Why did you decide to come to UW Law School?

When I toured, I loved the welcoming environment and collaborative nature of everyone I interacted with. I also thought UW's public interest opportunities and clinical experiences were exciting and more robust than other schools I was looking at.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?

I traveled, spent time with my friends & family, and played with my dogs.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?

Don't worry about what anyone else is doing--focus on yourself and your goals. Even though the admissions process can be long and feel exhausting at times, you will end up at the right place for you!

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?

American Constitution Society, Environmental Law Society, Law Review, Mock Trial, Wisconsin Innocence Project, Academic Enhancement Program Fellow

Discuss any exciting jobs or internships you’ve had while in law school.

The summer after my 1L year, I interned at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Region 5 Office of Regional Counsel in Chicago, IL! It was a great chance to learn about a variety of federal environmental laws and interact with attorneys from the Agency, the Department of Justice, and the private sector, as well as with EPA scientists and researchers.

Any other interesting facts about you?

I love practicing yoga & meditating, and make sure I always find time to squeeze it into my schedule!

Why did you decide to come to UW Law School?

I came to UW Law because of its great reputation, impressive staff, and focus on a law in action curriculum. UW Law is also the perfect place for me to stay close to family and to build connections in the Wisconsin legal community. Overall, the atmosphere at Wisconsin Law is extremely uplifting making it a great place to go through law school.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?

The summer before starting law school I interned at the District Attorney's Office in Outagamie County.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?

One thing I wish I knew is that you will have time to laugh, smile, and hangout with those you love! Law school is full of long days in the library, but you can still balance it with the things you enjoy to do.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?

I am the President of Run Club and the Secretary of The Sports and Entertainment Law Society. I am also involved in The Women's Law Student Association, Mock Trial, Wisconsin International Law Journal, The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Clinic, and the Center for Patient Partnership's Health Justice Clinic.

Discuss any exciting jobs or internships you’ve had while in law school.

The summer after my 1L year I interned at Gingras Thomsen and Wachs where I worked on a lot of interesting personal injury issues.

Any other interesting facts about you?

I enjoy playing soccer, watching reality TV, and trying new restaurants!

Why did you decide to come to UW Law School?

I chose UW Law primarily for its strong emphasis on providing a practical, hands-on legal education. The school's proximity to the Wisconsin State Capitol and strong clinical programs provide endless opportunities to engage in real-world legal issues to enhance the theory that students learn in the classroom. I was also impressed by UW Law's strong ability to place students in Chicago, the legal market I hope to work in. Finally, it doesn't hurt that Madison is a charming (and bike-friendly!) city with a great food and entertainment scene!

What did you do the summer before you started law school?

After wrapping up a job at a medical malpractice/personal injury firm in Chicago, I took Amtrak's California Zephyr train line from Chicago to San Francisco! It was a wonderful way to see family, friends, and lots of baseball stadiums before beginning law school.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?

During the admissions process, do everything you can to gather as much information as possible. Fight the urge to let arbitrary rankings do the work for you. Instead, decide what factors are most important to you (career outcomes, location, etc.), and then do your research, talk to current students, and connect with folks in admissions. Once all that work is done, trust your gut and feel great about the decision you've made!

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?

I am involved in Moot Court, the American Constitution Society, and the Public Interest Law Foundation. Additionally, I work with 1L students as a Peer Mentor and Discussion Group Leader for a section of Criminal Law.

Discuss any exciting jobs or internships you’ve had while in law school.

After my 1L year, I worked as a Legal Intern for the ACLU of Wisconsin where I worked primarily on First Amendment litigation, education law, and issues of incarceration. I am very excited to continue working with the ACLU this Fall focusing specifically on election protection work. Next summer, I will be a Summer Associate at a large law firm in Chicago.

Any other interesting facts about you?

Outside the law school, you'll catch me attending any live music I can, trying new restaurants, and cheering for the Chicago Cubs!

Why did you decide to come to UW Law School?

I chose UW Law because I plan to practice in the Midwest long-term, and I was particularly interested in attending a Big Ten program. I met with numerous student ambassadors as well as current students and found the collaborative spirit of the program appealing. UW also presented a unique opportunity to learn in the State's capital.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?

I made sure to take the summer off, traveling and spending time with family and friends!

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?

Always do the best you can with what you know at the time, and you'll end up exactly where you are supposed to be.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?

I am involved with Mock Trial, Black Law Student Association, Real Estate and Securities Investment Law Society.

Discuss any exciting jobs or internships you’ve had while in law school.

During my 1L summer, I worked as a law clerk at Krekeler Law, a bankruptcy firm in Madison, where I focused on protecting creditor and debtor rights. In addition to gaining a deeper understanding of the various Chapters of bankruptcy, I co-authored an article for the Wisconsin AG Blog that explored the impact of lower debt limits on individual Chapter 11 debtors.

Any other interesting facts about you?

I love biking, cooking recipes from home, and making time to binge-watch Amazon Prime series.

Why did you decide to come to UW Law School?

I have always been interested in the justice system due to growing up in inner-city San Antonio where I often saw the legal system was misunderstood and there was a lack of minority representation amongst available lawyers.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?

I moved from Colorado Springs to Madison, bought a house in Madison and helped plan my wedding with my then-fiance!

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?

I wish I had known how long it would take to put together the best possible application. For school, I wish I knew how to study a bit better before I arrived on campus.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?

