Profile - Andrea Dunuwila '09

Undergraduate School: Johns Hopkins University  Hometown: Manilus, New York Law school matched my academic and professional interests. I knew I didn't want to take time off between undergrad and grad school, but I also wasn't interested in committing myself to a narrow field of study like I would likely have had to if I had chosen to pursue a Master's or Ph.D. I saw a legal education as the best way to develop my academic interests and obtain the necessary training to put those interests to practical use in the workplace. Although W&L was not at the top of my list when I was applying to law school, I am so glad I ended up here. In addition to geography, price and ranking, W&L was appealing to me for its atmosphere. Thanks to W&L's honor system and strong history, traditions and alumni network, being a W&L Law graduate means more than just having a strong legal background—it indicates a commitment to and understanding of ethical practice and honorable behavior.

What was your favorite classroom experience?

One of my favorite classroom experiences was preparing for and giving Oral Arguments in Professor Carodine's Civil Procedure II class. Professor Carodine had been a law clerk and litigator before she started teaching, so she knew how valuable it would be to expose us in our 1L year to the practical side of Civil Procedure— putting together a persuasive argument through brief writing and oral argument. I'd never really considered litigation before my experience in her class, but now I'm definitely leaning towards litigation as opposed to transactional work.

Who's your favorite professor?

My favorite professor is Professor Howard, who taught my Contracts and Legal Writing classes first semester, 1L year. Professor Howard is a brilliant legal mind and practitioner, but she was also a phenomenal teacher. Her class was a great blend of theoretical, practical and hypothetical teaching, her style was fast-paced but well-organized and comprehensive, and her objective was both intellectual and personal growth.

What's your favorite thing about Lexington?

The community. Lexington reminds me a lot of the town in which I grew up. There are so many advantages to going to law school in a small town—the cost of living is very low, but the quality of life is excellent.

What student organizations are you involved with?

Being an Executive Committee honor advocate has been a particularly meaningful experience. Having the opportunity to help students who have been charged with honor violations to present their cases to the EC is always interesting and rewarding. Although the role of an honor advocate is far removed from that of an attorney, being an honor advocate has helped with client counseling skills and makes me feel like I'm helping to ensure that the student-run honor system continues to function properly at W&L.

How has W&L prepared you to meet the challenges of the practical, work-related experiences you've had during your time in law school?

W&L helped prepare me for my 1L summer, which I spent doing government contracting, employment and fiscal law issues for the Office of Counsel at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Transatlantic Programs Center. Thanks to my first year at W&L, I felt confident enough in my writing and research skills to jump right into substantive work assignments. Interestingly enough, W&L also helped with intangible professional skills that allowed me to assimilate into the workplace environment quickly and make a positive impression during the short time I was with the office.