Hello everyone, my name is Aderinsola Fatungase. I am a Political Science Major, with a Minor in Economics, class of 2025. I am thrilled to be serving as the Treasurer of the Pre-Law Society (PLS) 2024-2025. In addition to the Pre-Law Society, I will be serving as the Public Relations Director of the African Student Association for the 2024-2025 academic year.
I would like to share my pre-law journey with you all. While my passion for law began long before Loyola, I became heavily invested in pursuit of this path at Loyola with the advising and support of Dr. Beverlin. From 2022, I volunteered regularly with you all at the Maryland Criminal Expungement Clinic. I acquired a healthy attachment to this Clinic due to its impact on Baltimore Residents. During my sophomore year, I worked as a Research Intern for a Think Tank known as The Independence Institute, on a Second Amendment Project. Throughout this semester (Spring 2024), I worked as a Youth Case Management and Intake Services Intern for the IRC, a humanitarian organization in Baltimore that deals with immigration law. I provided support to survivors of human trafficking, and various clients that emigrated due to state crisis or fear of persecution. These experiences not only exposed me to numerous areas of law, but gave me the opportunity to support individuals during life-changing stages of their lives. Patience and enthusiasm kept me consistent through my different stages at Loyola. I am glad to be a part of the Pre-Law Society E-board and I hope to see you all during the Pre-Law Society events of 2024-2025.
Sincerely,
Aderinsola Fatungase Mariam
I want to thank everyone for making this first year of the Pre-Law newsletter a success. It wouldn’t be possible without the amazing interviewing and writing skills of Terrene Obuah (PLS Secretary) and Jayde Defares (Pre-Law work study). We appreciate the insights Terrene and Jayde provide from our distinguished alumni, all while being concise. Thank you both. You’ve blazed the trail for future years. Lastly, this would not have been possible without the design work of Lori Neikirk. Lori has been invaluable behind the scenes of the Pre-Law program and will be sorely missed when she leaves after this academic year. Best wishes to you in whatever is next Lori!
In this issue we feature interviews with recent Political Science alumni Robert Handler (’23) and Olivia Goughan (’22), as well as Michael D’Imperio (’02, Psychology), and Pre-Law Advisory Board members Julianne and Darryl Tarver. Whether you attended their talks or not, do check out their words of wisdom found below. It’s great to have such a range of voices, from current students to attorneys in different practice areas. These people are eager to help you out, so if you’d like their direct contact information, please let me know.
Something Rob Handler emphasized is the “imposter syndrome” rampant among first year law students. One way to tackle that problem early is to expose yourself to legal environments. This can be through an internship or a part-time or summer job. Even short visits, such as the Pre-Law Society trip to Ballard Spahr a few weeks, can help you realize that you can and do fit into those situations.
Another bit of wisdom shared by our guests, is Michael D’Imperio’s suggestion to ask yourself “Why?” “Why do you want to be an attorney? Why do you want a law degree?” If you can’t answer “Why?”, or you don’t like the answer, those are good signs that waiting on law school might be best. Conversely, if you have a clear answer that you’re proud of, then law school could make sense. Michael is quick to credit his Jesuit education for that mission orientation. It’s great advice.
One way to engage in this thoughtful discernment is through law related coursework. Last time I checked there are still seats in my fall Judicial Process course (PS340). It provides an overview of the legal system including perspectives from judges. We read Gideon’s Trumpet and have an end of semester appellate argument. Could be a good fit.
Congratulations are due to Ryan Mason (’24, Political Science) who won this year’s Gerstung Award. Ryan was voted upon by a panel of Loyola alumni, faculty, and staff based upon his essay and superior academic track record. Judge Gerstung, in addition to his duties on the bench, taught in the Political Science Department. After many years of it sitting idle, we are proud to offer this award again and a sincere thanks to all of you who submitted entries.
