Pre-Law Students Receive Advice from Catherine Carroll, This Year’s Baxter-Ward Fellow
In addition to a public speech given about the rule of law, Baxter-Ward fellow Catherine Carroll met with William & Mary undergraduate students interested in pursuing a law degree. On Wednesday, April 4th, Carroll and approximately twenty students ate a Government Department-sponsored breakfast together while discussing the pros and cons of a legal career: getting into and enjoying law school, types of law firms, the importance of pro bono work, and much more.
During her undergraduate years, Carroll was always interested by the law but unsure that a legal career could quench her many different academic passions. “I was a militant generalist,” she said. She eventually settled on studying law at the University of Michigan because she could simultaneously pursue post-secondary political science education there. At WilmerHale, the large and prestigious law firm where she is partner-in-charge of the Washington, D.C. office, Carroll focuses mostly on “appellate-ish” questions. With the help of a fantastic team, she tries to solve problems dealing with intricate legal processes during post-trial procedures.
Students appreciated the time (and free breakfast) they were able to share with Carroll. “After hearing about Ms. Carroll’s incredible work, I thought she’d be stiff and intimidating. But despite being one of the top lawyers in the country, she was approachable, understanding, conversational, and candid,” said junior Leah Dillard. “I learned so much from her.”
