KU Law Blog

Graduate Profile: Dahnika Short, L’22

Background in health care inspired student to attend law school

A passion for health care ultimately inspired non-traditional law student Dahnika Short to attend the University of Kansas School of Law.

After graduation, she will continue her journey through a clerkship with Hon. Toby Crouse, L’00, of the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas.

Short’s road to KU Law looked different than most of her peers. She earned her first undergraduate degree in life sciences from Kansas State University in 2011. Short then went on to earn a nursing degree from the KU School of Nursing in 2015 before deciding to attend law school a few years later.

Dahnika Short, L’22

“I had a great career as a nurse,” said Short. “Health care is something I am still very passionate about.”

After earning her first undergraduate degree, Short served as a health education volunteer in the Peace Corps, working in Moldova. She helped provide seminars to locals on topics such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, STI prevention and domestic violence.

“That experience only strengthened my desire to be in the medical field,” Short said.

After returning from the Peace Corps, Short moved back to Kansas City to begin her education in nursing. Halfway through training, she realized she did not want to work in the traditional hospital setting.

“I was much more interested in the bigger picture. How do people access health care? What are the barriers? How do race and socioeconomic status play a role? What about access to healthy foods and education?” Short said.

Still, Short thought she should experience working life as a nurse. She found employment at a small clinic, where she could discuss “holistic wellness and barriers to accessing health care with her patients.” But law school never left her mind.

After seriously considering how law school could deepen her knowledge about policies that impact health care, Short knuckled down and began studying for the LSAT. After performing well on the entry exam, she knew now was the time to tackle law school or regret it forever.

“I chose KU Law because it felt like home,” said Short. “When touring, I instantly felt welcomed by everyone. I was also impressed by the alumni connections.”

Even as a busy mother, Short stayed active with extracurriculars during her time at Green Hall as a Dean’s Fellow, member of the Dean’s Diversity Leadership Council and even helped develop a new student organization – the Non-Traditional Law Students Association.

Shorts says her most impactful law school extracurricular was as a comment editor for the Kansas Law Review.

“While it was a lot of work, I enjoyed bonding with and working alongside incredibly smart and kind people,” Short said.

She was not just motivated by her peers during law school. Short also found inspiration and support within her professors, three of which stood out.

She enjoyed learning from Professor Tom Stacy over the course of four classes throughout law school.

“Professor Stacy brings a thought-provoking, in-depth perspective to criminal law – my favorite area. He really made me think of the why behind criminal law,” said Short.

Short praises Professor Kyle Velte for her ability to reach students.

“Professor Velte did an excellent job of breaking down complex topics (hello, hearsay) and truly cares about her students,” said Short.

The Legal Aid Clinic brought Short together with another favorite – Professor Melanie Daily.

“She was an excellent mentor – incredibly well versed and knowledgeable in the law with equal amounts of empathy for her clients,” said Short. “Professor Daily also deeply cares about and is supportive of her students.”

Short feels ready to start her new career after three years of preparation and the support of many Jayhawk lawyers.

“I’m so glad I went to law school,” said Short. “It was a long road to get here, but it was totally worth it.”

Armed with her new education, Short looks forward to the future.

“I am most excited to challenge myself, to be an advocate and to work to ensure that systems operate more equitably,” Short said.

-By Sydney Halas

This post is the fifth in a series highlighting a few of the exceptional members of KU Law’s Class of 2022. Check out previous stories about Olivia Black, Parker Bednasek, Cortez Downey and Ashlyn Shultz. Stay tuned for more profiles as we celebrate this year’s graduating class.

Graduate Profile: Ashlyn Shultz, L’22

Mentoring first-year students was a standout experience for KU Law banner carrier

Photo courtesy of Ashlyn Shultz.

The first year of law school is full of challenges. For Ashlyn Shultz, learning how to overcome those challenges – and passing that knowledge on to her fellow students – has been a defining law school experience.

“My 1L year was tough – as everyone’s is – so I relished the opportunity to help fellow law students navigate those difficulties,” Shultz said.

