Christopher Tarbell

Temple Law Community

During my second and third year at Temple, I was a Staff Editor on Vol. 90 and the Articles/Symposium Editor on Vol. 91 of Temple Law Review. The benefit was twofold. It provided an opportunity to refine my legal research and writing skills via the rigorous exercise of assembling a law review comment. However, more importantly, it also provided an opportunity to work closely with many talented students. While a large part of law school requires individual study, the teamwork environment of the law review was a refreshing counterbalance. The position I held on the Vol. 91 Editorial Board required significant group work. Whether it was planning the symposium or discussing articles being considered for publication, I was incredibly fortunate to work with and learn from my impressive peers on the law review.

Experiential Opportunities

I participated in the Federal Judicial Clerkship Honors Program and took a judicial practicum. Working for a judge was instrumental in my development as a law student. I was able to get experience conducting legal research, writing memorandums, and drafting opinions on matters before the court. Furthermore, anytime there was a hearing or trial taking place in the courtroom, I was able to observe it. However, the most rewarding part of the experience was getting to discuss a wide variety of legal issues and receive thoughtful feedback on my writing and analysis.

Faculty Influence

During the summer between my first and second year, in an effort to be eligible for graduation in the traditional three-year period, I worked for a judge during the day and took classes in the evening. I had started law school as an evening student and was transitioning to the full-time day program. During that summer, I took Effective Motions Practice in Civil Litigation with Professor Mary Levy and Temple’s Summer Professional Experience Curriculum (T-SPEC) with Dean Jen Bretschneider. While the classes were extremely beneficial, the semester was memorable because that was when I personally first experienced the dedication and commitment of Temple’s Professors. Both Professor Levy and Dean Bretschneider instantly became trusted mentors. They both provided invaluable guidance and support over the next two years and I can say with certainty that each has played a monumental part in helping me achieve my goals.

Temple Law Lessons

All of the professors at Temple are genuinely and passionately dedicated to helping you achieve your goals—seek out their guidance and wisdom. If you put in the effort, they will match it and most likely exceed it. Professors have made time for my questions on weekends, met with me at coffee shops off campus, provided scrupulous feedback on papers, and supported me with letters of recommendations and introductions. I highly recommend you take full advantage of their generosity and commitment to Temple students.