Kassie McDonald

Cara Benjamin

Favorite Class

Legal Research and Writing

Why Champlain for studying Law?

Champlain’s Law program feels so unique compared to other tracks in the legal field. Instead of focusing my time on the idea of justice and legal philosophy, I’m learning how to write legal memorandums, file motions with the court, and present an effective oral argument in the realms of civil, criminal, probate and family court.

What has Burlington added to your overall education and personal and professional development?

Part of why I chose Burlington is that it doesn’t really feel like a city compared to most other college towns. I grew up in Vermont and always saw Burlington as a big place. After coming to Champlain, I learned it’s a pretty close-knit, supportive community. The amount of small businesses helped me to appreciate the work-ethic of our small state. The views of Lake Champlain from campus can be stunning. It’s a welcoming place, and it doesn’t just feel like I’m here to be solely at school.

How prepared do you think you are for life after Champlain, both in your future career and day-to-day life?

Not only do I think I have the necessary skills to move into the legal field, I’ve been able to network within the Vermont legal community. It’s reassuring to know that Vermont has been supportive of the program. I’ve walked into job interviews where employers are already aware of Champlain’s curriculum and the experience students gain, and they’re enthusiastic about it. That reassurance helps me professionally and has boosted my confidence about leaving academia.

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Caitlin Blanchette

Travel Course

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Internship

Fundraising & Programming Intern at the Peace & Justice Center in Burlington, VT

Favorite Class

Social Justice: Oppression and Empowerment

Post-Grad Job

Master’s degree candidate in Public Policy

What made you choose your major?

I chose Law because I was not sure what I wanted my career to be, but I saw Law as an option that would open many doors. I knew I wanted to make a difference, and I had—and still have—a lot of areas of interest, from women’s rights to criminal justice reform. An undergraduate degree in Law would prepare me for many different career options.

What was your best Core experience?

In my second year, I took two Core classes with a focus on West African religion and art. At the end of the semester, we got the opportunity to travel to Zanzibar, an archipelago outside of Tanzania. We were able to really appreciate the history we’d been learning about. The best outcome of that trip was the creation of Techdren, a Champlain student-led nonprofit that returns regularly to Zanzibar to distribute technology to local schools.

Are you involved with any extracurricular activities?

I started playing rugby with the Women’s Rugby team and knew little about the sport, but I quickly fell in love with it. I missed being on a team sport and instantly found a family in rugby. I became treasurer and helped to raise $2,000 for the men’s and women’s teams. Now I’m a team captain, and I look forward to playing rugby after college, too.

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Maggie Hufnagel

Favorite Class

Torts

Talk a bit about your classes. What projects, subjects, or experiences have had an impact on you? How does that apply to your field?

I have really enjoyed the immersive aspect of my law classes. We regularly read and annotate cases or write legal briefs, just as we would in a true practice. But it’s the near-acting experiences that mean the most. Having worked on a case all semester in the newly formed Appellate Advocacy class, everyone was instructed to do all of the research, create a brief, and perform an oral argument to a panel of judges (other law professors) as if we were presenting to the Supreme Court. Assignments like this occur in all divisions, as there is such an emphasis on exposing students to the realities and logistics of their chosen fields. It makes the future less scary in the sense that now I have a stronger grasp on how to conduct myself in similar situations.

How have you benefited from the Upside-Down Curriculum so far?

The Upside-Down Curriculum, for me, is the most beneficial part of the Champlain College experience. Being able to work toward my goals every single day since I have started college has only heightened my drive. I now have a much better idea of what being a law student or lawyer entails. There is always an idealized version of whatever dream job you have, and the Upside-Down Curriculum grounds that, while still maintaining the love for the subject you have when entering college.

Have you had opportunities to apply what you’ve learned in your major to experiences outside the classroom?

I participated in the Elevator Pitch competition on campus two years in a row, and this year I won first place in my category. My major focuses a lot on research, preparation, and composure—all of which allowed me to prepare and perform stronger each time I participated in the competition.

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Maggie Maloney

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Emma Santos

Internship

Intern at Champlain College Prisoner Rights Law Initiative in Burlington, VT

What made you choose Champlain's Law major?

I knew that I wanted to study law and that I was passionate about it, but law as an undergraduate bachelor’s degree does not exist in collegiate institutions as a mainstream degree. Champlain’s Law major is the only one of Division of Information Technology & Sciences kind that I am aware of. We assume in the United States that you’ll wait until law school to study the law, but I didn’t want to wait, and Champlain provided me with that opportunity.

What has your internship experience been like?

