As an undergrad at UVA, I was a history major. In my course work and thesis work, I tried to focus on and capture the untold stories of the “victims”/unsung heroes of history instead of the victors. I suppose I came to law school because I enjoyed that analytical process. I came to law school to learn the law which plays a part in pretty much everything in the U.S. I figured that if I learned the law I could begin to probe some of the reasons, mechanisms, and ways that marginalized people are kept in marginal fringe positions. Once I learn the law, I believe I can work towards a paradigm shift.

There are a few things I would hope for law school to serve me. As idealist as it sounds, I wish that law school was really concerned with cultivating world changers and teaching how we can begin to change lives and the legal system for the better. It seems that “major” law schools work as filters to big firms. I’m not sure if that’s what I want for myself. Since coming to law school, I’m not really sure what “justice” is anymore. Maybe justice is an individual thing. (?) For my purposes, learning the law is first. Beyond that, I wish it was more collaborative and more optimistic about our prospects. I believe as lawyers, we have the potential to drastically change and effect someone else’s reality. Hopefully, we use that “power” for good instead of evil. Not quite sure how I will do that.

-- KrystalCommons - 13 Jan 2010