I am the President of the Sports & Entertainment Law Society (SELS) and the UW Law Military and Veterans Clubs. I'm also a member of La Alianza and First Generation Lawyers (FGL).

Discuss any exciting jobs or internships you’ve had while in law school.

After my 1L year I interned for about two months at the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. During that time I worked with attorneys and paralegals on various federal criminal cases, landlord/tenant disputes, administrative law reviews, wills/powers of attorney and divorce/separation consultations.

Any other interesting facts about you?

I have been a CBRN Officer in the United States Army for the past seven years and I'm attending UW Law as part of the US Army's Funded Law Education Program. Upon graduation, I'll serve as an Army JAG!

Why did you decide to come to UW Law School?

I came to UW Law School because of its strong reputation and sense of community. I also was excited about the experiential learning opportunities (clinics and externships) that the school offers. I went to UW-Madison for undergraduate school and loved being a student in the city of Madison. Since I want to live and work in Wisconsin, UW Law School was the perfect choice for me!

What did you do the summer before you started law school?

During the summer before law school, I worked at a real estate private equity firm in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, called Hammes Partners.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?

I wish I knew the value of networking early on. Networking and building relationships, whether it be with practicing attorneys, professors, or your peers, is SO important for advancing your legal career.

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?

I am an associate for Wisconsin Law Review as well as a member of Mock Trial. I am also the Vice President of Real Estate for the Real Estate and Securities Investment Law Society. Lastly, I am involved in the Eviction Defense Clinic.

Discuss any exciting jobs or internships you’ve had while in law school.

During my 1L summer, I interned at Kohler Co., an American manufacturing company best known for its plumbing products and gorgeous golf courses. As an intern, I worked with Kohler's in-house attorneys on a variety of legal matters. I reviewed commercial contracts and even assisted on the closing of a real estate transaction. Next summer, I will be working at Foley & Lardner LLP in their real estate group. I am looking forward to spending a summer in my favorite city - Madison!

Any other interesting facts about you?

I have a twin brother, and I am named after the city of Madison because my parents met while working at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Why did you decide to come to UW Law School?

Born and raised in Milwaukee, WI, I did not see myself attending law school outside of Wisconsin. Attending UW Law School meant an affordable education at a powerhouse university in the state's capitol, a change of scenery I desperately wanted.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?

I continued working as an IP Legal Assistant at a national law firm in Milwaukee, went on a cruise around the Caribbean, but most importantly, I took time off to relax before law school started.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?

I wish I knew what questions to ask during the admissions process. There are so many moving parts and unknowns. It is a difficult process to navigate, especially for someone like me who has no lawyers in my family. One question I think every student should ask law school admissions is "How will my unique needs, whatever they may be, be met/supported if I attend your law school?"

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?

Student Bar Association, 2L Rep; Black Law Student Association (BLSA); QLaw; and Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society.

Discuss any exciting jobs or internships you’ve had while in law school.

I spent the summer of my 1L year at a corporate law firm in Milwaukee where I was able to do really interesting and fun work in banking, litigation, real estate, M&A, political law and complex commercial contract drafting.

Any other interesting facts about you?

I enjoy running, playing volleyball, online shopping, and mentoring pre-law students.

Why did you decide to come to UW Law School?

As someone who spent four years in Madison for my undergraduate degree, I knew I wanted to stay in Madison if I could. I love the beautiful campus, the game days, the lakes, and so much more. Diploma Privilege was also a huge selling point for me, and was a major reason why I chose to come to UW Law School.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?

The summer before I started law school I worked as a nanny in Madison.

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?

I wish that I knew that there would be so many fun parts of law school. Lots of people who talk about law school paint it as something that is really daunting, scary, and intense. While it can be all of those things at different times, you will also meet such great people and go to so many fun social events. The memories you make in law school and the people you meet are so so awesome. It will all work out, even though it might all seem scary at first!

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?

Wisconsin Law Review; Eviction Defense Clinic; VP of Communications for WLSA; JMA Donations Committee; First Generation Lawyers

Discuss any exciting jobs or internships you’ve had while in law school.

During the summer after my 1L year, I worked as a Legal Intern at a software company in Madison. I got to work on lots of cool projects in the data privacy space, and I also worked on different tasks like vendor contract reviews, legal research projects, and policy drafting. It was such a great experience to get some hands-on legal work!

Any other interesting facts about you?

I love dogs, going to spin classes, trying out new coffee shops, traveling, and spending time with friends. I am also training for my first half marathon this fall!

Why did you decide to come to UW Law School?

On my first visit to UW Law School, I immediately felt at home. UW is an impressive school that is comprised of professors, mentors, and staff that go the extra mile to help each student succeed. Additionally, there are exceptional clinical opportunities and student organizations that strengthen the UW community and provide hands-on experiences.

What did you do the summer before you started law school?

I travelled and spent time with my family and friends!

What is one thing you wish you knew about law school or the admissions process ahead of time?

Take the time to find the study habits that work best for you. Do not be afraid to ask questions and step out of your comfort zone!

What student organizations or activities are you involved in?

Eviction Defense Clinic, Moot Court, Sports & Entertainment Law Society, Women's Law Student Association, and First Generation Lawyers.

Discuss any exciting jobs or internships you’ve had while in law school.

After my 1L year, I worked for a personal injury firm in Chicago. I was able to conduct research, draft motions, and have client contact. This opportunity helped me understand the stages of litigation and improved my writing abilities!

Any other interesting facts about you?

I am a former collegiate athlete, a first-generation law student, and love going to UW football and hockey games!