Shultz was a teaching assistant with the Lawyering Skills program during her 3L year, and she worked as a peer tutor for part of her 2L year.

“I was bolstered by a love for the Bluebook – which unfortunately is not a common sentiment. Along the way, I discovered a love for teaching and corny jokes,” she said.

“Open and Shultz Case” – the team Shultz coached for the 2021 Bluebook Relays – won the first-place trophy. Photo by Andy White / KU Marketing.

Shultz remembers being one of “a bunch of wide-eyed yet terrified 1Ls” in her small section Torts class, taught by Professor Laura Hines. One day during a lunch-hour event, her section learned about the law school’s grading curve right before they headed to Torts.

“We, of course, were a bit jarred by what we had just learned, so Professor Hines was kind enough to take the time and explain that the curve is there to help everyone,” Shultz said. “This was only the first of many times our small section was able to have heart-to-heart chats with Professor Hines; she was always the one to remind us that we could get through law school.”

As one of the top students in the Class of 2022, Shultz will be the school’s banner carrier at the KU Law Hooding Ceremony during Commencement Weekend. In addition to her mentorship roles, Shultz has worked as a staff editor and articles editor for the Kansas Law Review and was a member of the Christian Legal Society.

Shultz is part of the first group of KU Law students to graduate through the LEAD (Legal Education Accelerated Degree) Program at Kansas State University. Students in the program complete their undergraduate degrees during their first year of law school, earning both an undergraduate and a law degree in six years. KU Law also has LEAD partnerships with the KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences and Wichita State University.

During her time at Kansas State, Shultz had the chance to attend get-togethers with fellow LEAD students from her own campus and KU. When she got to Green Hall, there were friendly faces to greet her.

“I knew I wanted to practice in Kansas, but I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go to law school – or undergrad, actually,” Shultz said. “I heard through the grapevine about the LEAD program starting at K-State my incoming year. I was so excited, I went home and immediately applied to K-State. The rest from there is history!”

Originally from Manhattan, Kansas, Shultz majored in political science and philosophy at Kansas State.

After her graduation from KU Law, Shultz will return to Manhattan to work at Arthur-Green, LLP, where she hopes to help clients with estate planning.

“There’s nothing like seeing the concern in someone’s eyes melt as they sign their finished trust documents and find themselves with some security for the future. I hope my work can take that concern off clients’ shoulders,” Shultz said.

— By Margaret Hair

This post is the fourth in a series highlighting a few of the exceptional members of KU Law’s Class of 2022. Check out previous stories about Olivia Black, Parker Bednasek and Cortez Downey. Stay tuned for more profiles as we celebrate this year’s graduating class.

Graduate Profile: Cortez Downey, L’22

Student leader pursuing a passion for privacy law

Photo courtesy of Cortez Downey.

During his second year at KU Law, Cortez Downey took a course in Privacy Law. The class, taught by Professor Najarian Peters, set Downey on a career path.

“Professor Peters introduced me to the complex, fascinating, and ever-changing world of privacy law, and it has become a passion of mine,” Downey said.

After graduating this month, Downey plans to join a large law firm in Houston as a data privacy and cybersecurity attorney. In addition to taking courses in privacy and cybersecurity law, Downey founded the KU Privacy & Cybersecurity Society, a student organization that promotes current legal issues in the field. He also attended the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Global Summit in Washington, D.C. in April.

“KU Law prepared me for the workforce by offering several classes in my field of interest – privacy and security,” Downey said. “Also, I found it beneficial that some of my courses were taught by adjunct faculty currently working in their respective subject area. This positioned them to incorporate some of their day-to-day into the learning, which I found valuable.”

This semester, Downey joined nine classmates in Washington, D.C. as part of the 6^th Semester in D.C. Program. Students in the program spend their final semester of law school working in field placements and taking classes in the nation’s capital. The experience of being in D.C. during the historic confirmation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court was especially impactful, Downey said.

“Being in a new and exciting city – particularly one with so many lawyers – was a great way to meet people and expand my network,” Downey said. “Being in D.C. during Justice Jackson’s confirmation and being able to attend the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP) Global Summit were amazing experiences.”

