1. Please tell us about yourself.
Age: 24 (I’m a K through JD)
Undergrad Institution: Willamette University
Undergrad Major: Economics major, Politics minor
Hometown: Portland OR /Scappoose OR
2. What first made you want to go to law school?
I wanted to help children and families, and so it makes sense that now I am in family law. I think that law was an obvious choice for me because I want to help others pursue justice.
3. Why did you choose your law school?
It came down to location for me when I choose Lewis and Clark Law School. I wanted to be near the PNW where I grew up because I love the outdoors, mountains, and climbing. I also have a lot of family in Oregon. Moreover, I wanted to pick a school in the area in which I wanted to practice and could see myself staying at.
4. What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
Grades are not everything in law school. Every class is graded on a curve. Most of my classes in undergrad were not graded on a curve and I earned mostly As in every class. Law school was a wake up call! Learning to not let the grades define you, and finding other ways to shine are important!
5. What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
I am a current Student Body Association Assembly member (SBA), and I serve as the American Bar Association Representative. I was also a member of the Family Law Society and served as the Networking VP. During my 2L and 3L years, I served as a Peer Mentor for incoming 1Ls.
6. Discuss any exciting jobs or internships you’ve had while in law school.
I externed for the Honorable Judge Tennyson at Multnomah County Courthouse the summer after my 1L year. Our county has a separate family law bench, and she was one of the many judges that did family law. The externship was invaluable and it led to many more connections within the legal community. Through one of the many connections that I made while externing, I was able to land a clerkship at one of the top family law firms in Portland, Gevurtz Menashe, during my 2L summer. The law firm extended me a job offer now that I have graduated early and have taken the bar exam!
7. What do you like to do in your spare time?
I love to go on hikes and mountaineer! Some of my favorite mountains that I like to summit around the PNW are Mount Hood, Mount St. Helens, and Mount Adams. I have always been a hiker, but when I got into law school I wanted to challenge myself and learn how to climb and summit glaciated mountain peaks!
8. What is your dream career?
My dream career would be working in family law, which I am happy to be going into! One day, I would like to be a family law mediator because I want to continue with family law, but being a mediator is less stressful than being an attorney, and your schedule is whatever you make it! I want to be able to make my own schedule as a mediator so that I can spend time with family and friends, and to travel.