KU Law Blog

Graduate Profile: Olivia Black, L’22

Student leader reflects on 6^th Semester Program, hands-on experiences at KU Law

For her final semester of law school, Olivia Black joined nine classmates in Washington, D.C. for the 6^th Semester in D.C. Program. Developing friendships with her cohort and connecting with KU Law alumni in the D.C. area has created some of Black’s favorite law school memories, she said.

“The 6^th Semester in D.C. program is an amazing program. I worked at the National Association of Attorneys General, and worked on forthcoming important issues. I gained knowledge about cryptocurrency and sports betting legalization during my internship and hope to carry it into my legal practice,” Black said. “More students should take advantage of the program.”

Photo courtesy of Olivia Black.

Black’s 6^th Semester experience caps off a law school career that has included time representing KU Law in national business law competitions, leading student organizations and mentoring peers. Black will graduate in May with her J.D. and Certificate in Business and Commercial Law.

Originally from Wichita, Black earned her undergraduate degree in health science from Wichita State University. She chose KU Law because it was close to home and had smaller class sizes – and KU basketball.

At Green Hall, Black was a student leader involved in the Black Law Students Association, OUTLaws & Allies and the Dean’s Fellows. She was a co-head Dean’s Fellow this year, providing mentorship, academic support and guidance to first-year students.

Black competed in two national transactional law competitions through the Polsinelli Transactional Law Center, including The Closer, an invitation-only competition hosted by Baylor Law. As a second-year student, Black and two teammates participated in the UCLA School of Law Transactional Law Competition, winning a first-place award for Best Draft and second-place awards for Best Negotiation and Best Overall. Adjunct instructor and Polsinelli shareholder Bill Quick coached both competitions, along with professors Lua Yuille and Kelley Sears.

“I sat under Bill’s guidance for two years, and during that time, he taught me invaluable negotiating and transactional legal skills. Thanks, Bill!” Black said.

Hands-on experiences including the Medical-Legal Partnership Field Placement and the Judicial Field Placement “prepared me for the workforce,” Black said. She interned with Judge Rhonda Mason of the Johnson County District Court, learning several writing strategies which “contributed to my legal analysis and writing,” she said.

“I participated in the Medical-Legal Partnership with Miss Juliann Morland DaVee. We worked closely with clients at Lawrence Memorial Hospital to address legal issues caused by societal shortcomings. She even assigned me several clients’ cases as if I were a young associate,” Black said.

After graduation, Black will join the law firm Hite, Fanning & Honeyman in her hometown.

“I am excited to return to Wichita and make a positive impact using my legal skills in the Wichita community,” Black said. “Before COVID-19, I had no plans to return to Wichita; now, I am excited to return to my beloved city and build my legal practice.”

— By Margaret Hair

This post is the first in a series highlighting a few of the exceptional members of KU Law’s Class of 2022. Stay tuned for more profiles as we celebrate this year’s graduating class.

Law school is NOT your life

Law school is your life – this is what I was told on my first day of orientation. Throughout my summer and for part of my fall semester, law school was my life, but it would not always be.

In my 1L fall semester, I lost two of my closest family members over the course of five weeks. Halfway across the country from my family and hometown, I was devastated. In October, I went to my Tata’s funeral and felt like I was choosing between my family and law school. I felt guilty for not staying in Texas longer to be with my family to honor his memory, and I felt guilty for not studying more. In November, my Tio unexpectedly died of a heart attack — a week before finals. I was forced to miss his funeral due to finals but was able to spend some time grieving with my family and helping with funeral arrangements.

Olivia Almirudis Schneider with her late Tata and her Abuelita at her college graduation.

It was at this moment of great loss I realized that law school is NOT my life. In the midst of the pressures and stressors of law school, I started to see myself as just a law student or a number on a class rank. But I intentionally shifted my mentality to see law school as part of my life that I celebrate and cherish, and I stopped seeing it as my all-consuming identity.

When we start thinking of ourselves as a number instead of as a whole person, we lose sight of what truly matters in life. My late Tata often reminded me, “Always remember, wherever you are, that you are an Almirudis.” I want to pass on this wisdom to every single law student: always remember who you are and don’t let law school change you to be someone you’re not. You can do that by remembering the three Cs: culture, character and challenge.

1. Remember your culture.

Olivia Almirudis Schneider and her husband — Olivia Almirudis Schneider’s husband is an active supporter in her journey to becoming an attorney.

As the daughter of an immigrant, I stand on the shoulders of generations of beautiful, hard-working people who fought and sacrificed to make my dream possible. My Abuelita would have never imagined that her granddaughter would be able to study to be an attorney. Never forget that your privilege is another’s dream.

