Hometown: Rochester, NY
Education: SUNY University at Buffalo: B.A. in Communication & Paralegal Certificate
Program: Full-Time Day
Temple Law Community
During my time at Temple Law I competed on the Moot Court Competition Team, was President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society (SELS) and was Treasurer of both the Student Bar Association (SBA) and Temple’s Black Law Students Association (BLSA). My experience on the Moot Court Team taught me a great deal about public speaking and the art of oral advocacy before a panel of judges. My experiences with SELS, the SBA and BLSA reinforced within me the importance of diligence, organization and accountability.
Experiential Opportunities
During law school I completed two practicums: an internship with the Honorable Glynnis D. Hill of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and an internship with the Honorable Michael A. Shipp of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Both were great experiences that furthered my legal research and writing skills and allowed me to observe how the Judges reasoned and fairly decided cases. I highly recommend both of these excellent judges to students looking to intern during their law school career.
Advice from an Out-of-State Student
Before coming to Temple Law I had no idea just how close the school was to the many (federal and state) courts, law firms and corporations located in Center City. It was a pleasant surprise to learn that Law students can take the Broad-Street Line (a SEPTA subway) 10 minutes south and be at City Hall, right in the heart of Center City. From there one can walk to the many courthouses, law firms and corporations that help make up the Philadelphia legal community. Had I known this sooner my decision to come to Temple would have been that much easier!
Temple Law Lessons
Whenever you have a (substantive/legal or even institutional) question, remember that there is a great deal of knowledge available in many different places at Temple: with students, professors, administrative staff and even institutional employees (security guards, janitors, etc). They key is to confidently ask! A friend of mine always says, “closed mouths don’t get fed,” and I found that to be very true. Law school can be a difficult and confusing place sometimes so it is important to ask for help and guidance if/when you need it; that way you will minimize the difficulty and confusion that even the best of us experience in law school.