Our Student Ambassadors

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
I was teaching in Philadelphia through Teach for America.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
To be a good law student you need to be equal parts social and serious. Studying can only get you so far, so it’s important to form groups of friends to get you the rest of the way.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
Black Law Students Association, Wisconsin Law Review.

Any other interesting facts about you?
I was a Teach for America corps member.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
Before law school I spent a lot of time with my family and friends.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?:
I wish I would have known how different law school courses are from undergraduate courses. Adjusting to the change was challenging but necessary.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
I was a youth worker for a private social services agency.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
The first semester is difficult but you will get the hang of it!

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
Children’s Justice Project, Christian Legal Society, Re-Entry Project.

Any other interesting facts about you?
I am a mom. I like to travel, scrapbook and take long walks.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
I drove a pedicab (aka a bicycle taxi) in Newport, Rhode Island.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
Even with the craziness of 1L year, there’s still plenty of time to relax, have fun and enjoy everything that Madison has to offer. It took me a while to figure out the right balance, but once I learned to study effectively, I found there was more than enough time to work hard and play hard.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
I am currently the grants coordinator for the Public Interest Law Foundation, so I was responsible for organizing the Race Judicata 5K Run & Walk this past fall. I am also a clinical student in the Neighborhood Law Clinic, so I get to interview clients, draft briefs, file lawsuits and do all the other fun and exciting things that real lawyers do. Next semester, I will be interning at the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Any other interesting facts about you?
I was scared I would never get to enjoy life and do exciting things again once I started law school, so besides driving a pedicab, I spent the years between college and law school living in the Persian Gulf, being a ski bum in Montana, running marathons, backpacking around Asia and working on a political campaign. Turns out I can still enjoy life during law school.  Whoops!

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
I worked as an intern in Senator Russ Feingold’s constituent office in Middleton, Wis. I also made subs at Silver Mine Subs to earn a little money on the side.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
While rankings are important, the experience you receive practicing real-world law at Wisconsin is invaluable.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
I am senior managing editor of the Wisconsin Law Review and Evans Competition problem writer for the Moot Court Board.

Any other interesting facts about you?
I love cooking, video games and kitties.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
Knowing the stress that law school could bring and knowing I’d be moving almost a thousand miles from home, I spent my summer enjoying as much time as I could with my friends and family.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
It's not like "Legally Blonde" ... at all.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
I am currently the vice president of community affairs for Latina/o Law Student Association and the activities chair for QLaw. I am a student board member of the Community Immigration Law Center, a clinical student for the Domestic Violence Immigration Clinic in the Economic Justice Center, participate in the Language, Academic, Friendship program and a member of the Pro Bono Student Advisory Committee.  I am also a member of the Wisconsin International Law Society and the Wisconsin Agricultural and Food Law Society.

Any other interesting facts about you?
I am a Cowboys fan from New York (but I’ll still root for the Packers!).

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
I wish I knew how to outline the course material and how to figure out what is important within our classes.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
I wish someone would have told me not to listen to all the high strung law students who contribute to all of the message boards and blogs about law school. All incoming students should just relax and do their reading, and everything will be just fine.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
I am vice president of academic affairs for the Student Bar Association.

Any other interesting facts about you?
At Marquette, I was a Chick Evans Scholar.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
I worked at a non-profit doing grant writing and development.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
I wish I had known about how many opportunities arise 1L year and how you should take advantage of them. It is a great chance to get involved and figure out your interests.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
Phi Alpha Delta academic chair, Law Review Senior note & comment editor, Moot Court coach, intern for Chief Justice Abrahamson, Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program.

Any other interesting facts about you?
I will be clerking for Chief Judge Conley in the Western District after graduation. I also worked for the Wisconsin Innocence Project my 1L year, and a medium-large firm my 2L year. I will also be going on the Indian Wills Caravan Trip this winter.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
I took the summer off and read a large number of books while lying next to a pool. After 70+ hour weeks for two years it was nice to have some time off.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
I wish I had known more about the financial aid process. It was confusing figuring out what forms I needed to fill out and by when.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
Secretary of the Student Bar Association, 1L representative of Student Bar Association, Admissions tour guide, Women’s Law Student Association, small group leader, 1L mentor and Department of Justice externship.

Any other interesting facts about you?
I broke my finger (my only broken bone ever) walking my dog.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
I worked at Briggs & Stratton in the corporate communications department. Never again will I be paid to attend Summerfest shows and plan events.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
I wish I would have asked more questions on school tours and looked around more at student to student and student to professor interactions while at the schools I visited. It helps you see what the schools are really like, not just what you are being told they look like.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
Law Review, Consumer Law Clinic, Phi Alpha Delta, 1L Mentor, Business and Tax Law Association.

Any other interesting facts about you?
I stormed the field and court at the #1 ranked Ohio State vs. Wisconsin football and basketball games.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
I finished my master's degree in the Netherlands and went backpacking all around Europe!

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
Your classmates have your back! The law school environment at Wisconsin is incredibly supportive and collaborative. Being placed in 1L small groups facilitates this community feeling at the outset of your first year.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
Wisconsin Law Review, Wisconsin Agricultural & Food Law Society, American Agricultural Law Association, UW All University String Orchestra.

Any other interesting facts about you?
I raise beef cattle on my family's farm, and I named a bull SCOTUS.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?
I worked several years before starting law school.  The summer before starting my 1L year, I worked at the Milwaukee County Courthouse and traveled around Colombia.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?
Be prepared to work hard, but also remember to relax and enjoy yourself with a new and diverse group of colleagues and friends.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?
President of the Latino/a Law Student Association, Immigrant Justice Clinic, Wisconsin International Law Society, Public Interest Law Foundation, Women Law Students Association, Students for Equal Access to Law School, Frank J. Remington Center’s Criminal Appeals Project, Economic Justice Institute's Domestic Violence Immigration Clinic.

Any other interesting facts about you?
I am currently earning my master's degree with the Latin American Studies Department in order to specialize in migration research and policy.

 What did you do the summer before you started law school?:
I actually recorded a record with a band and toured the US before I started law school. I also optioned a screenplay to a few producers back in Los Angeles. I obviously did not get picked up by Interscope Records, or sell the screenplay, so I knew it was time to start law school.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?:
I would have liked to talk to more current students at the schools I was looking at. Wisconsin actually called me (well, not Wisconsin, but a student at Wisconsin, of course). It was a really nice touch. And, it allowed me to ask questions that were really important to me and get honest answers. Also, for all you West Coast kids: Wisconsin gets cold. But you will wear a jacket and boots, and love it. I will also take you ice fishing and snow mobiling and cross country skiing and ... well, you get the point.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?:
I was last year’s Vice President of the Latino/a Law Students Association. I was also a student attorney at the Consumer Law Litigation Clinic, where I wrote briefs, filed motions, wrote research memos, and all the stuff that real lawyers do. Our clinics are top notch. This past summer I worked for an intellectual property firm in Chicago, and I am interning from Judge William Conley for the Western District.

Any other interesting facts about you?:
I was in the Peace Corps in Ecuador and had an amazing time. I have worked in Washington, D.C. I have traveled to Europe, South America and Northern Africa.  And I love winter. I know, I’m crazy.