Editor’s Note: The Happy Beginnings series features recent College of Arts & Sciences graduates who are getting started in careers, graduate school and service.
Angelina Moore ’16 currently attends the University of Chicago Law School, where she is vice president of the Federal Bar Association and the 2L representative for the Law Students Association. She has worked as a judicial intern for the Honorable Young Kim, and as a research assistant for Professor Jonathan Masur.
Her advice to pre-law students: “Seek out opportunities to research and write in undergraduate. Depending on your major, they are either easy or hard to come by. These skills are so essential in law school, so the more practice the better. ”
Moore graduated from the Ohio University Honors Tutorial College with a Bachelor of Business Administration and a major in Business Pre-Law in May 2016. She also earned a Certificate in Law, Justice & Culture from the College of Arts & Sciences.
Angelina Moore
During her time at Ohio University, she acted as the vice president of recruitment for the Select Leadership Development Program, she was also the Delta Sigma Pi vice president of pledge education, and the vice president of philanthropy for OHIO Women in Business.
Additionally, she participated in the Human Rights, Law, and Justice in Northern Ireland study abroad experience.
What was your major?
Business Major in the Honors Tutorial College with a Certificate in Law, Justice, and Culture
What is your hometown?
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Where do you live now?
Chicago, Ill.
Why did you choose to attend Ohio University?
What first drew me to Ohio University was the Honors Tutorial College. I was intrigued by the interdisciplinary nature of the majors and the way the tutorial system enables you to work one-on-one with professors and develop your research and writing skills. I ultimately chose Ohio University off of my visit to the campus. The school just felt like home. The students were very welcoming, the campus was gorgeous, and professors were actively discussing ideas with their students. I knew that this type of environment was the right place for me.
What made you decide to study the liberal arts?
I knew I wanted to develop myself intellectually and learn a wide variety of subjects, so going to a liberal arts college just made sense for me. I am intellectually curious and have many interests, so being able to explore different topics and widen my knowledge base was a good fit for me.
What were your best Ohio University experiences?
One of my favorite and most memorable Ohio University experiences was going to Northern Ireland as part of a Law, Justice, and Culture class. While we were there, we met with community leaders, activists, and scholars. We were given the opportunity to learn about the Troubles from those who actually experienced it, while also exploring Northern Ireland. I learned so much about reconciliation, activism, and the Troubles through this program. I also loved seeing the beauty that Northern Ireland has to offer.
Another one of my best experiences at Ohio University was doing the high ropes course up at the Ridges as a part of fOUndations First-Year Leadership Experience program. I am not too fond of heights, but it was actually such an exhilarating experience to be able to complete that course. It was also just simply a lot of fun.
How did you become interested in pursuing law?
I have always found the law fascinating. The idea that there were a set of rules and standards out there that govern our society was fascinating to me. As I started to look more into what opportunities are available in the legal field, I realized that this field was the best one for my interests and skill set. I enjoy research and writing, as well as learning about the law in general, so I knew that pursuing law would be a great fit for me. I also was motivated by the idea that attorneys are those that can advocate for those that might not be able to speak up for themselves. Being able to fulfill that need in society appealed to me.
What has kept you busy since graduating from Ohio University?
Since graduating Ohio University, I have been busy as a law student at the University of Chicago Law School. I am currently in my second year in the program. Apart from school, exploring my new city and taking care of my hedgehog fill up the rest of my time.
How did your Ohio University experience prepare you for law school and shape your career path?
Ohio University prepared me very well for law school. Through the Honors Tutorial College and Law, Justice, and Culture Certificate program, I started thinking about the overlap between different subjects and was encouraged to take all kinds of classes in order to figure out my interests. This interdisciplinary approach served me well when coming to the University of Chicago Law School, as law and economics are the cornerstone of the Law School. This approach also helped shape my career path. I knew I was interested in both law and business before entering undergraduate, but through the ability to take tutorials as well as take both business and more “pre-law” classes, I was able to learn about the area of employment law, which is part of what I will be doing this summer.
I also was exposed to an array of new ideas and ways of thinking. Having to produce a thesis and research and write on that level immensely helped me, as a lot of law school involves those two skill sets. Lastly, the pre-law advisers at Ohio University really gave me the tools I needed to be ready for law school. From advising me on classes to recommending books to helping me with my applications—I would not be where I am at today if not for Ohio University and my professors and experiences there.
What do you think were the most important things you did as an undergrad to prepare you for law school?
The most important things I did as an undergraduate were to learn how to read critically, write critically, research critically, and think critically. These skills are invaluable in law school, as a lot of what you will be doing is reading or researching cases. Then you will need to take what you learned and apply it in writing—either via a paper or by writing an exam. I was able to learn these skills as an undergraduate by taking a wide variety of classes, being involved in different student organizations, as well as producing a thesis in conjunction with my tutorials. The other most important skills I learned as an undergraduate were communication and interpersonal skills. These skills are not really talked about when discussing law school, but are invaluable—especially when you go to actually practice law. The student organizations I was apart of, especially the Select Leadership Development Program and Delta Sigma Pi, gave me an opportunity to learn about leadership and practice my presentation and communication skills. What is so great about Ohio University is that you can learn just as much in the classrooms as you can learn outside of them.
Do you have any advice for students interested in law?
Seek out opportunities to research and write in undergraduate. Depending on your major, they are either easy or hard to come by. These skills are so essential in law school, so the more practice the better. Also think about what you would like to do in the law. I did not fully realize this before law school, but there are so many different career paths in the legal field—and not all involve a J.D. I think knowing what makes you passionate is part of the experience of undergraduate, so take those classes that interest you (whether you see the connection to your future career or not) because those might just be the classes that shape your future. For example, I did not even realize I could be interested in economics and the law until I took Professor Winter’s class, and that helped spur my decision to choose the University of Chicago Law School in the first place.
What are your future plans?
My future plan is to become an attorney and practice law in Chicago. I just need to graduate law school first!
What is your favorite Ohio University memory?
I know this question asks for a memory, but it is hard for me to just pick one. I adored my time at Ohio University. From hanging out with my friends at Strouds Run and on the porch of 15 Fern to presenting my completed thesis at the Student Expo to meeting a bunch of alumni at the 90th anniversary for my business fraternity and so much more, I can’t pick just one memory as my favorite. I made life-long friends at Ohio University. I have taken some of the most interesting classes of my life at Ohio University. And I have definitely made some of the best memories there.
Comments