Additionally, I want to congratulate the winners of this year’s Pre-Law Society officer elections. All officers were reelected, with the exception of Grace Dwan who is graduating with her History degree. Congratulations Liz, Brianna, and Terrene on your vote of confidence from the members! It’s a testament to your hard work and leadership. This excellence is reflected in your winning of the 2024 Community Engagement Award from the Office of Student Engagement. Replacing Grace as Treasurer is Aderinsola Fatungase (’25). Congratulations Derin!
Finally, next year the Pre-Law Society is initiating a peer mentoring program. If you are interested in serving as a mentor, please email PLS President Liz Kosik at emkosik@loyola.edu. All classes of students are welcome. More details on that to come in the months ahead.
Enjoy the summer and asking yourself “Why?” Hopefully on a beach somewhere far away from finals.
Prof. Beverlin
Matt Beverlin
Loyola Pre-Law Advisor
Political Science Department
February 2024
Robert graduated from Loyola in 2023 with a BA in Political Science with a minor in General Business. He is currently a first-year student at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
Olivia graduated from Loyola in 2022 with a BA in Political Science and a minor in Writing. She is currently a first-year student at the University of Baltimore School of Law.
1) What advice do you have for those putting together their law school application? Farrah Wright
Robert: My best advice would be to put your strongest foot forward. This can mean different things to different people, but most schools will look holistically at their applicants. It can be important to highlight your lived experiences, diversity, or obstacles you have overcome in the past. I would also advise students to reach out to the admissions office of their desired schools first. I would often send an email just asking to have a quick phone call or Zoom to talk about the law school. Aside from the obvious benefits of truly learning more about the program, most admissions officers love it and can really make your name stand out. Also, if applying to a school is prohibitively expensive, or you just want to save a few bucks, you can always just email and ask them for a fee waiver. It works surprisingly often.
Olivia: Have someone in the legal field or Dr. Beverlin look over your resume. Law schools/the legal field has a slightly different resume format than the traditional resume format. Also, demonstrate interest!! Schools really want to see that you are interested in their school and will likely attend if they admit you. Go visit, meet with an admissions officer, see if you can attend a class, etc. This is a really great way to build up your application. Unfortunately, a huge part of your application is your LSAT score and GPA but try to find ways to highlight all your other strengths in your personal statement and supplemental essays. It is a tough process but you are not alone. Dr. Beverlin helped me so much, lean on him!
2) In what ways did Loyola prepare you for law school?
Robert: Loyola prepared me in a great way for law school. I was a political science major, but the foundations within the core curriculum gave me numerous transferable skills. Loyola laid the foundation for my critical reading skills, clear and persuasive writing, as well as public speaking skills which were all very important to my success in law school.
Olivia: I think that the classes and professors I chose at Loyola helped prepare me for the professional environment of law school, the intense critical thinking, and strong writing skills. All of my political science classes (mainly taken with Professor Holc, Dr. Beverlin, Dr. Franz, and Dr. Hula) helped me develop great close reading skills. My con law class with Dr. Beverlin and my American politics classes have also been great background information to help me in my classes.
3) What has been the biggest adjustment?
Robert: Numerous adjustments can be quite significant in law school. A few that come to mind immediately are the competitive atmosphere, the increased need for time management skills, and the new and seemingly strange writing style. However, these adjustments are fed to you rather gradually and you are given many opportunities to learn from your mistakes. In addition, imposter syndrome is a serious plague that faces almost all of the 1L class. The admissions staff are very good at determining who can handle the rigors of the coursework. It is important to remember that you belong here.
Olivia: The workload and the level of preparedness you are expected to come to class with. It is not just reading and memorizing what was said in the cases, but it is a deep level of critical thinking and analysis. The other thing that is different from undergrad is the professionalism you are expected to have in class. People say that law school is like a 9-5 job, and it is. There are no extensions, no excuses for not doing your work, they treat you as if you are already an attorney filing documents with the court rather than submitting assignments. However, there is a balance of being supportive. Your professors know how tough adjusting to law school is and aren't insensitive to what is going on, but they want you to be prepared for the work field. The reputation you develop in law school sticks with you and it is critical to make sure that reputation is positive.