Downey has been an active student leader at KU Law, working with organizations including the Black Law Students Association, Student Ambassadors and Dean’s Diversity Leadership Council. As president of the Black Law Students Association, Downey facilitated self-care, wellness education and meditation sessions for fellow students, and led efforts to raise over $4,000 for local charities during the annual Food & Textured Hair Care Drive. Downey has been co-president of the law school’s Student Ambassadors for two years, planning recruiting events and mentoring incoming students.

In 2021, Downey received the Law Class of 1949 Award for Leadership for the 2L class. The award is given annually to students who, in the opinion of the faculty, contributed most significantly to the overall experience of students in Green Hall. During three years at KU Law, Downey built a record of service and scholarship that completing legal internships through the Tribal Judicial Support Clinic and Mediation Clinic.

His favorite law school memories are of celebrating local teams with his classmates – from the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl win during his first year to “watching the Jayhawks win the NCAA championship at a local KU alumni hangout in D.C.,” Downey said.

Originally from Edmond, Oklahoma, Downey earned his undergraduate degrees in biology and Spanish from Oklahoma State University. He worked for four years with the Houston Independent School District as a high school teacher and college & career advisor before enrolling at KU Law.

As he gets ready for his career in privacy and cybersecurity law, Downey is looking forward to a new type of advising role.

“I am excited about growing in my capacity as an attorney and mentoring other aspiring attorneys, particularly those interested in privacy and/or security,” he said.

— By Margaret Hair

This post is the third in a series highlighting a few of the exceptional members of KU Law’s Class of 2022. Check out previous stories about Olivia Black and Parker Bednasek. Stay tuned for more profiles as we celebrate this year’s graduating class.

Graduate Profile: Parker Bednasek, L’22

Law Review editor-in-chief was ‘raised to be a Jayhawk’

Law school has kept Parker Bednasek busy.

As editor-in-chief of the Kansas Law Review, Bednasek was responsible for representing the University of Kansas School of Law in legal academia.

“You also have a lot of interaction with professors at other law schools, so you want to be professional and leave a good impression,” Bednasek said.

While his experience leading the Law Review was a big responsibility, Bednasek also values the time he spent as a teaching assistant in the Lawyering Skills program and as a Shook Hardy & Bacon Scholar. Part of the law school’s Academic Resources Program, the Shook scholars lead study groups for first-year students. Bednasek was also a member of KU Law’s Moot Court Council.

Parker Bednasek, L’22.

“Being a TA and an SHB scholar has meant a lot to me because it provided a mentorship opportunity with 1L students – which I really value,” Bednasek said.

Later this month, Bednasek will join fellow members of the KU Law Class of 2022 for graduation celebrations. They will gather at the school’s first in-person Hooding Ceremony since 2019, finishing a law school career that’s been full of unexpected challenges.

“I think the general experience of navigating law school during a pandemic has been really unique and has created challenges that are different than any other generation of law school students have faced,” Bednasek said.

Bednasek grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. Both of his parents are from Kansas – “so they raised me to be a Jayhawk,” Bednasek said. KU was the only school he applied to for his undergraduate degrees in political science and history.

“After spending four years in Lawrence for undergrad, I fell in love with the town and university – and it became my home. When looking at law schools, I knew that I would receive a quality legal education at KU because of my undergrad experience and that I would have great employment opportunities after graduation,” Bednasek said.

During his time at KU Law, Bednasek completed two field placements, working for a Kansas district court judge and the Federal Public Defender’s Office. In the Trial Advocacy skills course, he had the chance to question witnesses and give opening and closing statements. He also participated in the Project for Innocence clinic, taught by Professor Jean Phillips.

“I was able to get experience in complex issues of state and federal criminal law with the help of a stellar attorney – Professor Phillips,” Bednasek said.

That experience helped prepare Bednasek for the workforce and the career opportunities ahead.

“I am really excited about representing KU in the legal field and giving back to the school where I can,” Bednasek said. “Being able to help the next generation of KU lawyers is an opportunity that I would love to have in the future.”

