Greensboro, North Carolina

Before law school, I had a romanticized notion of what lawyers did - fighting injustice, making sure laws were fair, etc. That notion has been tempered by the reality of what I believe probably most lawyers do, which is to help those who have power to keep that power. Even so, a law degree imparts powerful tools for social change, and there are inspirational lawyers dedicated to doing good. Knowing some of these lawyers helped me to maintain the connection between law and social justice after some of my erstwhile naivete had worn off.

Forming immediate connections with like-minded students, faculty, staff and alumni is essential to maintaining a public interest focus while in law school. At most law schools there are so many dominant, countervailing pressures that push students away from public interest law. Moreover, I think volunteering as a law student in public interest settings - as soon as practicable for the beginning law student - is a great way to keep rooted in public interest values during the difficult (and often alienating) first year of law school.

I'm a big fan of Bertrand Russell. I also like sci-fi. Right now I'm into William Gibson.

Probably too many to list. I've just gotten hooked on Pandora, which has led me to spend too much money on music recently.

At the moment I'm listening to older Gary Numan and Kraftwerk.

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality." – Martin Luther King, Jr.