4) What factors were most important to you in deciding where to attend law school?
Robert: My two biggest factors were finances and rank. I believe that if I could go back in time, I would only really consider the financial aspects. Since attending law school I have learned that rank is not as important of a factor as it seems. Using Baltimore as an example, there are only two law schools in Maryland. Almost all of the legal jobs in Baltimore are supplied by these two schools and it is much less important which school is of the higher rank. In a bigger market, like New York City or Washington D.C., rank may be a more important consideration in your choice.
Olivia: The biggest factor for me was the location of the school because I have always been under the impression that where you go to school is where you will end up practicing. That is not to say at all you are stuck where you choose to go to school, but I wanted to pick a school that was in a city where I could start working and networking in during the school year without having to travel anywhere. I ended up staying in Baltimore because I really love this city and I already have such a great network that I have built the past few years. I also feel like I can get to other cities such as D.C. and New York fairly easily. But it is important to remember that firms in big cities that have a lot of law schools are often looking to hire from those schools.
5) Have the classes you've taken altered your area of interest in law?
Robert: This is a great question because it is so true that you cannot really know a section of the law until you explore it further. Coming into law school, I wanted to be a litigator. These plans quickly changed after I took Civil Procedure. Additionally, I thought Torts was only for ambulance chasers, but, surprisingly, I found Torts to be the most academically stimulating class yet. My advice would be to at least keep your mind open to different subject areas in law school and explore routes you may not have known about prior.
Olivia: Definitely! I have taken an interest in constitutional law and civil rights litigation. Before coming to law school, I worked in criminal defense for two years and my classes have reaffirmed that passion. I am excited to take my classes for next year which include Juvenile Justice, Maryland Criminal Practice, Evidence, Constitutional Criminal Law Procedure and Constitutional Law II. It will be tough but so interesting!
On February 20th, we welcomed Michael D’Imperio. Michael D’Imperio is a 2003 Loyola University Maryland alum with a B.A. in Psychology. Upon graduation, Michael served in the Jesuit Volunteer Corps based in San Diego, California before he embarked on a nearly 20-year journey in sales and operations. Thereafter, Michael attended Mitchell Hamline School of Law, graduating summa cum laude from the part-time hybrid program in June 2023. He now serves as an assistant state attorney in the child welfare division in the 6th Judicial Circuit in Florida. Michael and his wife have three children, including an 8-year-old with a rare genetic disorder. Being a dad to a special needs child is what motivated him to go to law school at a later stage of life. He attributes much of his success and desire to serve to the Jesuit values instilled in him during high school at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia and his years at Loyola.
Throughout the semester, I’ve written about the insight our guests have on getting into law school, advising students on everything regarding law school applications, selecting a law school, and most importantly, selecting a field of law. Michael reflects on his career and shares that what he does as an Assistant State Attorney isn’t a job just for anyone; Michael is constantly handling dependent cases, removing children from harmful situations (i.e. abuse, neglect, abandonment), and moving such cases forward with adoption or removal of parental rights. “The job is emotionally taxing,” he shares. “To tell someone ‘you’re no longer going to be a parent to this child,' it hurts, but it’s in the best interest of the child’s well-being and safety.” To do so, Michael acknowledges his background in psychology. Michael shares, “Black letter of the law absolutely matters. I’m an officer of the law, and I’m required to follow the law, but I certainly look at people and might give more latitude, (and) might look at things a little differently. Psychology has offered perspective.” Psychology has introduced a new way of thinking for Michael, and he encourages others to let it do the same for them.
