Madison Dawkins

What participation and leadership positions did you hold, and how did that shape your law school experience?     

I was co-president of the Black Law Student Association during my 2L year. My experience as co-president was formative as it allowed me to connect Temple Law’s Black Alumni and Black law students. Through these alums, other students and I were introduced to The Barristers Association, Philadelphia’s network of Black legal professionals. I also enjoyed the opportunity to welcome Black 1Ls into the school and design professional, social, and community-based services programming for the 2023-2024 academic year. 

What advice would you give to current or prospective students as a recent law school graduate? 

I encourage everyone to use the law library. I didn’t appreciate all the resources the library offered until the second semester of my third year. If you have a question when completing an assignment for a writing or research course, the library is a great place to start. Not only are the expert librarians able to guide students and answer their questions, they also provide additional incentives and resources to students. The law library also has an endless supply of candy, popcorn on Wednesdays, and regular appearances from emotional support dogs.  Lastly and most fondly, I enjoyed learning about Librarian Charlie’s local arts and culture recommendations. 

Do you have networking advice to offer to current or prospective students? 

A thank you note goes a long way. I made a habit of writing thank you notes to people I connected with, whether professors or professional contacts. This allowed me to reflect on their advice, while also practicing gratitude and making meaningful connections. 

How did you go about balancing law school and your personal life? 

I recommend investing in a physical date book to better balance and manage your law school and personal life. I found that keeping a physical date book forced me to slow down and become more intentional about how I spent my time. Visualizing when exams were and then backwards planning from there helped me to prioritize my focus week to week.  

What do you wish you knew before starting law school? 

I wish I knew that I didn’t have to conform to standards that didn’t work for me. I learned that operating on a schedule that catered to my needs allowed me to succeed as both a student and well-balanced student. For example, I prioritized getting a good night’s sleep because I knew I was my most productive in the morning.