Hometown: Bayside, NY (originally from South Korea)

Why BC Law? BC Law is known for its collaborative and friendly environment, and I wanted to be in a place where I would feel comfortable showing up to class knowing that I was surrounded by good people. I knew that BC Law had a good reputation for employment, and that it also had renowned professors teaching courses I was interested in taking. I also really wanted to experience living in another major city other than New York or DC before I settled down, and Boston seemed like a great choice!

Something I didn't expect: I truly did not expect to make so many amazing friends here. They help keep me accountable and also motivate me to be the best version of myself. In law school, a big part of what keeps you going are the friends you make along the way. BC's collegial environment lends way to incredible bonds that I hope will last beyond law school. 

What do you hope to do after graduation? Ultimately I want to be able to use my legal education to help people who come from similar backgrounds like my mother. Growing up as immigrants, it was hard for her and my late father to find proper legal help due to their language barriers and financial hardship, and watching their struggles with the law inspired me to become a lawyer who could help people like them. I want to equalize the legal field so people from all backgrounds can afford the help they need.

Advice for law school applicants: Trust the process and believe in yourself--you'll end up where you need to end up. You belong in law school because you've worked hard and you deserve to be here!

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Why BC Law? 

Boston is my canvas. Boston is ripe for opportunity. This city is changing right before our eyes, and I want to be part of the brush that paints the future of this city. I would love to continue building upon Boston’s legacy of Black excellence.

Professional opportunities through BC Law?

1L Legal Intern at Fidelity Investments, 1L Legal Intern at NASDAQ, alternative spring break at Disability Rights Louisiana, 2L Summer Associate at Kirkland & Ellis, 3L Legal Extern at The Carlyle Group, BLSA External Vice President (2020-21), Member of NEBLSA and LAHANAS.

How will you apply your education toward the greater good? 

My responsibility is to be a gate opener, not a gatekeeper. I don’t want to just reap the benefits of my foremothers and forefathers. I want to take what I’ve learned from them, pay it forward, and use it. That’s our purpose. Once you attain the knowledge, skills, and opportunities, you shouldn’t hoard it. Let it go so it can do its own work.  

Something you didn’t expect? I went to BC Law thinking I’d go back home and be a trial lawyer, but then I got an opportunity to work on the Ninth Circuit Appellate Program through the school’s Center for Experiential Learning. I realized how rich and diverse the practice of law can really be. 

Why BC Law? Opportunity. BC Law is such a well–established institution, connected to all the top areas of law—big firms, private sector, public sector, judges.

What’s next? I went to Houston to join Susman Godfrey, where I recently made partner and I'm continuing to learn as much as I can about being a good trial lawyer.

Kerry served as the first U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate from 2021 to 2024, and served as the 68th US Secretary of State from 2013 to 2017. He was the Democratic nominee for president of the United States in the 2004 election. He represented Massachusetts for 28 years in the Senate, the last four as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where he took a leadership role on key foreign policy and national security issues, among them Afghanistan and Pakistan, nuclear nonproliferation, and global climate change. Kerry chaired the Asia and Middle East subcommittees, where he authored and passed major legislation on international drug trafficking and money laundering, humanitarian aid, and climate change.

Why BC Law? "You can’t study at BC Law and not be forever changed by the difference it makes in your approach to law. You graduate understanding that the law is not just another way of making money; it’s a way you deliver justice and make our society stronger."

Hometown: Boston, MA

Why BC Law? Reputation and location. As a Boston native, I was ready to be back in my hometown and I knew BC Law had a renowned program. I was especially excited about the land and environmental law courses. 

Something you didn’t expect when you got here? I thought it would be difficult returning to school after taking time to work following undergrad. I initially saw law school as a hurdle to get over in order to reach my career goals. To my surprise, I've loved being here. The students, faculty, and opportunities have been incredible.

What do you hope to do when you graduate? I plan to remain in Boston and hope I can make a positive impact on the community that shaped me through my work, pro bono, and mentorship. I know that I will continue learning and growing from the foundation that BC Law has provided me.

Advice for law school applicants? In your application materials, try to tell a story that illustrates both your talent and your humanity. Don't overlook transferable skills you possess that may seem unrelated to law school, they are just as important as your major and test scores. Lastly, keep careful track of the many deadlines for test dates, applications, financial aid, etc. Missing even one can be detrimental.

School you transferred from: New England Law Boston

Why did you decide to transfer? One of the reasons I began my pursuit of a law degree is my interest in Intellectual Property. New England Law gave me a great opportunity to begin that journey, and I am grateful to the faculty and students I met during my time there. However, I believed the best way to maximize my time as a student, and develop to my fullest, meant I needed to pursue my education elsewhere. I wanted to be somewhere connected to the firms that specialize in the area, while also surrounding myself with faculty that could teach me the ins and outs of the different legal fields as they relate to IP.  

Why BC Law? BC Law became the clear choice for several reasons. First, the faculty have a great range of interests and professional backgrounds, and I knew this would lead to a greater diversity in course offerings. Additionally, the faculty to student ratio means the faculty can teach smaller classes and provide more individualized feedback that will help me develop further as an aspiring lawyer. I've already noticed such feedback in my IP Survey course and writing course. Second, the externships and clinics that BC Law has available align well with my interest. Finally, BC Law hosts a plethora of events that would be perfect for developing my professional network and learning all there is about practicing law from the area of public interest, to big law firms, and everything in between. 

