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'There's no one background for going into law'

On Feb. 15, three attorneys spoke with students on campus. Pictured from left are Krystle Guillory <br>Tadesse '05; James Rogers '04; his father, William Rogers; and the panel organizer, Margaret Rogers <br>'11.
On Feb. 15, three attorneys spoke with students on campus. Pictured from left are Krystle Guillory
Tadesse '05; James Rogers '04; his father, William Rogers; and the panel organizer, Margaret Rogers
'11.

According to William Rogers P’04, a liberal arts education is a great base for becoming a lawyer.

“There’s no one background for going into law,” he recently told students. “The law brings together a lot of different disciplines.”

On Feb. 15 three attorneys, including William Rogers, came to campus to speak about their careers in a panel discussion titled “How to Make It in the World of Law,” organized by Margaret Rogers ’11 in connection with the Office of Career Enhancing Life Skills.

In addition to William, who practices corporate law at Cravath, Swaine & Moore, panelists included Krystle Guillory Tadesse ’05 of Brown, Sherry & Geller and James Rogers ’04, who is completing a year of service in AmeriCorps and is the son of William. The panel was moderated by Simon Feldman, assistant professor of philosophy.

Tadesse, who majored in government at the College and now specializes in litigation, wanted to be a lawyer since she was a small girl.

“Litigation is very different from corporate work. It's a win/lose situation,” she said. “It can get acrimonious, but it's exciting to be arguing a case in front of a judge.”

James Rogers, who majored in both American studies and history at the College, offered his own reason for pursuing a career in law. "I think it's important to understand the system and how that system works," he said.

After graduation, Tadesse earned her law degree from Northeastern University Law School while James Rogers earned his from Cornell Law School.

Many of the College's 127 pre-law students were asking questions and on hand for the recent panel.

Each year, about 60 Connecticut College seniors and alumni apply for law school. Over the past two years, Connecticut College graduates have been admitted to prestigious law schools at Duke, Georgetown, University of California - Berkeley, Northwestern, University of Michigan, University of Virginia and University of Pennsylvania.

-Lisa Brownell and Rachel Harrington



March 15, 2010