My 2L year at KU Law is off to a great start! It’s really a shame that more students from Missouri State do not look at KU for law school. It is a great school with a far reaching alumni base. Two of the most important things for me when considering law schools were price and location. I was fortunate enough to get a full tuition scholarship to attend KU and I really enjoyed how close it is to Kansas City and how highly regarded the school is in the Kansas City legal community.
This summer I worked at the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) in Kansas City. This is the immigration court through the Department of Justice. I worked with the immigration judges and law clerks by drafting judicial decisions and researching various immigration topics. I learned a tremendous amount and really enjoyed my time at the EOIR. So much, in fact, that I have continued working at the EOIR throughout the fall semester.
From my internship experiences made possible by the Political Science department and the experiences I’ve had in law school, I have decided to pursue a career in public interest law. I just returned from Washington DC where I attended the Equal Justice Works conference. KU Law’s Career Services sent me to this conference all expenses paid (another great perk of KU) to meet with public interest employers from all over the country. I had a great time and was able to meet with several government agencies and non-profit organizations all while visiting some of the fabulous museums and monuments DC has to offer.
I am also on the University of Kansas Law Review where I am currently working on a publishable piece about juvenile immigration laws. My one piece of advice for Missouri State students considering law school is to take as many pre-law classes as possible. It is a great way to figure out if law school is the “right” next step, and to get a jump start on some of the expectations and skills needed to be successful in law school. I credit the Political Science department at Missouri State for providing opportunities that help set their students up for success far beyond their undergraduate careers.