Hometown:
Devon, PA
Undergraduate School:
Pennsylvania State University; State College, PA
Temple Law Class:
2014
Post-Graduation Employment:
Stradley Ronon
Experience Prior to Law School
I’m from Devon, PA. I did my undergraduate work at the Pennsylvania State University.
Clinical Experience
In my third year I participated in the Philadelphia Housing Court Clinical where I conducted mediations between landlords and tenants. This was an invaluable experience that helped me learn to think on my feet and come up with creative solutions on the spot while maintaining peace during the mediation. I also took Low Income Taxpayer Policy and Practice, where I had the rewarding and academic opportunity to work with low-income clients to prepare their tax returns at no expense. Both of these experiences provided me with the confidence I needed to apply my knowledge and work with clients.
Volunteer Experience
I ran the 2013 Philabundance Canned Food Drive and Moment of Thanks Toy Drive at Temple Law. Both drives had a very meaningful impact on me. I enjoyed how well Temple Law came together as a community to help those in need. We went above and beyond our goals for the drives, which just goes to show the spirit of Temple Law and the generosity of the students, the professors, and Temple Law alumni.
Favorite Faculty Member
The faculty at Temple Law is outstanding. The professors go above and beyond to help each and every student succeed. The open door policy at Temple, which allows for one-on-one instruction with your professors, is evidence of that. If I had to pick one professor who made the biggest impact of my academic career at Temple, it would be Professor Jonathan Lipson. I was fortunate enough to have taken Professor Lipson’s Transactional Skills Workshop, where I learned the ins-and-outs of negotiating and drafting corporate documents for a real start-up venture capital. In addition, Professor Lipson goes out of his way to get to know his students and is always thinking of ways to improve both his class and Temple Law as a whole.
How I Will Use My J.D.
I will be working in the business department at Stradley Ronon. When I started law school I thought I was going to be a litigator. I had worked as a litigation paralegal prior to law school and I enjoyed it so much that it pushed me to go to law school. However, after taking transactional courses I realized that transactional law was a better fit for me.
What about Temple Law will you carry with you as you leave to pursue your career?
In addition to the great friendships I have forged along the way, Temple Law has set me up with the tools I need to become a successful lawyer. Temple has not only provided me with a strong academic background, but also with practical experience.