This story originally appeared in Res Ipsa, the 性视界传媒 School of Law alumni magazine. To learn more, read the full issue or visit the .
When our current 3L students graduate, they will have spent half of their law school careers online due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
We caught up with 3L students Alyson Englander, Timothy Randolph and Trevor Cunningham to hear how they’re navigating their final year — virtually.
Why did you choose 性视界传媒 for your legal studies?
Trevor Cunningham: It was an incredible value proposition with a great proximity to the Kansas City legal market.
Alyson Englander: I chose 性视界传媒 for its reputation for being a collaborative, welcoming environment that supports non-traditional students like myself.
Timothy Randolph: I chose 性视界传媒 because it offered a part-time program. I was also working in Johnson County and wanted to be local.
Are you currently a clerk or intern in a law office?
Cunningham: I’m currently clerking at Parman and Easterday in Overland Park, Kansas. I spend most of my time drafting documents, corresponding with legal advisors and circuit clerks and researching legal issues.
Englander: While I’m not currently clerking, I have worked for the Missouri Attorney General’s office, as well as several firms during law school.
Randolph: I worked in the Johnson County Prosecutor’s office for about five to six years before I decided to stop working and focus on finishing school.
Has the pandemic impacted the job market for new lawyers?
Cunningham: Most of us are fairly realistic about the ways in which the pandemic has made firms take an honest look at their ability to hire new associates. However, I truly believe that this 3L class is an incredibly bright and resilient group of individuals. I have little doubt that they’re going to find work even in this difficult job market.
How did you manage the shift to online classes?
Englander: The biggest challenges, for me, were balancing classes while my husband was also suddenly working from home and our 18-month-old daughter’s daycare was closed. I found myself having to switch my camera off often and text friends in my classes to see if I had missed anything important while tending to my family. For a few weeks, my peers and I were also very anxious about the format of our final exams and grading that semester. We were relieved when the law school ultimately decided to make all classes pass/fail.
I found myself having to switch my camera off often and text friends in my classes to see if I had missed anything important while tending to my family.
Randolph: My mentality, initially, was “it’s not much different because we’re sitting in class like we normally do,” but the tough part was peer interaction. Now, when you log off you have to chase down classmates to debrief after class. You get energy from your peers and being able to set up study sessions on the spot. There’s nothing personable about your laptop.
Has this experience created any additional opportunities or challenges in your personal life?
Cunningham: I suppose I’m like everyone else in that I have good days and not as good days. The pandemic has reminded me that it’s OK to take time for myself. By the same token, the pandemic has also caused some of my relationships to fracture. I attribute it mostly to the fact that so many things related to COVID have been so intensely politicized. I feel really sad that public health has been made into a political issue.
The pandemic has reminded me that it’s OK to take time for myself.
Randolph: One thing I miss about being on campus is overhearing peers talking about opportunities or communication you may have missed. You get so many emails a day, it’s easy to miss something, but when you hear peers saying “oh, did you do this,” or “are you going to that,” it’s kind of like a reminder.
What’s next for you after law school?
Cunningham: Upon graduating, I hope to pursue an opportunity to practice in the areas of Business and Estate planning in the KC Metropolitan area.
Englander: I hope to pursue a public service-oriented practice, but specifically I hope to work in immigration law.
Randolph: I haven’t quite ironed out exactly what I want to do after graduation. My initial plan was to work as a prosecutor and become a JAG (Judge Advocate General) officer with the Kansas Army National Guard, however I’ve recently found an interest in business law and business development. I love the idea of being in-house counsel for a few small businesses in the area and also be able help a startup business who might want to seek private equity funding. I’ve grown to love tax law and I’ve slightly considered possibly pursuing a LL.M. in Taxation.