Learn what inspired these 1Ls to study the law and why they chose Columbia Law School.
The Class of 2029 has begun its Law School journey. Meet 11 members of this accomplished cohort, and find out more about what drew them to Columbia Law School.
Interviews have been edited and condensed.
Hometowns: London, U.K., and Lagos, Nigeria
Education: University College London, B.A. in political science
What inspired you to go to Columbia Law School?
Growing up in Lagos and London made me interested early on in how legal and financial institutions shape opportunities. That interest sharpened through my professional experience with cross-border disputes and transactions involving Africa, where I saw how lawyers can sit at the center of decisions that reshape businesses, governments, and communities. I wanted the training to operate at that level myself. I chose Columbia for its rigor, its international outlook, and its strength at the intersection of law and business, alongside its unmatched position in New York—the center for the industries I want to build a career in.
Hometown: Sugar Grove, Illinois
Education: Brigham Young University, B.S. in corporate strategy
What inspired you to go to Columbia Law School?
After spending four years in consulting, my initial plan was to attend business school, but I decided to take the LSAT and apply to law school instead because I felt that gaining a law degree would enable me to help people in ways that I wouldn’t be able to otherwise. As for why I chose Columbia Law School, it was because of the people! At Admitted Students Day, I met so many people that I admired and wanted to learn from. I wanted to be with a group of peers that would push me to be better—and have fun while doing it.
Hometown: Binghamton, New York
Education: Tufts University, B.A. in history
What inspired you to go to Columbia Law School?
Law school was always something I considered, but my two years as a business immigration paralegal in Boston made me sure I wanted to pursue it. I enjoyed getting to know clients and guiding them through a process that could be confusing and stressful, and I loved working alongside attorneys on complex visa strategy. I’m not sure whether I’ll end up practicing immigration law, but I know I want a career that prioritizes relationship building and surrounds me with people who challenge me intellectually. I’m excited to take what I learn in law school and put it to use every day. Having grown up in Binghamton, New York, I’ve long wanted to build my career in New York City, and being close to home was part of Columbia’s appeal. Columbia is one of the city’s most historic and influential institutions, with deep ties to the legal community and alumni practicing throughout New York. And as a die-hard Knicks, Giants, and Yankees fan, the chance to get to games regularly certainly didn’t hurt.
Hometown: Syosset, New York
Education: Harvard University, A.B. in government
What inspired you to go to Columbia Law School?
A lawyer’s job is to achieve ambitious solutions to complex problems. Through studying government at Harvard and leading a local nonprofit, I was exposed to a range of these sorts of problems. I realized that in order to tackle thorny issues—from conducting field research on the institutional legitimacy of the Colombian Constitutional Court to advocating for local business tax relief at Cambridge City Hall—learning the language of the law would be essential. I also knew that there would be no better place to do so than Columbia Law School. Its world-class faculty, extensive offerings, and synergy with the greatest city in the world offer an infinitely tailorable experience. I couldn't imagine choosing anywhere else to receive my legal training.
Hometown: Deerfield, Illinois
Education: Tulane University, B.S.M. in finance and legal studies
What inspired you to go to Columbia Law School?
I had the privilege to work and study abroad during my time in college. While studying finance in Singapore and working in finance-related roles in Tel Aviv, I developed a deep curiosity about the rules and principles that govern our global economy and shape the behavior of individuals, institutions, and governments. Columbia’s impressive faculty, course offerings, and location in the world’s hub for global finance made CLS the obvious choice for my legal studies.
Hometown: Phoenix
Education: University of California, Santa Barbara, B.S. in psychological and brain sciences
What inspired you to go to Columbia Law School?
I have always been fascinated by law as a governing force of human behavior. Studying psychology and neuroscience in college made me increasingly curious about how people think, make decisions, and respond to conflict. Through my experience working as a legal assistant, I developed a particular interest in litigation, where understanding people intersects with advocacy and problem-solving. I chose Columbia because I wanted to explore my interest in litigation as part of a community with an incredible range of perspectives and professional experiences. I was especially drawn to Columbia’s opportunities for experiential learning, its strong connections to the New York legal community, and the immediate sense of home I felt upon visiting.
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
Education: University of Chicago, B.A. in anthropology
What inspired you to go to Columbia Law School?
I took a few years after college to explore policy, judicial reform, public defense, and Big Law. In each role, I loved working as part of a team to solve problems—from navigating an antitrust filing in an M&A matter to helping lead a mitigation investigation across Northwest Africa to persuade the Department of Justice not to seek the death penalty in a criminal case. I came to Columbia Law because it has the resources to help me continue exploring, build community, and tackle the problems I care about most.
Hometown: Los Angeles
Education: University of California, Berkeley, B.A. in political economy/media studies
What inspired you to go to Columbia Law School?
I was working in media for the last few years and wanted to be able to contribute to legal conversations surrounding the business transactions, licensing deals, and brand development that my work helped to support. I chose Columbia Law School because the culture, academics, and location were exactly what I was looking for in my law school experience!
Hometown: Newtown, Connecticut
Education: Georgetown University, B.A. in government
What inspired you to go to Columbia Law School?
After a decade working in the grassroots gun violence prevention movement, I decided that law school was the best path for me to engage in broader discussions about constitutional rights and public policy, and also to be a stronger advocate within those spheres. Columbia Law School was always my top choice for beginning that journey. Its strength and reputation in all areas of legal practice—whether in public interest, the judiciary, or in corporate law—provides the flexibility for me to explore all of my interests and skill sets as a student. To have such a variety of opportunities while also getting to call New York City home was an experience I craved, and I am incredibly grateful to have, in my legal education.
Hometown: Miami
Education: Duke University, B.A. in history
What inspired you to go to Columbia Law School?
I have always been fascinated by how societies came to be the way they are. That curiosity drew me to history, where I became interested in how the ideas and values of a particular time become embedded in institutions that shape people’s lives. I quickly realized that it was almost impossible to study that process without studying law. Law gives those ideas and values concrete form, while also creating the means to question and change them. I came to law school because I wanted to study that process as it unfolds, rather than only looking back at it through the lens of history. I chose Columbia Law School because I wanted to learn alongside people who approach the law with that same breadth of perspective and see it not in static isolation but as something that both shapes and is shaped by the society around it.
Hometown: Aldie, Virginia
Education: Georgetown University, B.S. in foreign service, international economics
What inspired you to go to Columbia Law School?
Going to law school was actually a childhood dream of mine. I remember seeing lawyers portrayed in the media as the first line of defense for protecting people’s rights, and as people who—through persistence, creative thinking, and advocacy—can help others. My vision of being a lawyer has evolved a lot since then, shaped by my academic and professional experiences. I’m especially drawn to financial regulation and consumer protection, and Columbia Law was the natural choice because few schools can match what it offers in those areas of interest. The school is steps away from the financial center of the country and has incredible faculty who are shaping the field in real time. I couldn’t be more excited for what the school has to offer.
Members of the J.D. Class of 2029 and LL.M. Class of 2027 began their time at the Law School with workshops, information sessions, and community-building events.