What has been your favorite/most interesting experience at BC so far? I applied to be a Staff Editor during my first week at the school, and that has been a great experience. I have already made quick friends with my editorial team, and I am getting an opportunity to aid 1Ls develop their own writing as I aid them in the process of developing a publish-ready work. This has been a very rewarding experience already.

School activities: Thus far, I have joined the IPTF journal, and I have participated in the general IPTF club activities. I recently applied for the clinic programs in the upcoming spring, and I will keep my eyes open for other opportunities to immerse myself in the BC Law community!

What are you planning to do with your degree? In a perfect world, I will take the knowledge I have and help creators protect their brand and creations. I will ideally join a firm and specialize in copyright and trademarks, and perhaps one day find my way back into the classroom. 

School you transferred from: University of Miami School of Law

Why BC Law? I was a BC undergrad and really wanted to return. When I reflect back on my time, I am not only proud of my academic success but more importantly of the relationships I fostered. A lot of the time my peers would reminisce about their 1L year, forgetting I wasn’t here for it. Some even joked that I knew more people in the school than they did, even though they’d been there longer. Thase were the moments and affirmations that validated my choice to transfer...Whether you’re thinking about transferring, in your last semester of your law school career, or just started studying for the LSAT, I hope you fall in love with your law school like I did with BC.

What did you learn from your experience? I can confidently say that BC Law pushed me out of my comfort zone, made me a better student and an overall better person. If you told me before transferring that I would make so many meaningful connections and accomplish all that I did while feeling so supported and loved by the BC Law community, I wouldn’t have believed it. I don’t really know what I expected when I came back to Newton, but if given the chance, I would do it all again.

What has been your favorite/most interesting experience at BC so far? Being a 2020 graduate and due to pandemic disruptions, my makeshift graduation from Boston College undergrad was held in October. A home football game fell on the weekend of my graduation, which meant that I would be surrounded by my law school friends, my undergrad friends, and my family. That night was so special for me, not only because I was finally celebrating a long overdue milestone, but because all the people who make me happy were there for me and were fitting together perfectly. Weirdly enough, I was more shocked by my law school friends being there to celebrate with me, especially since they only had known me for such a short amount of time. Seeing all these people from different parts of my life come together made me realize how lucky I am, and how I had made such important relationships during my short time at BC Law.

School you transferred from: American University Washington College of Law

Why did you decide to transfer? I was in DC when I wanted to be in Boston, and I was managing a long-distance relationship with my partner, who was also in Boston. I decided I needed a change.

Why BC Law? It wasn’t a hard choice, or even one that took me a long time to make. But it was scary. And I didn’t have a single friend at BC when I decided to transfer. So in many ways it was a gamble that I could do it all over again like I had in 1L. But I made wonderful life long friends who are teaching me to be a better person every day. I risked a lot when I transferred, and my gamble paid off in dividends.

Best piece of advice? My last word on my transfer experience to anyone who is considering BC as a second, or even a first, law school, is that when I jumped, the BC Legal Eagle community caught me. And although it took some time for me to feel fully at home, I know that moving back to Boston, going to BC, and choosing to associate myself with our law school’s legacy was the best call I made in a very long time.

School activities (any student orgs, advocacy programs, externships, etc): I BC Law Democrats, 2L moot court competition, BC Legal Service LAB Civil Litigation Clinic

What are you planning to do with your degree? I am working as an Associate at Ropes & Gray LLP in Boston.

School you transferred from: William and Mary Law School

Why did you decide to transfer? Firstly, because I wanted to return to the Boston area.  Secondly, because of the opportunity here to participate in advocacy programs and competitions during the second and third year of school, despite not having had that experience during 1L. 

Why BC Law? I attended BC undergrad, where I became familiar with the intangibles that make this University special. BC runs on an unparalleled  investment in its community, which each individual plays a part in. On top of that, the Jesuit tradition runs deep at BC, which I view as an essential component of my legal education. 

What has been your favorite/most interesting experience at BC so far? I enjoyed competing in the BC Mock Trial competition last fall. It was a great way to build my trial skills and also meet BC Law alumni who do trial work (some of the judges were alumni).  

School activities (any student orgs, advocacy programs, externships, etc): Judicial Extern at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts Spring 2024

What are you planning to do with your degree? After I graduate this spring, I will return to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office as an ADA.

Undergrad: University of Georgia

Why BC Law? Coming from so far away, it was important to me to find a school with a strong sense of community. While touring law schools, BC Law stuck out to me for that very reason. The students, as well as the staff, were inviting and seemed to truly care about your success. The extensive BC community and alumni network gives current students the necessary tools to thrive. BC Law and Boston, in general, have quickly begun to feel like home.

Experiences Between College and Law School: I came straight through undergrad to law school. During undergrad, I worked at a law firm that practiced in taxation, real estate, litigation, and trust and estates. 

Activities at BC Law: Vice President of Business Law Society, IPTF Journal, First Generation Professionals, Women’s Law Society

Employment:
Division of Occupational Licensure (1L Summer)
Garn & Graber (2L Summer)
Wayfair (3L Fall)

Favorite Class: Taxation with Professor Ring