Greetings from the Pre-Law Society Treasurer
Hi everyone! My name is Grace Dwan and I am a senior and member of the class of 2024. I am from Lutherville, Maryland and am a History major. It has been an honor to serve as Treasurer this year and have the opportunity to work with Liz, Briana, and Terrene as well as Dr. Beverlin! In addition to the Pre-Law Society, I am also a member of Loyola’s Women’s Rowing Team and a member of both the Chi Alpha Sigma and Alpha Sigma Nu Honor Societies. This spring semester we have many upcoming events happening so make sure to check The Bridge to look for these new opportunities within the Pre-Law Society. As this is my last semester here at Loyola, I look forward to continuing to make this semester the best one for Pre-Law Society yet!
Hello Pre-Law Students,
Welcome to the winter edition Pre-Law newsletter. At this point seniors are hearing back from law schools and juniors are studying for the LSAT. With this issue I’m focusing on a part of your application that requires some time to establish – the off campus experiences that can supplement your test score and grades.
For better or for worse, the two most critical parts of your law school application packet are your LSAT score and your G.P.A. Sometimes there is room to explain a less than ideal score or grade point average in an accompanying statement. But, by and large, those two pieces of data in conjunction are highly important.
So, what else can you do? The personal statement matters. A well crafted statement proves you can write and tells the law school something about you as an individual. In a roundabout way, your statement is a sales pitch, but it can also be seen as more of a contextualizing narrative and therefore less determinative for the school.
That’s where the category I refer to as “everything else” comes in. Experiences outside the classroom and the LSAT test matter. These include: part-time jobs at law firms, NCAA athletics, ROTC, research presentations, study abroad, service awards, academic distinctions, and the list goes on. One powerful route you can take is to have the initiative to apply to off campus internships and legal scholar programs. Plenty of Loyola students have done just that and it paid off.
Derin Fatungase (Political Science, ’25) is one example. Recognizing how competitive these opportunities can be, she checks in on them and applies each semester. She also discovered the success she can have looking beyond Handshake and LinkedIn. Derin also visits law school websites to see what internships featured students had before attending. Ultimately, she created a list for herself to stay organized. Derin has graciously shared this list and we’ve combined it here with yet more places to look at. Thanks to Pre-Law work study Jayde Defares for that effort.
Use the list for what it offers, but also view it as inspiration to seek our more offices and agencies you could work at. There might be some close to your hometown or similar offices that you can discover. Is there an interest group you support that isn’t listed?
We will keep this resource updated and available for all of you. If you have a particularly great internship to add please send it my way. I hope you benefit from this as well as the rest of the newsletter!
Matt Beverlin
Loyola Pre-Law Advisor
Political Science Department
February 2024
Take a moment to answer this very short survey so we can share the responses with Loyola administrators. Thank you!
by Terrene Obuah
To kick off 2024 and a new semester, the Pre-Law Society collaborated with the Simon Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship to welcome Nick Hawkins, a 2008 Loyola Graduate. Nick Hawkins is a partner at Womble Bond Dickinson, LLP, where he advises companies on intellectual property, brand management, and protection strategies. During the guest speaker event, Nick recounted his experiences as a student at Loyola University, as well as his MBA and J.D. experiences at the University of Baltimore.
Why law? As a younger kid, Nick reflects on an argument with his grandma where the words came right out: “Nick, you’re going to be a lawyer one day.” As a Loyola undergrad, Nick began delving into his legal experience by working at a law firm, which eventually transformed into paralegal work as such exposure to the law enabled Nick’s wanting to be a lawyer. With such a passion for sports and entertainment, Nick would use intellectual property as a great outlet which would expand his career further with opportunities including working as a legal intern and thus becoming an assistant counsel for Under Armour. At Under Armour, Nick worked closely with the branding processes within the apparel and accessories team from a legal perspective. Under Armour, as one of the largest sports brands, exposed Nick to high-profile collections and he inevitably holds this experience in high regard. However, Nick learned more about his prospective career path through other experiences such as studying abroad in France in which he shared that “learning a new culture, speaking a new language, meeting those from around the world really helped prepare me for not only practicing law, but life.”
