McKendree Political Science Department Hosts Successful Law School Zoom Panel
Lebanon, IL (10/22/2021) — On Wednesday, Oct. 20, Dr. Brian Frederking and Dr. Ann Collins of the political science department hosted a Zoom panel of recent McKendree graduates who are either currently attending law school or who have recently finished their education. The panel consisted of four former Bearcats: Caden Owens '20, SLU Law School; Katherine Gemmingen '20, Pitt Law School; Taylor Ganz '20, SLU Law School (Marines/JAG); and Jared Jones '17, SLU Law School, Hinshaw and Culbertson Law Firm.
The entire campus was invited to view the panel, learn from the former students' experiences in law school and ask questions.
The four former Bearcats shared their experiences and imparted their wisdom to undergraduates. Many echoed the same words of advice: stick to a schedule, keep up with classwork and do what works best for you. Ganz advised undergraduates to make a lot of friends and rely on classmates. "You'll rely on your classmates more than your books for your classes," she said. Meanwhile Owens, who began law school in the middle of the pandemic and does much of his learning online, heavily emphasized holding oneself accountable. "Put yourself on a schedule, a regimen - something to keep you on track. No one's going to get you to go to class," he said.
Gemmingen, who phoned in from Pittsburgh, Pa., recommended that future law students take advantage of the local organizations that the American Bar Association has to offer. Finally, Jones stressed the importance of keeping an open mind. "Don't strike anything out before you actually try it because you don't know if you'd actually enjoy it," he said.
After sharing their experiences, the law students were asked questions by McKendree faculty members, including inquiries relating to preparing for the LSATs and what McKendree could have done to help them feel more prepared for law school. After a long and thoughtful pause, each law student opined that they felt prepared to tackle the challenges of law school, thanks to McKendree faculty members, their curricula and their guidance.
