Caleb King ’20: The Community Builder
As they wrapped up their final semester from their homes because of the COVID-19 crisis, six members of the Class of 2020 shared their most memorable Law School experiences and what’s next.
Hometown: New Haven, Connecticut
Why the law? Growing up around strong community leaders and advocates, Caleb King learned the importance of speaking up for those without a voice and how the law can be used as an effective tool for upholding people’s rights
Why Columbia? “Community. Columbia Law School is like a second family.”
Advice: “Fight for empathy. Your clients are trusting you to represent them in the best way possible.”
Law fact: During his first year at Columbia Law, King decided to start a book club at Rikers Island for incarcerated individuals, who have little access to resources or programming that builds community. King is also a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, a member of the Challenging the Consequences of Mass Incarceration Legal Clinic, and the Class of 2020 J.D. class speaker.
Outside the classroom: Davis Polk Leadership Fellow, editor-in-chief A Jailhouse Lawyer’s Manual published by the Human Rights Law Review, member of the Jailhouse Book Club, community service chair for the Black Law Students Association, and member of the Harlem Pre-Law Society.
Career plans: King will join the government enforcement and white-collar crime practice group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP and Affiliates in New York City and then will clerk for Victor A. Bolden at the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut.