What are your immediate career plans?
I will join Phelps Dunbar LLP to work as an associate attorney in the litigation group.
What are your long-term career aspirations?
As for now, I aspire to become an ethical and dynamic trial attorney. I am looking forward to learning what it takes to achieve the best results for my future clients. Further, I would like to continue dabbling in academic research, potentially in areas of national security law and cybersecurity.
Please tell us about the organizations and activities you participated in at LSU Law, including any awards or honors you received.
As a member of the Louisiana Law Review, I served as an Article Manager for Volume 82 and an Articles Editor for Volume 83. During my time as an editor for the Louisiana Law Review, my comment entitled “Understanding Self-Imposed Limitations on the Executive as Meaningful Restrictions on Authorizations for the Use of Military Force (AUMFs)” was published in Issue I of Volume 83.
Additionally, on behalf of the Louisiana Law Review, I had the privilege of planning and hosting the first in-person symposium since the COVID-19 pandemic. The symposium entitled, “Let’s Get Fiscal: Contemporary Considerations in Taxation and the Law” featured tax professionals from across the country.
While at LSU Law, I received CALI awards in Constitutional Law I, U.S. Foreign Affairs, and International Law in U.S. Courts.
Finally, I was honored to represent LSU Law as a member of the Jessup Moot Court Team, where I had the opportunity to compete in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
Please tell us about any LSU Law faculty, classes, or other experiences that were particularly impactful on your legal education.
One of the most impactful experiences of my legal education was having the opportunity to write a student comment for the Louisiana Law Review. Professor Scott Sullivan was gracious enough to serve as my advisor for the piece. His input was invaluable. Overall, the writing process was one of the greatest challenges I faced in law school, but it has made me a stronger writer and a more efficient researcher. I hope to utilize these skills in my future legal practice.
What are your fondest memories from your time at LSU Law?
My fondest memories at LSU Law were the moments I spent with the friends I made along the way. Whether it was staying up all night to study or celebrating the end of a difficult week, the people you choose to surround yourself with in law school really can make all of the difference.
What advice would you give to students entering law school who aspire to become an Order of the Coif member when they graduate?
It is so easy to get caught up in the competition and the conversation about grades and ranks. Just don’t do it. Success in law school is not a “one size fits all.” During my first semester in law school, I had some of the worst cold call experiences. One of my friends used to tell incoming 1L students not to worry about how bad their cold calls were because “if Fallon could make good grades after her cold calls, anyone could do it.”
The point is this: Take a deep breath after the hard moments and move forward. Make mistakes, ask the questions you need answers to, find what works for you, walk away from situations that are discouraging, and don’t let the small missteps define your law school experience.
This experience is not easy, and it is not always linear. Study in a way that you find meaningful, utilize the resources LSU Law makes available to you, and take this opportunity to learn, be present, and build relationships. Don’t spend three years of your life playing the comparison game and crunching numbers. You really will miss out.