I intern at the Champlain College Prisoner Rights Law Initiative, one of the few of Division of Information Technology & Sciences kind at the undergraduate level. One of my professors is the sole legal educator within the prisons of the state of Vermont. Together, we visit prisons across Vermont and teach classes on different legal subjects, including sentencing, probation, and parole. We also attend law library sessions at the different facilities to help inmates conduct legal research. Being able to teach and interact with this population in a positive way has been a dream opportunity.

Did you study abroad?

Twice. During my sophomore year, I took Heroes and Heroines: The Arabian Nights, and as part of the class we traveled to Jordan over spring break. This was my first time on a plane and going to another country. I had the most incredible time visiting ancient Roman ruins, riding camels in the desert, and swimming in the Dead Sea.
Then the summer after my sophomore year, I studied abroad at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, for two months, during which time I took two classes. I had a wonderful time, filled with exploration and educational experiences that I will always cherish.

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Chloe Thenor

Internship

Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office

Why does your field, Law, matter?

I was always drawn to the field of law ever since I was young. I believe that the field of law is important because we need more lawyers in the world to help society determine right from wrong and to help those who are innocent gain a voice and speak their stories against injustice.

So far, what classes, projects, subjects, or experiences have been the most meaningful or impactful?

The class that had the most impact on me was public speaking. In order to be a lawyer, you have to be able to speak loudly, clearly, and be convincing. I can’t say that I have gotten over the fear of public speaking, but I can say that I have learned some new tips to help me while making speeches and arguments.

How has Champlain helped you feel ready for post-grad life?

When I leave after graduation I want to be ready for exactly what I am getting into. I don’t want to go into law school and feel like this is not my life passion because then it would feel like a waste. Champlain has helped by giving me a taste of the classes I would take in law school during undergrad and it even helped me dial back the exact fields I want to go into.

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Aidan Wasserman

Internship

Prison Law Initiative with Professor Stephen Miller

Have you had opportunities to apply what you’ve learned in your major to experiences outside the classroom?

I got to work with Professor Stephen Miller on his Champlain Prison Law Initiative, where students go into Vermont prisons and teach legal education courses to incarcerated individuals. I helped teach an evidence course and a more general intro to law course, both of which helped me grow my own knowledge base by preparing to teach, as well as gave me a perspective into prisons in Vermont. Meeting incarcerated individuals helped me humanize and conceptualize the overarching realization that people in prison are the same as any of us. They may have made one mistake, and while it might have been a really bad mistake, they still deserve support, empathy, friendship, and love.

Have you worked on-campus in either a part-time or work-study position?

I’ve worked on campus for the Admissions Office as a Student Ambassador since my second year. Through that job, I’ve become better at speaking on behalf of the causes I represent. I’ve become more aware of how marketing works and how the inner workings of colleges can function. I’ve also met numerous people that have become my friends for life, and I can’t imagine who I’d be without their influence.I also worked for the Student Government Association for three of my four years at Champlain. I served as a First-Year Representative and a Representative for the Division of Education and Human Studies. Both of these positions helped me grow in terms of how I interact with other representatives and do what I think is best for the students I represent.

How have you benefited from the Upside-Down Curriculum?

The Upside-Down Curriculum is around 60 percent of what drew me to Champlain. I truly don’t understand how other schools can possibly justify not allowing you to know if the major you choose is a mistake or not until it’s nearly too late to change. I personally was very lucky to choose correctly, but I’ve had friends switch majors once or twice to find things that they have a genuine passion for and can pursue careers in.

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Kathryn Young

Internship

Data Science Intern at Social Sentinel Inc. in Burlington, VT

Post-Grad Job

Analyst at Social Sentinel Inc. in Burlington, VT

How is the Law degree at Champlain unique?

The curriculum at Champlain is very similar to what you see on a law school website. I was able to go into my internship in Philadelphia the summer after my sophomore year, where I worked in this big-city law firm in business litigation, bankruptcy law, and civil litigation, and I knew what I was being asked to do. After the courses at Champlain, law school becomes sort of “Law School 2.0” by the time you get there.

Can you tell us about the Signature Courses in the Division of Education & Human Studies (EHS) Division?

Last year in the EHS Signature Course, I took a Social Justice Intensive class. Like most classes at Champlain, it was discussion-based. You’re not reading a book, so there’s no opportunity to miss the reading and stay back and be quiet. You really get engaged. You talk about social justice, current events, racial equality, and problems and topics that are really relevant to what’s happening in our country today, right now. It inspires students and you find that spark. You find that passion.

The EHS motto is "We Do Good Work." Can you elaborate on that?

I think that “We Do Good Work” especially ties in with the EHS Signature Courses because they want you to develop as a person. Champlain isn’t about building robots. Nothing about Champlain is generic. The college wants you to develop critical thinking skills. Maybe you’ve come from a high school that didn’t challenge you. Champlain will fix that really quickly.

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