Despite learning through absorption how to be a lawyer, Nick urges students to learn how to ‘sell oneself.’ “The world has changed a lot and hasn’t changed that much… we are very much still an international world,” Hawkins says. With many technological and sociological advancements throughout the years, Nick touched upon the emergence of Artificial Intelligence. He stressed that certain personal characteristics and attributes are vital for fulfilling career-oriented responsibilities if AI takes over. He emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and reminds students that one doesn’t have to be a Political Science major to learn and utilize the skill. For example, his background in business enabled him to encourage students to take classes in business and learn its language as he believes “the world of business can help teach oneself how to get really good at networking and be comfortable with speaking.” By doing so, one can make an effort to know themselves more and as Nick highlights, “learn to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.”
A special thank you to Wendy Bolger and the Simon Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
For those who might have missed out on Nick Hawkin’s insight into his unique legal experience, please feel inclined to reach out to ntobuah@loyola.edu, nicholas.hawkins@wbd-us.com, or webolger@loyola.edu for any further advice, questions, and/or concerns.
By Jayde DeFares
Lindsey Rennie is a Loyola alumnus, graduating with a B.S. in 2015. She also holds a J.D from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, which she received in 2019. Lindsey will be teaching the Mock Trial course this semester at Loyola.
What was your experience in undergrad at Loyola ?
“Coming into Loyola, I was a part of the Honors Program. It was Dr. Hula’s Intro to American Politics course that motivated my Political Science major. His passion for the subject fostered my interest. In terms of extracurriculars, I worked with CCSJ and interned on Capitol Hill. I also spent a semester abroad in Scotland. The study abroad experience was something I was very interested in and sought out. Overall, my time at Loyola strengthened my ties to the community and understanding that I wanted to continue working in the community.”
What led you to law school and how did you decide your specialization?
“While I worked with CCSJ, I was a part of an outreach project concerning prison reform. This experience made me realize I wanted to be a public defender, which requires a law degree. I did take a gap year before applying to law school. During my gap year, I had a range of experiences. I nannied and worked with AmeriCorps and was placed with a non-profit, although that did not work out due to a lack of funding. I became the director of the U.S. Politics Program at NSLC (National Student Leadership Conference), a pre-college program I was involved with for many years. Attending the University of Maryland was a strategic decision. I knew I wanted the advantage of in-state tuition and to practice law in Maryland. In law school, I was on the national trial team, an extracurricular and class that was a formative experience. I also received clinical experience where I had the opportunity to work with clients under the supervision of faculty. Ironically, two of my favorite classes were property law and estate and trust. While the topic of the courses were unrelated to my interest, I enjoyed them because of how engaging the professors were.”
Did you face any challenges? How did you stay motivated?
“The hardest part of law school was the first year when I was building the foundation of my learning. It really challenges your way of thinking. I stayed motivated by keeping my end goal of becoming a public defender in sight. Another factor is that I had other work experience that made me realize that being a public defender was the only career I was truly interested in. Since it is such a competitive field I knew I needed to be at my best.”
Do you have any advice for those preparing to go to law school?
“Although, the common perception is that you should apply to law school straightaway, it is not necessary. All experiences are helpful. I think it is valuable to take the time to build your resume or raise your LSAT score. Reach out to people that have recently begun working in the field to help you with the application steps, as they will have the best insight. Work hard but also maintain a balance to avoid burnout. In many ways, receiving a Loyola education does well at preparing students for law school. For instance, the challenging curriculum and small class sizes where there is an expectation for regular participation. Students can take confidence in the work that they have already done.”
On February 20th, alumni attorney Michael D’Imperio will be speaking to Pre-Law students via Zoom. Information on this will soon appear on The Bridge as well.
Please join us on Zoom with Michael D’Imperio, J.D. on Tuesday, February 20 at 6:00 pm.
https://loyola.zoom.us/my/mattbeverlin
Michael D'Imperio graduated from Loyola College in 2003 with a B.A. in Psychology. He held multiple leadership roles on campus including VP of the Resident Affairs Counsel, sports editor of the Greyhound, and retreat leader. But his most beloved role on campus was serving as the Greyhound mascot for several years.
After graduation, Michael moved to San Diego, CA to serve in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps before embarking on a career in business in NYC. After nearly 20 years in sales and operations, Michael decided to go to law school. He graduated summa cum laude from the part-time hybrid program at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in June 2023. He now serves as an assistant state attorney in the child welfare division in the 6th Judicial Circuit in Florida.
Michael and his wife have three children, including an 8-year old with a rare genetic disorder. Being a dad to a special needs child is what motivated him to go to law school at a later stage of life. He attributes much of his success and desire to serve to the Jesuit values instilled in him during high school at St. Joseph's Prep in Philadelphia and during his years at Loyola.