While glancing back upon his past, Michael reassures students with seven words: “This journey doesn’t have to be linear.” He adds “I think my life experience has gotten me to the place where I can do this… I don’t think I would have been able to do this at 25.” As students surrounded by like-minded members in Pre-Law Society, there’s a notion to have to know everything; What law school will I go to? When will I go to law school? When will I start my LSAT Prep? What jobs will I get during law school? … and so forth. Before considering a career in law, or any career for that matter, Michael asks students to identify their why. Why law school? Why this branch of law? Why do you want to help people? Once you find and/or feel this answer, you’re another step closer to accomplishing your future goals. As the semester ends, I want to reassure the student reading this: you will figure it out; you’re already preparing yourself to do so. As cliché as it sounds, everything will work out the way it’s supposed to.
Key Quotes:
- “Don’t be afraid of failure.”
- “There’s not one path of law…there’s a lot of value in doing things in a non-traditional way.”
- “Grant yourself the experience to familiarize yourself with the legal field; not by studying, but rather having exposure to things. Have a foundation that isn’t from a textbook… go out there, see the real-world law and real-world experience!”
Thank you Psi Chi National Psychology Honors Society for collaborating with Pre-Law Society on this event! For any questions, concerns, or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at ntobuah@loyola.edu or Dr. Matt Beverlin, rmbeverlin@loyola.edu.
Julianne Tarver is Program Counsel for the Legal Services Corporation, where she performs federal investigations and educates attorneys in civil poverty law. Before joining the Legal Services Corporation, Julianne was the Director of Pro Bono at Maryland Legal Aid. Julianne earned her J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law and has a bachelor’s in political science and diplomacy from Seton Hall University. Julianne also has an M.B.A. from Georgetown and a Masters in War from the Naval War College.
Darryl Tarver is an Assistant United States Attorney in the District of Maryland, where he focuses on prosecuting fraud related to COVID-19 benefits and other government programs. Before joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in January 2021, Darryl spent several years in private practice with Venable and DLA Piper in Baltimore. Darryl earned his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law, and he has a Bachelor of Science in civil engineering from Washington University in St. Louis.
Darryl and Julianne are married and have two children and a French bulldog.
As lawyers, I wanted to reflect on Darryl and Julianne’s experience as being people of color in the field. Diversity in law firms is often referred to as “slow, but steady.” With upcoming generations, there’s more of a longing to help people and many of these people want to achieve this goal by becoming lawyers. As of 2022, of law firm associates, 28.3% of all associates were lawyers of color (ABA 2023). Darryl and Julianne both admit that being people of color in the field may be internally challenging at times, but it’s also important to note that each individual has met several qualifications to become a practicing attorney. Furthermore, in their careers now, the couple discussed their work-life balance as both parents and lawyers. Darryl, although fortunately able to join our event, revealed how “there isn’t necessarily a fixed amount of hours in what my schedule will look like. We’re currently getting ready for trial, for example, and I had to tell my partners that I’d be leaving to come and do this…but as soon as I get home, I’ll have to do more review.”
When I asked the Tarvers about their paths to law, there was yet another emphasis on a non-traditional approach. Julianne shared her early interest in law and getting involved within her community in her collegiate years. Darryl, however, had received his Bachelor of Science in civil engineering while studying in undergrad. With this, the couple reassured students by enforcing how time lies in a student’s hands, and there’s plenty of it. “You don’t have to know what you want to do quite yet,” Darryl announces. Julianne shares, “Yeah, exactly. You can always change the direction of what you’re doing. When you decide to go to law school, take your LSAT as soon as possible! If you decide to go to law school right after or soon thereafter Loyola, take the test as soon as you can because your score lasts for about three years and you may lose knowledge and test-taking skills the longer you wait.”
Thank you, Julianne, for volunteering yourself and your husband to share your valuable insight. For any questions, concerns, or comments, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at ntobuah@loyola.edu or Dr. Matt Beverlin, rmbeverlin@loyola.edu.
