“Got a Minute?” with Yen-Wen Lin, 3L
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 Yen-Wen Lin, 3L.
Ƶ: Are you originally from Seattle? If not, where?
Yen-Win Lin (YWL): I moved here to Seattle in 2009. I'm originally from Taipei, Taiwan.
Ƶ: What’s one interesting fact about where you're from?
YWL: We have a mix of different cultures in Taipei because we’ve been a colony of Japan, Netherlands and Spain. So, we have a variety of cool buildings, and the food there is just amazing.
Ƶ: Where did you earn your undergraduate degree?
YWL: Here at the University of Washington.
Ƶ: Did you take time off between undergrad and law school? If so, what did you do?
YWL: I did — three years. I was a legal assistant and paralegal at the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
Ƶ: How many glass structures are in the courtyard?
YWL: I'm going to say six.
Ƶ: There are four. Which fictional lawyer do you think would make the best law professor?
YWL: I would say Michael Ross from “Suits.”
Ƶ: If you could add a new class to the curriculum, what would it be called?
YWL: I would add another class on more intensive legal research and writing because academic writing is very different from real practice. It would be called Real Life Research Methods and Writing.
Ƶ: Finish this sentence, “Law school is like…”
YWL: “a quick, quick dream.”
Ƶ: How many different Law & Order TV shows have there been?
YWL: Eight?
Ƶ: Yes! You’re the first person to get that correct. Which historical legal case would you time travel to witness in person?
YWL: I would want to time travel to watch Brown v. Board of Education.
Ƶ: What's your favorite time slot for a class?
YWL: I like my 8:30s.
Ƶ: Where's your favorite spot to get a bite of food nearby?
YWL: For a quick one, I like the H-Mart Grab & Go store. That has always been just nice and easy in between classes.
Ƶ: Name one professor that should give a TED Talk and on what topic.
YWL: I’ll go with Professor Ross. He’s amazing with antitrust and healthcare stuff. So, I think somewhere in between those two topics.
Ƶ: What was the most recent class you attended and what was a highlight for that class?
YWL: Yesterday, I had business organizations with Professor Page. I think the highlight from it was that we learned a lot about LLCs. I mean, I don't know if it was too exciting.
Ƶ: How old is Ƶ?
YWL: 125 years.
Ƶ: What was the name of Reese Witherspoon's character in “Legally Blonde”?
YWL: Elle Woods.
Ƶ: What area of law would you like to pursue after you receive your J.D.?
YWL: Criminal law.
Ƶ: Name one lawyer that inspires you, and why.
YWL: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. She is quite inspiring and one of the most knowledgeable about the practicality of law, and an academic. She is a very well-rounded person to look up to.
Ƶ: What's one class you're hoping to take while you're here?
YWL: You know, I'm really looking forward to next quarter's advanced evidence. I think that will be a really cool class. It’s taught by another practitioner, Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs. I think he will be able to bring a real-life experience and — knowing that most people in the class will already have the basic knowledge of evidence — take us to another level that we probably have never seen before. And I think that would be a beautiful experience.
Ƶ: What's one interesting thing about you that people may not know?
YWL: I used to be a competitive swimmer.