Law school targets overachieving students

Mon, November 2, 2009 |

Growing up in a neighborhood on Chicago's West Side where violence, drug abuse and broken families were commonplace, Valparaiso University law student Quandra Speights knew at an early age that helping people in challenging circumstances would be an essential aspect of her life.

"I wanted to help all the children in the world living in tough situations," Speights said. "My mom said a great way to do that was to become a judge, so my dream of going to law school was born then."

This fall, Speights is following her dream at Valparaiso's School of Law (http://www.valpo.edu/law), where a calling to serve the public good serves as the foundation of the school's mission.

Curt Cichowski, associate dean for administration at the School of Law, said that a commitment to law as a calling has shaped the school's recruitment strategy and helped boost the diversity of its student body. Rather than looking at just LSAT scores, he said the school focuses on students who are high achievers in academics and in life.

"We decided that we should enroll students who were excelling in school and in life," Cichowski said. "These students are hard workers, great people who want to serve the public good as lawyers, and they are the type of person you really want working for you."

Speights is starting law school after 10 years as a human resources professional, and her background is typical of the unique work and volunteer experiences of Valparaiso's law class of 2012.

She has served as a spokesperson for the United Negro College Fund, talking to children at under-resourced schools and raising money for the organization, and volunteered at Project Brotherhood, a free health clinic for uninsured men in Chicago, among a variety of other service activities. After talking to a graduate of Valparaiso's School of Law about its commitment to service and strong sense of community, Speights decided that the time was right to pursue her law school dream.

"As a lawyer I can really make a positive impact on the lives of many people and I knew Valparaiso would be a great place for me to learn and grow," Speights said. "There are a lot of impoverished communities that are similar to the neighborhood where I grew up, with people who would benefit so much from legal assistance. I look forward to giving back after I graduate."

Other first-year law students at Valparaiso include eight military veterans and another five who have worked as police officers or on a rescue squad, three individuals who worked full-time in the 2008 presidential campaign and five who have served as interns at the White House or in Congress. Other entering students have worked as social service or child welfare case managers or public school teachers, and many have volunteered extensively for organizations such as the Red Cross, Habitat or Humanity, Amnesty International and the Special Olympics.

The focus on achievement also has helped Valparaiso's School of Law attract the most diverse class of students in its history, with nearly 27 percent of first-year law students being members of historically under-represented minorities in the legal profession.

"It's great news for our law school and the University as a whole to welcome these high-achieving students who also will enhance the diversity of the legal profession," Cichowski said.

Diann Lapin, executive director of admissions at the School of Law, noted that Valparaiso's first-year law students possess a diverse array of leadership and management experiences, including three students who created their own businesses. Other students entering the School of Law this fall include students who have conducted research on AIDS, toxicology and social cognition; the author of a science fiction novel; several actors; and a former member of the Los Angeles Flute Orchestra.

More information about Valparaiso's 2009 entering class is available online at http://www.valpo.edu/law/admissions/enteringclass-profile.php.