Maggie Walker '26
Hi, Maggie! Thanks for joining me for this week’s Hot Bench. To get started, where are you from, where did you go for undergrad, and what were you up to before coming to law school?
I am from Cincinnati, Ohio. Before this, I was a student at Miami University. I studied political science and strategic communications. Before coming to law school, during undergrad, I was a volunteer at the SPCA Cincinnati. There, I walked dogs and was a member of the behavioral team, where I worked with dogs with behavioral issues such as anxiety. I also fostered dogs during COVID-19 lockdown. Through fostering, I adopted a dog from a South Korean dog meat farm. The Humane Society International closed down a farm and rescued nearly 200 dogs. One of those dogs was my dog, Wheatley. He was sent to the SPCA Cincinnati along with roughly twenty other dogs from the farm closure.
Animal care to law school isn’t the most obvious of transitions—what inspired you to go this route?
That is very true. Law has always been my final goal. Animal care is just something I am very passionate about. The two fields are not too related, but I find enjoyment out of both in different ways. Currently, I have a side gig dog walking for Charlottesville locals. It’s a fun de-stress activity, and I get to spend some time with cute dogs!
Do you plan to incorporate animal care into your legal career?
Unfortunately, my future legal career will probably not involve animals, but I will continue to foster and volunteer as much as I can.
What are your current legal career aspirations?
While I have not put too much thought into specifics, at the moment I am just trying to get through the first semester, but I would like to do litigation, preferably in the California market. I am not too sure of what type of litigation—I am open to exploring and seeing what fits me.
Lighting round!
What is your favorite non-domesticated animal?
I am a big fan of otters.
What Halloween costume are you most excited to see this year?
I am excited to see roller skating Barbie; I’m hoping people actually commit with roller skates.
What is your second least favorite candy?
Smarties. They taste like chalk.
Will you be playing ~winter holiday themed~ music on November 1st?
I will try to resist, but it will inevitably happen.
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Interviewed by Ashanti Jones '26