Lex DC: in the “Heart of Law & Politics”
Jennifer Kimball is a recent graduate of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. She speaks Swedish and Russian, and earned her degree in history. In the coming years, Jennifer hopes to attend law school and move to Washington, D.C., where she participated in The Lex Fellowship.
Why did you choose Lex?
I chose the Lex Fellowship because I wanted to explore the diverse types of law. I’ve known I wanted to go to law school for a couple years now, and I want to work in D.C. So the Lex Fellowship offered me the opportunity to live and make connections in the city I want to eventually work in while exploring different firms.
Did you enjoy D.C.?
Washington D.C. is the perfect place for a student interested in pursuing a legal career because it offers exposure to a wide variety of legal practices. I loved D.C. because I was in the heart of law and politics. I had the opportunity to learn about everything from the Supreme Court down to family law and medical malpractice. I feel that I got to learn about legal fields that I would never have otherwise considered.
What was the most valuable element of the Fellowship program?
I think the most valuable opportunity was visiting different firms and working on cases with the attorneys. We got to give our own opinions while also hearing their expertise. It was a great experience for me to figure out what type of law I’m most interested in and to figure out if this is really what I want to do with my life.
What are some of the fields of law you learned about?
We heard from a lobbying firm, we learned a lot about civil unemployment suits, we talked about federal unemployment practice, criminal justice and pro bono work.
How was the Legal Advisor?
Harison, our Legal Advisor, was really helpful in figuring out how best to approach law school. I’ve known for a long time that I wanted to go to law school, but I didn’t really know what that meant or how to be a really good law school applicant or what to expect once I got there. Harison helped us figure out what to expect from our first year at law school, how to complete resumes and work on applications. He also gave us crash courses in the different types of law so we know what to expect.
Describe your favorite firm visit to date.
My favorite firm visit was probably to Dykema Gossett. They do trade marketing and intellectual property, but they also do a lot of pro bono work. The attorneys there were very personable; they were so friendly and open to answering all of our questions. When we worked on the case with them, they were open to all of our ideas. We all got to participate and felt like we were heard and appreciated.
What would you say to students considering Lex?
If you have a passion for law, Lex is definitely a good opportunity. It gives you the chance to really see what’s out there and available in the field of law, you get to connect with real lawyers, and you’re not just reading something on a website or from a teacher. You get firsthand, hands-on experience and you get to see if law is the right field for you.