On April 21, 2022, the Stevens Law Society welcomed three former graduates of Stevens to campus to speak about their experiences in law school and industry. Organized by Professor Joyce Mullen, the event began with a light reception and led into a panel discussion. The panelists were introduced by Professor Adam Elewa.
First on the panel: Victoria Goodlof Esq. ’09 is a Senior Staff Attorney of the Domestic Violence Law Unit Coordinating Attorney at Community Outreach & Clinics New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG). She graduated from New York Law School with her Juris Doctor (JD) in 2012. The second invited panelist was Alexander Slizewski ’18, who is a current 1L (first-year law student) at Rutgers Law School. The last panelist was Emily Fea, Esq. ’18. Fea currently works as a Law Clerk for the Superior Court of Jersey City and graduated with her JD from Seton Hall University in 2021.
Goodlof talked about her experience with the LSAT. She described her experience with the exam as difficult and challenging; it’s “kind of a test to see can your brain do this flavor of critical thinking,” she explained, aiming to show how taking the LSAT prepares your brain to think in law school. When asked about why she wanted to go to law school, she cited her desire to give back to the world and that her main goal was “wanting to help people to get justice.” According to Goodlof, in law school, “You don’t really learn what the laws are; you learn how to apply them.” She additionally described that in her experience, you get out of law school what you put into it.
Slizewski debunked misconceptions about law school. He mentioned that law school is not reflected well in mainstream media and Hollywood. He describes his experience at law school so far as “phenomenal” and stated that “everyone’s really kind to each other.” Regarding how intensive the classes at law school are, Slizewski said “Being a good law student is very different from being a good LSAT-taker,” to which Goodlof replied, “which is very different from being a good lawyer.” Slizewski also mentioned that first-year grades are important for law students because of the standard curriculum and that “there’s a difference between working hard and working smart.” Slizewski also went into detail about how to choose a law school, explaining that it’s important to attend a law school in the region you plan to work in and that looking at American Bar Association reports can give insight into career outcomes after law school.
Fea also talked about her experience taking the LSAT, describing it as a “learnable test,” and explaining that she did well on the exam since she started studying as a sophomore in college. In terms of applying to law school, Fea cautioned about rushing into law school, mentioning that rushing into law school can often cause burnout. Fea also mentioned that the law school experience is radically different from the Stevens experience; it’s imperative that students are engaged in class and a large increase in the amount of reading.
All three panelists described that while law school was difficult, they enjoyed their experience. They each took turns describing their challenging 1L experience but mentioned that the experience was rewarding. They also spoke about how they managed their finances throughout law school. They mentioned that students can save by working manageable jobs, living at home, making money through internships, over-borrowing loans, cooking for themselves, and simply watching how much they spend.
The event concluded with a question and answer session where the panelists answered questions from the audience. This panel of law professionals showed an increased interest in law school from current Stevens students.
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