Student Spotlight: Margaret Broihier ’27

Margaret Broihier ’27 has always known that she wanted to spend her career reading and writing, but did not initially plan to become a lawyer. After taking courses in law and philosophy as an undergraduate and working as a litigation paralegal in New York, she settled on law as a career path. Now a finalist in the Harlan Fiske Stone Moot Court Competition, she talks about how her academic background and her passion for public interest work have shaped her experience at Columbia Law.

Hometown: Shaker Heights, Ohio

Education: B.A. in classical studies, University of Chicago 

At Columbia Law: executive managing editor, Columbia Law Review; coach and competitor; National Native American Law School Association (National NALSA) Moot Court; 1L staff editor, Columbia Journal of Gender and Law; communications chair, Prison Healthcare Initiative; teaching assistant to Alexander Greenawalt ’00, visiting professor of law; research assistant to Suzanne Goldberg, Herbert and Doris Wechsler Clinical Professor of Law

What’s Next: Broihier will spend her 2L summer working in the Prisoners’ Rights Project at The Legal Aid Society. She plans to pursue a career in public interest law, and is particularly passionate about prisoners’ rights and reproductive healthcare justice.

What brought you to law school? 

I headed to college knowing that I wanted to major in classical studies; I had taken Latin all throughout high school and really loved it. But I realized pretty early on that I did not want to pursue a graduate degree in the humanities. Rather than focusing on language, my focus shifted to philosophy, especially theories of emotion and reason. I took a class in my third year studying how these theories are baked into legal reasoning. It was probably my favorite college class, and it made me feel like law school was something I would be interested in doing. After graduating from the University of Chicago, I wanted a reset and to get some work experience, so I spent three years at a boutique litigation firm in New York as a paralegal. It was there that I learned that litigation was something that really interested me.

Why did you choose to attend Columbia Law?

I have always loved New York City, and after living and working here for three years, I knew that I wanted to stay put if I could. I chose Columbia Law specifically because I was really impressed with the faculty. I knew going into law school that I was interested in constitutional and criminal law, and those are topics in which Columbia Law’s faculty is especially strong. 

What areas of the law interest you the most right now?

I’m interested in criminal law and civil rights work. While at Columbia Law, I have been able to explore those interests through my work with the Parole Advocacy Project and the Prison Healthcare Initiative. Over the last year, prison health care litigation has emerged as the area of law that I find myself most drawn to. I spent my 1L summer working at a civil rights firm—Shanies Law Office—that handled prison health care cases, and I wrote my student note on the particular issues posed by private providers operating in the carceral health care space.

What’s been surprising about the Harlan Fiske Stone Moot Court Competition?

I’ve been surprised by how much I’ve enjoyed the oral advocacy part of the competition! I’ve always enjoyed writing and researching, but speaking in front of people is not something I have historically enjoyed doing. I still get very nervous before competition, but this year, I’ve been learning how to be a little bit more present in the round and to enjoy it as it’s happening. 

What’s been your favorite part of the competition?

My favorite part has been working with my partner, Ben. I feel lucky that we’ve been partners since the preliminary round, and I’m excited for one last dance in the finals. I am also very grateful to all our wonderful friends who have helped us prepare for competition. So many people have given their time to help us prepare, and they have stumped me with hard questions in rounds more times than I can count. 

What do you like to do outside of law school? 

I love to explore New York on walks and runs. Even though I have lived in the city for a few years, it is still pretty magical for me to get to do my morning runs in Central Park. I also love reading, baking, watching movies with my fiancé and our friends, and hanging out with my dog, Peaches.