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Spring has sprung, finals are over and commencement is here: it’s the end of the school year at last. We’ve asked students to get a little nostalgic with us and reflect back on their time at UW School of Law. Some are graduating, some will return for their third year, but they all have some words of wisdom – and some intriguing movie metaphors – about their time in law school.

Kira Johal, 3L

What is your favorite memory at ºìÌÒÊÓƵ?

My favorite memory is when I received an offer to work at Jackson Lewis after graduation. If it wasn't for ºìÌÒÊÓƵ's Career Services Department, I wouldn't have known how to prepare for the interview process or know what firms look for in a new associate.

What are you going to miss most about law school?

I loved my Workers' Rights Clinic. I cannot stress enough how important clinics are. Law school teaches you the rules, but it doesn't teach you how to be a lawyer. Clinics will help give insight and every student should be required to take a clinic before graduation.

If you could characterize your time at ºìÌÒÊÓƵ as a movie, what would it be?

Dazed and Confused

Any parting words of advice to next year’s 3Ls?

Network and build relationships. The people around you are the people you'll lean on and look to when you begin your career. It's important to establish great relationships with your peers because these relationships will be the most important once you become an established attorney.

Danielle Ollero, 3L

What is your favorite memory at ºìÌÒÊÓƵ?

My favorite memory during my time here at UW was my clinical experience. It gave me a wide breadth of experience including working with clients and legislative work. The legislative work was something I likely never would have experienced without my clinical experience. And the connections with students, professors, and outside attorneys was invaluable.

Any parting words of advice to next year’s 3Ls?

My biggest piece of advice it to enjoy your time in law school and to make sure that you maintain and continue your interests outside of law school.

Harlan Mechling, 3L

What is your favorite memory at ºìÌÒÊÓƵ?

My favorite memory at ºìÌÒÊÓƵ is working closely with Dean Kellye Testy to research issues related to the Wage Gap and Gender-Based Employment Discrimination. She is wonderful to work with and has been an incredible mentor to me throughout my time at ºìÌÒÊÓƵ.

What are you going to miss most about law school?

The thing I am going to miss most about law school is being surrounded by brilliant professors who challenge us to think critically about our own deeply held beliefs. I am also going to miss the fast-paced nature of law school and having the opportunity to compete with some of the brightest students.

Did you have a passion or pet project here at ºìÌÒÊÓƵ?

As a 3L, I volunteered to be a Peer Counselor and began studying the myriad mental health issues that plague lawyers and law students. Dr. Andy Benjamin runs the Peer Counseling Support Program and is doing our law school a true service by providing counseling support for students and raising awareness about the mental health issues in our profession.

Rosa Ostrom, 2L

What is your favorite memory at ºìÌÒÊÓƵ?

One of my favorite law school experiences was when Professor Schnapper invited our entire civil procedure class, all 50-something of us, to go eat tacos and see a movie with him one evening after class. It felt surreal to see him outside of Gates Hall, passing the popcorn back and forth, but we had such a great time.

If you could characterize your time at ºìÌÒÊÓƵ as a movie, what would it be?

If my time at UW law was a movie, it would be the Breakfast Club. We all came in thinking we were gonna do this on our own, but by the middle, we’ve all found things we have in common. (If I’m lucky, I may even go out with an iconic fist pump).