Our alumni are really, in some ways, our best ambassadors. One of the top reasons that a student chooses to matriculate at the law school is that they've had a positive experience with a Mercer lawyer. We have almost 7000 living alums throughout Georgia, across the United States and around the world. In each community in which they choose to be a member, they make contributions in a number of different ways.
There's not been a single job interview day in court or just day at work in general, where I don't meet someone that went to Mercer or knows about the reputation Mercer law has and to me that's very important going into the profession.
Every time I think about Mercer, I think about the people. I think about the alumni, the students, the faculty, it was a very cooperative environment. We wanted to see each other do well, I give back because I think it's important. You know, somebody did that for me, when I go down there, I want to make sure that the next generation has an opportunity to see what the real practice of law is like.
The comfort that having such a vast alumni network to choose from and kind of dig into their ideas and maybe connect with later down the line was something that comforted me, the fact that I could have such an ample amount of resources and alumni to reach out to and connect with later in the future was a, really an asset and a major factor in my decision to come here.
The benefit, I think, of Mercer, is the is the network of people that you meet. These are students who come from all over if you've got a client that has an issue in Augusta, well, I know somebody that I went to law school that lives in Augusta, and so when I'm needing to know more about that local judge, I can reach out to those people. You just can't beat those relationships that you get at a place like Mercer.
I've been deeply motivated to return to the law school, to spend my time there and to really invest in students, because I felt truly invested in while I was there, Mercer law made me feel very much worthy and able to do everything I do today. For a long time, I felt pretty aimless, and at Mercer not only did I get more direction and more clarity on what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be and as an attorney, but I also had a number of people cheering for me in the background, and that, to someone impressionable and stress, is huge. It can make a huge difference.
They remember what it was like to be a law student, and they really want to help the students in their professional journey. One way in which they do that is they are very open to serving as a mentor. So if a student has a question, they really do invite them to send an email or to pick up a phone call. That gives a certain comfort for those students to be able to approach those alums and see what was their career path like.
I'm really passionate about helping people. I think that that is what has led me to the Air Force. Has led me to be a special trial counsel, and I like to give back. My favorite thing is starting conversations with stressed out students and helping them unwind and see that there's more to law school, there's more to this class, there's more to life than just what they're stressed about, and then seeing them come through where they've gotten a hold on things and they're seeing it through.
Mercer law has such an incredibly strong alumni network. I'm also an alum, and it's really nice to be able to say that I truly believe in our alumni network, as an alum and as someone who reaches out to our alumni network on a daily basis, easily, to reach out and connect them with students on practice areas and advice our alums are an incredibly strong part of Mercer law and how we are able to reach the new generation of lawyers.
