“Got a Minute?” with LL.M. student Paul Macharia
Welcome to Ƶ’s “Got a Minute?” series. These are fun, short-answer interviews with 20 rapid-fire questions. We’ll find students throughout William H. Gates Hall as they study, wait for class or hangout with their classmates.
This week’s “Got a Minute?” interview is with LL.M. student Paul Macharia.
Ƶ: Which LL.M. program are you in?
Paul Macharia (PM): I’m in the Sustainable International Development LL.M. program.
Ƶ: Are you originally from Seattle, and if not, where?
PM: No, I'm from Nairobi, Kenya. I was born in a place called Kiambu.
Ƶ: What's one interesting fact about where you're from?
PM: In Kenya, we are very much known for Safaris. So, the most interesting part of Nairobi is that we have a park in the middle of the city, and it has all kinds of wild animals. You can just walk into it — it's huge.
Ƶ: Have you practiced law before, and if so, how long?
PM: Yeah, I completed my LL.B. in 2019, and I started working for a trade union back in Kenya. I started going to court in 2020, and I was admitted as an advocate of the High Court in 2023. So, I would say I've practiced law for maybe two or three years.
UW law: Without looking, how many glass structures are in the courtyard?
PM: I’ve read that question in other interviews. I know it’s four. [Laughs]
Ƶ: Where's your favorite part of the law school to hang out?
PM: The library. I've spent a lot of time there. Ninety percent of my time in law school has been in the library, specifically on the lower level. I think it’s so cool down there.
Ƶ: If you weren't pursuing a law degree, what would you be doing instead?
PM: That’s interesting. I've never thought about it, but I think I would be in the medical field doing something with medicine, maybe medical engineering.
Ƶ: What was the first type of law that you practiced?
PM: Labor law.
Ƶ: Did you do anything fun for spring break?
PM: No, I had a lot of assignments. So, I spent most of my spring break trying to complete those assignments. The only thing that I did that was fun was watching Yellowstone. I think it's the best TV show that I've watched in the last few years. It has a lot of cowboys. I love cowboys.
Ƶ: Where's your favorite spot on the UW campus, excluding William H. Gates Hall?
PM: I love the fountain. You might just find me sitting there watching the water. It's so relaxing and feels like you're connecting with nature.
Ƶ: Where's your favorite spot to get a bite of food nearby?
PM: I always go to Chimac. I think it's a Korean joint. They have chicken and very good French fries. I go there like every Friday.
Ƶ: If you could add a new class to the curriculum, what would it be called?
PM: Global Workers Rights.
Ƶ: If you could have any superpower related to law, what would it be?
PM: I would like to have a photographic memory where once I look at something, I process it in my mind and it doesn't get out of my mind. So, I can go through a whole book within an hour, and I don't have to read it again. That would be so cool because I wouldn't have to spend a lot of time studying. I would read all the laws, all the statutes — everything — and it will be my mind.
Ƶ: Which historical legal case would you time travel to witness in person?
PM: Kenya is a common law country, so we used to study a lot of U.K. cases. One interesting case was called Donoghue v. Stevenson — it was from 1932. A guy found a snail in a beer, and so it ended up being a negligence case. He ended up winning because the brewer had a duty to protect the consumer. I would just love to see the arguments from the lawyers — and I feel like it's funny.
Ƶ: Name one lawyer that inspires you, and why.
PM: Githu Muigai. He’s a former Kenyan Attorney General and has been practicing law for a long time. He has a lot of passion when it comes to the rule of law and a lot of passion when it comes to human rights. Everybody’s always curious about the words that come out of his mouth. He’s one of those guys that even the judges want to hear what he's going to say.
Ƶ: What's one thing that's different from your country's legal system than the United States?
PM: The main difference I've noticed is about federal and state law. In Kenya, we only have courts that are similar to federal courts — we don’t have state courts. We have states, but they're not as independent as here. So, we don't have that kind of structure of federal courts and state courts.
Ƶ: If you could work in-house at any corporation or organization, where would you choose?
PM: I would love to work at the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, the UFCW. They have a lot of passion when it comes to food and commercial workers’ rights, and that’s been my passion ever since I started doing labor and employment.
Ƶ: What are your plans for summer?
PM: First, I have an internship with the Teamsters Union in Tukwila. Then, I'm planning to go to Nashville, Tennessee, for some country music with some friends. And, if things work out, I might visit Mexico.
Ƶ: Finally, what's one interesting thing about you that people may not know?
PM: I think a lot of people know this — but maybe some don't — but I love country music.