Ishmail Harris (Lex Fellow '17) Wins Widger Leadership Scholarship from Villanova Law
Ishmail Harris (North Carolina Wesleyan College '18, Lex '17) was the honorary recipient of the distinguished Widger Leadership Scholarship from the Villanova University School of Law. He is currently a 2L. Read on to learn about his story!
What role did the Lex Fellowship play in your success?
The Lex Fellowship opened my eyes to new ideas. It helped me with career discernment, allowed me to meet lawyers that I wouldn't have met in a different situation, so I'm grateful for that. It allowed me to travel to Madrid and learn about the unique topic of Spanish law. It helped me grow as a person and [over] those weeks, I became more responsible and more independent because it was my first time away from home. And it made me more studious because of the research we did [in the prep meetings].
How did the Fellowship help with your career discernment?
It reinforced that I wanted to practice corporate law. But I also learned a lot about types of law that I found interesting and unique such as maritime law and intellectual property. When I met with corporate lawyers, I was interested, intrigued and excited and they were too to meet me. I still email and talk to [several of the Lex '17 speakers] to get their advice. I [also] still keep in touch with my fellow Lex Fellows and we often make plans to see each other. I'm grateful for these connections with my peers.
What were the highlights of your Lex Fellowship experience?
The firms were a big highlight. The food is an amazing highlight. The mentorship from the staff was a highlight: they cared about us as people and as future professionals, and stressed that we take advantage of every opportunity on the Fellowship. I loved the city [of Madrid], Segovia, Toledo, and the Gothic cathedral [in Toledo]. The tours and medieval castles [in Segovia] were interesting. Many agree, including myself, that the world we live in is moving towards greater globalization. It is to one's own benefit to become well traveled and see all that the world has to offer to understand each other more. This is important from a professionalism aspect as well as growing and improving as a person. The Lex Fellowship was my first step into the pool of global experiences and I am grateful for it!