Where are you from? What brought you to the Law School?
I was born and raised in the rural Midwest. I was always an overachiever as a kid, and I seemed to thrive on standardized tests, so people told me, “You’d be good at law school!” As a first generation professional, I didn’t really know much about the law, though. But, I was feeling a bit devoid of a purpose in my life after graduating from undergrad, so that’s why I figured I’d come to law school. I went to the University of Virginia in particular because of what I heard was an incredible community, and, more importantly, because of hopes of improving my family’s material possessions. Since making that choice, I’ve had a lot of opportunities for post hoc rationalization about that decision. While my current outlook is bleak, I make a lot of money. I try to think about everything else as little as possible and that aspect of my life as often as possible.
What did you do before law school?
I actually ran a non-profit dog shelter for a couple of years! It’s funny, because I’m super allergic to dogs, which made it really challenging. But I will say that it made for an incredible personal statement when the time came. Considering the school loved that as a “facing adversity” story, I can’t imagine how easy the lives of the average law students here have been.
Why do you still write for the Law Weekly?
I write for the Law Weekly so that people who may be feeling similarly lost, like I was when I was in law school, can have advice and reactions and point to those and say, “Someone else said this was a good idea.” You know, to give some credibility to their decisions that they might not otherwise have had. Really, I’m here to help all of those lost souls.
Do you think you’re really helping?
Honestly, I’m not sure. I started doing this to help people. But, with every passing month, I have less and less faith in the legal system, legal academia, and law students in general. So, I guess I’m hopelessly trapped in a cycle. I can intellectualize and reflect on my issues. But, much like many other law students, I don’t know how to change.
What are some of your hobbies?
Working in Big Law doesn’t really provide many opportunities for hobbies. However, between sessions of work, I’ve come to enjoy working out at the firm gym, wine, and sewing and knitting. I once knitted a beautiful hat for my cat, Charles. He doesn’t really like wearing it, but it gets a laugh.
What kind of law do you practice?
Litigation.
More specifically?
Complex Commercial Litigation.
What was some good law school gossip from your time here?
Yeah, a lot of the drama happened 1L. Everyone came in happy and excited to be in a new place with new people. Then, a lot of people started hooking up in their sections, which really made things messy. Lots of unaddressed and unresolved tension in group situations. I think it stemmed from a lack of emotional maturity and conflict resolution skills in group settings. I imagine it’s not as bad now though, because there were some external, societal factors at play that made the damage worse. Also, there was this weird reporting system. After all the 1L drama, it wasn’t so much that there was active drama going on, just tension. That tension really never got resolved, but everyone just grinned and bore it.
What was your favorite restaurant in Charlottesville? Hopefully it’s still here!
I actually really like Miller’s. It’s a nice way to get away from the Law School. Honestly, anything that gets me away from there is good. The smoky haze of the third floor feels like home. It’s also just so much quieter than The Corner—that place is an absolute nightmare on Fridays. And, really, who wants to party with undergrads?
Lightning Round!
Favorite animal?
Sharks. But it used to be puppies.
Favorite flavor of ice cream?
Rocky road. In line with my legal career.
Least favorite thing about the law?
The suffering it puts into the world.
Favorite case?
Whatever the winning precedent is.
Favorite word?
Zealous
Dream job?
In-house counsel. I have very realistic aspirations.
Favorite movie?
Avatar–the one with the blue people, not the one with the kids moving elements. I’m obsessed with plots about living other, alternate lives.
Submit your questions to Jane Doe by scanning the code below:
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Interviewed by Jon Peterson ‘23
jtp4bw@virginia.edu