Hands-on experiences at Brandeis influenced career path for 2016 alumna

Emily Meador has always been interested in criminal and family law, and thanks to several public service opportunities during law school, she now has practical experience in those fields.

"I pretty much worked my entire law school career to help indigent clients — and I've done it in a courtroom. Doing all this has solidified that this is what I want to do," Meador said.

"I made sure that I went to a school that had some sort of hands-on experience," she said. "Brandeis, with the fellowships that they have and the public service opportunities, has really offered that experience.”

Brandeis Law was one of the first law schools in the country to make community service a requirement of graduation, with students being mandated to complete at least 30 hours of law-related public service as part of the Samuel L. Greenebaum Public Service Program.

The Brandeis Law Class of 2016 completed 9,867.25 total public service hours, averaging out to more than 57 hours per student.

In addition to a stint in the legal department at the Louisville Metro Human Relations Commission, Meador spent two summers with the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy, first as a legal intern and then as a law clerk.

As an intern, she shadowed an attorney who handled juvenile cases in the Bullitt County trial office, going to court with him four days a week and helping write motions, conduct research, gather discovery and prepare witnesses.

"I got to see all the inner workings of the courtroom, which was really interesting," Meador said.

In her second summer, she was a law clerk in the same office and got a limited practice license. She worked with attorneys on the circuit and district court docket, helping clients enter pleas in front of the judge and serving as second chair for two trials.

Meador's limited license is good until she sits for the bar exam in July, and she's working on two cases right now. She hopes to pursue a career helping clients who can't help themselves.

"Knowing that you're making a difference and you're helping someone through the worst parts in their lives is great," Meador said. "I don't think I would've gotten that anywhere other than Brandeis."