People often say that the best way to become a good writer is to read a lot of good writing. Similarly, I think one of the best ways to become a good lawyer is to see a lot of lawyering. Clerking at the Supreme Court, I have seen lots of terrific lawyering. My Supreme Court clerkship is my third federal clerkship since graduating from Michigan Law. My first was on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, followed by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. After my current clerkship ends, I’m looking forward to continuing my career in litigation, focusing on appellate work.
U-M provides students with a rigorous education on the substance of the law and is deeply invested in student success. I became interested in clerkships when a leg injury upended my plans to spend my 1L summer working at an NGO in China. Instead, I stayed in Ann Arbor, where I worked at the Law Library and for a couple of law professors and gained additional skills in legal research and writing. A recent grad urged me to speak with then-Professor Joan Larsen, now Judge Larsen, who talked me into applying for clerkships and set me on the path where I am now. And the Career Planning Office helped me put together my Supreme Court clerkship application, even though I’d already graduated.
I believe that your work should not be your entire life—and Michigan instilled some of that belief in me. I built an amazing U-M network, including people who continue to be my close friends today.
