Sarah Kwiatkowski, 3L
"The largest benefit from my Wayne Law education has been the professors, who worked as attorneys or judges before they became professors. It's the real-world application that they bring to the classroom which makes learning from them beneficial to actually practicing law."
Undergraduate degree? When/Where?
I earned a degree in political theory and constitutional democracy with a specialization in Caribbean and Latin American studies from Michigan State University, James Madison College, in 2004.
Why are you interested in earning a JD?
I am one of those law students who say "I have always wanted to be a lawyer." But, I took three years off between law school and undergrad to work. I think it was my time working at the Hispanic Center of Western Michigan that solidified for me good reasons to go to back to school and particularly back to law school: development of excellent reading and writing skills, advocacy skills and eventually working in a profession that helps people. I was also interested in the academics. I had a craving to go back to school to learn after working for three years. I played around with going to graduate school, but I followed my intuition and applied for law school. In the end, it was the right decision for me personally and professionally.
Why did you choose Wayne Law?
I knew I wanted to stay in Michigan to live and work. When looking at schools in the state, none compared to Wayne Law in terms of opportunities to work with and serve the community. I was (and still am) attracted to the school's mission to serve the urban community. Also, because the school is located in Detroit, the state's major metropolitan area, opportunities abound to get "real life" experience.
What student organizations/co-curriculars are you involved in?
• I am a member of The Wayne Law Review and a board member, currently serving as Survey Editor;
• I am a member and former President of the Public Interest Law Association;
• I am a member of the National Lawyer's Guild;
• I am a member of the Women's Law Association, Oakland County Chapter;
• I am a research assistant for Professor Peter Hammer and also volunteer for a non-profit in Cambodia to which Professor Hammer is the recently elected Executive Director; and
• I am a member of the Progressive Women's Alliance, a PAC based in Grand Rapids, Mich.
How has your involvement in student organizations impacted your law school experience?
As a student who worked previous to entering school, I needed something to balance out the study time I knew I would need to excel in law school. Being a member of groups has been that balance I needed. Additionally, involvement in these groups has introduced me to students I would not have met otherwise, afforded the opportunities to work closely with some Wayne Law faculty, and exposed me to employment and internship opportunities.
Is there a law professor who has already impacted your journey into law?
Two professors have had profound impacts on my journey into law. I was very fortunate to have had wonderful professors my first year of law school, especially Professor Sedler and Professor Hammer. These two professors are special because they demand excellence from students, express authentic excitement and real-world knowledge about their areas of law, and are extremely accessible to students.
I admire Professor Sedler for his expertise, his wealth of knowledge and true passion for constitutional law. I am always proud to say I was one of his students when I hear him on the radio. I also laugh because he talks to the radio interviewer just like he talks to us in class. It's a great feeling because in Professor Sedler's class, you never know what he is going to say and you never know what question he will ask you. It's a relief to hear the radio interviewer stumped by his explanation or question, just like we are as his students. Being in his classroom taught me that I need to read and understand what is in the book, but also use my own brain to apply the law to facts and think on my feet. These are great skills that I use in my internships and summer employment.
Professor Hammer has had an impact in many ways. First, Professor Hammer teaches far more than contracts to first year students. He is a rigorous professor who demands excellence in the classroom. His tough questioning when a student is on-call is excellent preparation for thinking on your feet and being articulate at the same time (these are two things I am still working on). Additionally, his real-world expertise makes the classroom a great learning environment. Professor Hammer is the professor who really made me feel that going to law school was an academic pursuit as opposed to simply a means to an end. He told us during our first year that getting the "right" answer on the exam was not the real exercise, but dissecting the problem and applying the law we learned was the objective. I have definitely employed this "dissection" method on other exams and at internships and summer employment. Second, Professor Hammer introduced me to the beautiful and wonderful world of Cambodia. In his class, International Organizations and Public Health, Cambodia was the case study. After the class, I wanted to travel to Cambodia and see for myself the things we learned in the classroom. It is always a unique opportunity when I can incorporate my personal interests, international travel and my education. I really thank Professor Hammer for opening up to me a world I never would have explored on my own.
Do you feel as though your Wayne Law education will prepare you well for a career in law? How?
I feel that real-life work experience is the best preparation for a career in law. I think internship and clerking opportunities are the best methods to gaining the tools needed to practice. The largest benefit from my Wayne Law education has been the professors, who worked as attorneys or judges before they became professors. It's the real-world application that they bring to the classroom which makes learning from them beneficial to actually practicing law. These professors are resources and their expertise as practitioners benefits students more than anything else. An example of this is Professor Rosen. As a federal judge, he has seen attorneys introduce evidence and has ruled on evidentiary matters countless times. Learning the rules of evidence from a seasoned judge is, to me, a wonderful opportunity. His real-world knowledge and expertise is better than any textbook on the subject. Asking him questions and listening to him recount stories from his time on the bench are truly beneficial.
What advice would you give to prospective students considering Wayne Law as their law school?
• Look at the professor profiles on the school's webpage. For me, access to professors and their various skills and expertise has been the number one best thing about Wayne Law.
• Look at the practical opportunities available to students at Wayne Law. I cannot compare to other schools, because I do not know what other schools offer, but I know Wayne Law offers many clinics, internships and extracurriculars to students. These are the real learning opportunities that I think will benefit students the most in practice. Whether the Mock Trial team or a clinic focused on family law, Wayne Law offers students the opportunity to learn while they work.
• Think about living in Detroit and meeting Wayne Law's mission to serve the community. In the end, attorneys are advocates and the school offers many opportunities to put those advocacy skills to work.
Anything else you'd like to add?
Good luck and don't forget to study!