2. Remember your personal character.

With my faith background and Hispanic upbringing, my cultural context and values look different than many of my classmates, but this is a beautiful thing. Professor Levy often says that the law is one big, beautiful tapestry that should be cherished, and the same is true for law school classmates. We are one big, beautiful tapestry of people with differing belief systems that need to be highlighted and cherished. Stay true to yourself and don’t change for anyone.

3. Remember to challenge everything you hear.

Olivia Almirudis Schneider's dogs — *Olivia Almirudis Schneider*‘s pups make adorable company while she studies.

Everyone’s law school experience is different. Throughout orientations, meetings and conversations, you will hear a variety of ranging opinions on classes, classmates, professors and law school in general. Choose to see the best in everyone and try to keep an open mind. I was told that law school would be the three most miserable years of my life, and for me, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

So, make sure that law school is not your life. Choose, every single day, to remember your culture, and stay true to your character and challenge yourself to live your best law school life.

–By Olivia Almirudis Schneider, a 1L from San Antonio, Texas and KU Law Student Ambassador

Mentorship Matters

At times, your 1L year can be overwhelming. As such, advice from those who have experienced it is invaluable. Mentorship opportunities have made my first year of law school much smoother and more fulfilling. I want to share five mentorship opportunities to take advantage of during your 1L year:

Karlie Bischoff, 1L Student Ambassador

1. Official mentorship

At the beginning of my fall semester, the Career Services Office matched interested students with mentor attorneys from the community. I received three mentors and have enjoyed learning about their careers and daily work lives in their respective fields. All three taught me about careers that I did not even know existed, allowing me to further explore my own future. Additionally, they have introduced me to other attorneys in the community that share similar interests.

2. KU faculty

One thing that continually impresses me is my professors’ availability and willingness to meet outside of class to discuss course material, answer questions and share career advice. Professors and other faculty have helped tremendously in providing guidance on career options, extracurricular involvement, course offerings and general methods to succeed in law school.

3. Older students

Formally and informally, 2Ls and 3Ls are a great resource for learning about class preparation and summer internship options. My 1L small section has two Dean’s Fellows, Sarah and Jacob, who give us advice, motivate us and answer our questions that we don’t want to ask anybody else. Both peers have helped greatly in teaching me about exam preparation, outlining and managing study time effectively.

4. Informal mentorship

Some of the best guidance that I have received in law school has been through attorneys who I met outside of law school through previous jobs, family friends and mutual connections. At the end of my first semester of law school, my Lawyering Skills professor challenged each of us to reach out to an attorney who we know over winter break and ask them to meet for coffee. I accepted that challenge and met with a couple of attorneys in Kansas City. It was a helpful experience both in learning about career opportunities and growing my network.

5. My classmates

Finally, I learned an incredible amount from my classmates during my first year of law school. Each of us came to KU Law with unique backgrounds and perspectives, and we all have something to contribute and teach each other. A large portion of my time is spent with my small section, so being surrounded by encouraging, supportive and interesting peers has been a crucial part of staying afloat during my first year of law school.

-By Karlie Bischoff, a 1L from Kansas City and KU Law Student Ambassador

Why am I doing this?

Keeping up with your “why” through 1L

“Why am I doing this?”

At some point during your 1L year, this thought will cross your mind. Maybe you’ll be pouring over a massive outline for finals, trying to figure out how to get everything into your head for tomorrow. Maybe it’ll be on a random evening where you had unexpected car trouble and didn’t get started on your homework until well after dark. Maybe it’ll just be an average Friday, where you’re exhausted and just want to lie in bed, but you have class.

In those moments where you may question your choice, knowing your “why” gets you through the tough moments and into the good.

Libby, Rohr, 1L Student Ambassador

Chances are you have some sense of your “why” because you applied to law school in the first place. It could have to do with your skill set, the importance of law or even a particular issue you believe you can help with a law degree.

Ask yourself this question on the front end and run with it. Come up with as many reasons as you can. Pair your reasons with specific and concrete moments that you can recall later. Commit them to memory. I keep a list in my desk.

But you should go beyond that, especially during your 1L year. You’re going to be busy, of course, but you will have time if you make it. Some of the best advice I received coming into law school was to maintain at least one grounding activity or hobby unrelated to law school. You probably don’t want to be committed to an additional 20 hours per week on day one. (The rumors are true. You do need sleep!) But keeping up with things you love outside of school is a great way to keep yourself grounded.

If you came to school to support a cause, try volunteering with a local charity a few hours a month. If you came because you love to read and solve puzzles, take some time to read whatever silly novel you want or dig into a crossword puzzle on a Sunday. If it was about a career where you get to connect with people, make sure you’re still doing that. Take time for lunch or go meet people on the weekends. If you love to write, try some poetry.

