Hot Bench: Jordan Allen ’25

Hi Jordan! Thank you for agreeing to do the final hot bench of the 2024-2025 Law Weekly printing.

 I didn’t have much of a choice, but I’m happy to be here.

For those who don’t know, Jordan is the lead copy editor—the Editing Editor—at the Law Weekly. When we have our commas in the right place, it was Jordan who put them there.

 All errors—I don’t take credit for them—but I am the one to blame.

So, where are you from, where did you go to undergrad, and what brought you to law school?

 I feel like I’m in an OGI interview. I’m from Nashville originally. I went to undergrad at Princeton. My mom is from New Jersey, and I have family in that area. I’m kind of a half-breed between the north and the south. And as far as law school, I was always interested in law growing up. I took some courses in undergrad on constitutional interpretation and legal history. And I spent a summer at the Tennessee Justice Center back in Nashville, doing Medicaid and Medicare law and food stamp benefits for the low-income community in Nashville—of which I am (or was) a proud member. That was really rewarding, and it was the final confirmation that I wanted to do law school after undergrad.

Your own law school journey is finishing up pretty quickly here. What are your fondest memories here at the Law School?

 Yeah, thanks for that. “Fond” is a funny word. I have some OK memories. I don’t think I’ve enjoyed it as much as some of my peers. I’ve seen them having more fun. But I don’t regret coming here at all. I’d say the thing I’ve had the most fun with is the Law Weekly. I started doing it as a 1L. Every week, going to the meeting, meeting some 3Ls when I was a 1L, talking to them, learning from them. Seeing some people from my class year and getting to check in with them once a week. And seeing some new beautiful faces [1Ls]. It’s also the only way that I stay updated on what’s going on here at the Law School because I try to avoid all the student events.

Any things you wished you’d gotten around to? Although there is still time.

There’s always stuff you could have done. That’s always the nature . . . [of linear time]. Even law students with their ambitious attempts to take on responsibilities cannot do everything. Don’t live with regrets.

That’s good advice. Favorite hobby to avoid the stress of law school?

 My main hobby is reading, which has been somewhat complex when your main assignment is reading. But I’ve gotten back into the swing of things as a 3L. I try to get outdoors. I like tennis, but I’m not very good at it. Now that it’s warming back up, I get some of that. I like movies. And I watch baseball! I’m a Yankees fan. My fiancée is a Yankees fan, and I was adopted. The Nats are my NL team, unfortunately. They suck.

What are you doing post-grad?

 For two years, I’m going to be clerking, first at the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces in D.C. and then at the District Court in Norfolk. I don’t have anything post-that. Assuming we still have a government, and a job market, and uh, an economy in two years, I’ll have to find a real job.

Alright, lightning round! What’s your favorite meal you’ve ever eaten?

 Maybe Costco? I’m not a huge foodie. I like to cook because my fiancée doesn’t—another one of my hobbies. But in Charlottesville, I’d say C&O.

But what’s your favorite?

 So much depends on mood. You gotta be in a good mood. If you’ve got good food and you’re in a crap mood you’re not going to enjoy it. I think the best meal I’ve ever had was with my fiancée in D.C. We went to Zaytinya for a rosé brunch. So, a little tipsy. Mediterranean food. Had their baba ghanoush—really good. I’ll be honest, I don’t really remember the food. I just remember having a good time.

If you could live anywhere, where would you live?

 It’s a bit of a trite answer, but I want to live in D.C. long term. That’s probably where I’d pick. I haven’t traveled very much. I think New York’s a good place to retire.

That is f---ing crazy.

 Yeah—let me explain. There’s so much to do in New York. And if you’re working at a firm, you don’t have time to do any of it. Whereas, if you have money—everything’s better if you have money (so I’ve been told, I wouldn’t know)—but if you have the money to retire to New York, you can do something new every day. You can get anywhere. There’s a ton of food. It’s great. Whereas D.C. is a bit toned down. There’s stuff to do, but I’m a home-by-9 p.m. type of guy. I don’t feel like I’m missing out on stuff in D.C.

What’s one book or other property you’d really like to see a movie adaptation of?

 I think we’ve gone a little too far with the whole adaptation-IP-thing. I think it’s a little depressing to see the Minecraft movie exist. But I think a story that hasn’t been told that’s really interesting is the rise of the depression and then a biopic of FDR. I think we’re at a point, maybe it’s topical in my mind with the New Depression, but I think something of that time period before World War II would be interesting. But I don’t think Hollywood is going to listen.

What’s your ideal Friday night?

 If you haven’t gotten the impression yet, I’m not a socialite. I’ve never been to Bar Review. I enjoy my evenings more not going there, and the people who are there enjoy it more if I’m not there, so it works out for everyone. But my ideal Friday night is sitting around my apartment, with my fiancée, with my cat, reading a book, having a nice dinner. Ideally, something I didn’t have to cook, but realistically, I probably cooked it. And having baseball on in the background. Maybe having my sliding door or a window open and a nice breeze. And just relaxing. And having no work to do. It doesn’t happen very often.

That sounds nice! You painted quite a nice picture there.

Yeah, you know! If I ever get to experience it again . . .