an Eagles loss.

What I'm Most Proud Of:

Getting into Penn Law.

My Extracurricular Activities at Penn Law:

IM sports; Black Law Students Association; Christian Legal Society; Inns of Court.

What I Did For Public Interest:

Prisoner's Legal Assistance Clinic; "CommUniversity Day"

My Favorite Place or Activity on the University Campus:

Working out or playing ball at Hutch Gym.