When you nurture your “why,” you can reinvigorate yourself in the moments when you feel like you’re pouring from an empty cup. The law is so important – and I think so worth it to study – but it is inherently removed from reality at times. It’s easy to drown in the paper and forget. Keeping connected to “the point” – whatever that may be for you – will help you persevere until you get back to those good moments. Until you get to study a case you really care about, or you see your pro bono efforts pay off for your clients, or you have that next deep discussion in class, a good reminder never hurts.

-By Libby Rohr, a 1L from Leawood and KU Law Student Ambassador

A brief introduction to stress baking, featuring Brett’s Final Exam Cookie Recipe

Allow me to make a few educated guesses. As prospective law students, you undoubtedly have watched enough videos and read enough blog posts to conclude that law school can get bumpy at times. If that’s the case, then I am 100%, without a doubt, positively sure that those same videos have also suggested you find a hobby to take your mind off school, so you can survive and thrive. Am I on to something?

Brett Hallagan, 2L Student Ambassador

Taking one more guess, I am sure you are also thinking to yourself, “Why do these recipes always have to have a life story before the ingredients list?” Well, if I got any of those guesses right, might I suggest stress baking!

De-stress baking, or stress baking for short, is a wonderful and delicious hobby that will not only help you relax during those stressful times in a semester but also reward your efforts with delicious snacks to fuel your late-night study sessions. To get you started on your culinary journey to bliss, I have included my coveted Finals Exam Cookie Recipe, and I am revealing all my tips and tricks.

Brett’s Final Exam Cookies

Ingredients (approx. 16 cookies)

½ cup unsalted butter, melted (or room temp)
1 cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons baking sugar (or granulated)
1 egg (room temperature)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
¾ cup bread flour (this can also be all-purpose flour)
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
½ tablespoon sea salt
1 tablespoon espresso powder
chocolate chips to preference (I use about 1 cup)

Step 1

Grease a cookie sheet or use a silicone baking sheet.

Step 2

In a bowl, sift together the flour(s), baking powder, baking soda, salt and espresso powder.

Step 3

In a separate bowl or stand mixer, mix the melted butter and sugars until creamy and smooth. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until creamy. Now, slowly incorporate your sifted dry mixture. Once fully incorporated, add chocolate chips to your heart’s content.

Step 4

Scoop your dough and form your cookies on the baking sheet, leaving space in between dough.

Note: If using room temperature butter, your cookies might flatten in the oven so leave extra room. Room temperature butter is soft enough to incorporate air, but not so soft that it will melt immediately in the oven and result in thinner cookies.

Step 5

Place in refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to eight hours.

Note: This is probably the most important step as it allows the fats to cool and ensures chewy cookies.

Step 6

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit and bake for 12-15 minutes or until desired crispiness.

Note: For even softer cookies, add a shallow bowl of water on the rack below the cookies while they bake in the oven.

Step 7

Enjoy!

-By Brett Hallagan, a 2L from San Diego, California and KU Law Student Ambassador

Road work ahead

I have an inside scoop on a $250,000 ride that comes with its own driver. The best part is, this ride is FREE!

The “K-10 Connector” is a bus route provided courtesy of RideKC that runs between Johnson County Community College, the KU Edwards Campus and the KU Lawrence campus. If you’re someone considering commuting from the Overland Park area, this route will be your saving grace. It is a great option to cut down the cost of commuting, maximize productivity and reduce your carbon footprint. The route also runs from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., so whether you’re an early bird or a night owl, the route should be able to accommodate your preference.

Ryan Love, 1L Student Ambassador

Late night studying? No sweat! The noble steel steed can rock you right to sleep. Worried about that impending cold call? With RideKC’s expert drivers behind the wheel, you’re afforded the opportunity to brush up on cases during your commute.

The K-10 commute has been a welcome transition from my NYC public transit experiences. The rolling hills of rural Kansas are a pleasant replacement for the rustling of rats between subway tracks. Although the people-watching is not as entertaining as in NYC, there have been some memorable moments. As a passenger, it is amusing to look out the window and watch the drivers on K-10 fumble with their Casey’s breakfast pizza or struggle to put on mascara while attempting to stay in their lane.

The K-10 Connector also opens the door to becoming a member of the coolest unofficial law student org there is: “Motion for Change of Venue,” (if you can think of a better name for the group, drop it in the comments). That’s right, you are not stuck with just me on your commute. Here is what a few of my fellow Change of Venuers had to say about living their best bus life:

“I take the K-10 Connector since I live in Overland Park. It is a great way to reduce costs because I don’t have to pay for a parking permit, reduce miles on my car and save money on gas. The bus drops me off right outside the law school, which is convenient.” – Tatum Gibbar, 3L

“I live in Johnson County and take the bus to KU practically every day. I love it. The bus is fast, reliable and drops off at the front door of the law school.” – Daniel Volin, 1L

-By Ryan Love, a 1L from El Paso, Texas and KU Law Student Ambassador

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