— By Margaret Hair

This post is the second in a series highlighting a few of the exceptional members of KU Law’s Class of 2022. Check out a previous story about Olivia Black. Stay tuned for more profiles as we celebrate this year’s graduating class.

Higher ed law offers ‘a little bit of everything’

Marissa Hotujac, L’20, reflects on her two-year fellowship with KU General Counsel

As an attorney for a university, you get to work on a little bit of everything, says Marissa Hotujac, L’20.

That includes “litigation, contracts, athletics, labor and employment, policies, First Amendment issues, student and Greek life matters, and so much more,” Hotujac said. “There’s always something new to learn and it’s challenging, which I enjoy.”

During a two-year fellowship with the University of Kansas Office of the General Counsel, Hotujac got the chance to work on a wide variety of legal issues that intersect with higher education law. Hotujac completed the 2020-2022 term of the Husch Blackwell Higher Education Law Fellowship at KU in March. She recently joined Husch Blackwell’s Kansas City office as an associate in the law firm’s higher education practice group.

With the general counsel’s office, Hotujac worked on projects related to the university’s response to COVID-19, contracts with international agencies, and athletics matters. She also had the chance to represent KU as the lead attorney in several internal disciplinary hearings.

“It was rewarding to see matters I’ve been involved with get implemented across campus – whether it was research I conducted on an issue or a company, editing university-wide policies, or advice that I gave to a client employed at KU,” Hotujac said.

Regular assignments included reviewing and negotiating contracts; conducting legal research and drafting memos; writing motions, briefs and other litigation documents; reviewing university policies; and advising clients.

Hotujac started full-time with the KU general counsel’s office in June 2020, as part of the pilot term for what officially became the Husch Blackwell Higher Education Law Fellowship in 2022, said Lori Haaga, director of legal administration for the Office of the General Counsel.

Fellows in the program get support from the office while they study for the bar exam. Then, they’re immersed alongside the office’s team of attorneys, Haaga said. Once admitted to the Kansas Bar, the fellow practices as a licensed attorney for the university. They gain membership to the National Association of College and University Attorneys, along with access to conferences, webinars and continuing legal education offerings. Husch Blackwell also provides development opportunities, and the fellow becomes a participating member of the firm’s higher education practice group, Haaga said.

Hotujac interned with the KU General Counsel’s Office during the fall of her 3L year. When colleagues told her about the fellowship and encouraged her to apply, Hotujac took the leap.

“It’s relatively uncommon for a university general counsel’s office to employ recent law school graduates,” she said. “So, I was interested in applying for the fellowship because I thought it was an incredible opportunity to break into the higher education law field and to gain first-hand experience working in a university setting.”

Hotujac accepted the fellowship right out of law school and hit the ground running, said Brian A. White, general counsel for KU.

“Marissa epitomizes the essence and intent behind the creation of the fellowship,” White said. “Throughout her term, Marissa demonstrated exceptional character, significant leadership qualities and a keen intellect for legal issues facing higher education. Marissa’s future career practicing in higher education is bright and we look forward to following her wherever that road may lead.”

Originally from Overland Park, Hotujac earned her undergraduate degree in communication from Truman State University in 2016. At KU Law, she was a staff article editor with the Kansas Journal of Law & Public Policy. Hotujac also participated in the 6^th Semester in D.C. Program, which allows students to spend their final semester of law school in Washington, D.C.

“I had an externship with the Department of Justice, and I think spending my last semester working on real cases all day, every day helped prepare me for the professional world,” Hotujac said.

For law students interested in pursuing a similar fellowship or a career in higher education law, Hotujac advises taking a variety of courses, focusing on legal research and writing skills, and gaining practical experience through offerings such as the Deposition Skills Workshop or 6^th Semester in D.C.

“Branch out and try to make yourself a well-rounded candidate. You never know where it will lead you,” Hotujac said. Applications for the 2024-2026 Husch Blackwell Higher Education Law Fellowship open in fall 2023, with the two-year fellowship term starting in June 2024.

— By Margaret Hair

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.

Page 19 of 125
←
1
...
18
19
20
...
125
→