I'm Glad I Chose the UW College of Law

Following graduation from undergrad, I signed a contract to continue my baseball career in the Detroit Tigers organization. There, I learned to better handle and adapt to challenges and pressures related to performing. Preparation was often the difference between winning and losing; in a way, preparation gave me the confidence to succeed. After baseball, I joined the Air Force and there I learned about task focus. Together, both careers helped prepare me for law school.

 

I’m glad I chose the University of Wyoming College of Law. The College of Law is the only law school in Wyoming, so the legal community is small. As a result, there is a great opportunity for networking and establishing relationships while in school. In addition to networking, the college offers classes for practical legal application. I’ve grown the most as a student by taking Trial Advocacy and Summer Trial Institute, which provided trial experience through mock trials.

 

Alumni, including practicing judges and local attorneys, came together to make Summer Trial Institute possible. Again, I think this demonstrates the advantages of being part of a small legal community. Overall, I think learning how the courtroom operates and understanding what is necessary to prepare for a trial have been my biggest takeaways from law school so far.

 

After law school, I am planning to join the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. I chose to go into military law to provide legal service for other military members. During my summer internships with the Air Force and the Army, I learned that attorneys in the military get the chance to practice in a variety of areas, such as criminal law, administration law, operational law, civil law, labor law, national security law, international law, contract law, litigation, and more. Being exposed to different areas of law and gaining such experience will help me determine what I want to dedicate my legal career to in the long term. Also, I felt fortunate to be able to connect with UW College of Law graduates who went the military route. These alumni were willing to talk with me and share their perspectives on pursuing the JAG Corps, which I found to be very helpful.

 

Favorite moments:

My favorite moments in Laramie have undoubtedly been the times I have spent with the friends I made in school. Academically, my favorite moment was getting the guilty verdict in the Summer Trial Institute mock trial.

 

Advice for incoming law students:

I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to attend law school and pursue a legal career, and I would not have had this opportunity without the help of others. After all, I am the product of my family, friends, and mentors. Ultimately, you become a product of who you surround yourself with and what you focus your energy on. So, my advice to incoming law students would be to identify who is in your support group and look to them in adverse times. Also, create small accomplishable goals that lead to your overall goal. This helps to build confidence and lead to success. Lastly, view setbacks as a lesson and an opportunity for improvement and growth.