‘An 8-to-5 gig with a whole lot of overtime’

Kriston Guillot and his infant son, Kai.

Nontraditional student balances law school, parenthood

Kriston Guillot interns at the Douglas County Legal Aid Society and Legal Services for Students, is president of the 3L class, serves as a Traffic Court justice and KU Law Student Ambassador, is member of the Moot Court Council and the Black Law Students Association and, above all, is a father. Guillot has dedicated the past three years to paving a fruitful future for his family.

Kriston and his son Kai.For Guillot, law school was an unnatural, yet navigable, transition. After completing his undergraduate degree, Guillot spent nearly nine years in the pharmaceutical sales industry before heading to law school.

“I navigated the transition by treating school as my job,” Guillot said. “I worked at it like an 8-to-5 gig with a whole lot of overtime.”

Guillot said he overcame any doubts by honing his strengths and putting weaknesses in perspective. While law school can be challenging for anyone, Guillot balances more than just a full course load.

“There’s no true balance between being a father and a full-time student. I’m both all the time,” said Guillot. The father of 3-year-old Kai remembers his long-term goal – which is etched into the bracelet he wears every day – “Father/Lawyer for Kai.”

Kriston Guillot in moot court finalsThe juggling act between father and student is a demanding job, but Guillot still finds time to get involved. He says winning KU’s In-House Moot Court Competition was his most memorable experience in Green Hall.

“I remember sitting in the courtroom for the finals a year before. There, I saw the most outstanding competitors, people I admired, do what I could only dream of,” Guillot said. “Then a year later, when they announced my partner Erica and I as the winners, I couldn’t differentiate reality from the dream I had dreamed so often.”

Guillot’s dreams continued to come true in February when he was selected as a University of Kansas Man of Merit. Guillot was recognized for his commitment to social justice, advocating for youth and positively defining masculinity.

“I was raised by loving parents who would help anyone and expected me to do the same,” Guillot said. “They taught me that life is only measured by what we do for others. We are all blessed with unique gifts and talents that should be freely shared to fulfill our true purpose and change the world for the better.”

Guillot’s countless overtime hours and sacrifice paid off. After graduation, he will work as a litigation associate at Polsinelli PC in Kansas City, Missouri. His biggest hope for the future? “I most look forward to growing as a litigator and learning from great professionals at Polsinelli.”

— Rachel Riggs

This post is the first in a series highlighting just a few exceptional members of KU Law’s Class of 2017. Check out James Houston Bales’ story, and stay tuned for more graduate profiles as we count down to the Hooding Ceremony on May 13.

A tumultuous, but rewarding, time to be an attorney

Joel ThompsonThe late Jeremy Bentham once said, “The power of the lawyer is in the uncertainty of the law.” The truth in Bentham’s words became apparent almost immediately after I started my classes at KU Law. One of the most fascinating things about our legal system is how malleable our law is, bending with the times and current events. Despite your political affiliation, it should be clear modern events are trending towards an environment in which lawyers will be more necessary than ever.

In classes such as Constitutional Law, professors frequently use hypotheticals to ensure the class understands a particular rationale from a case. However, lately the “hypotheticals” have turned into “realities” because the pressing issues usually poised as fake questions are actually before us as a legal community, and society as a whole. Issues such as the legality of the latest travel ban, Medicare expansion and the possible “deconstruction of the administrative state” are all currently before us.

Attorneys have been and always will be charged with ensuring our legal system operates fairly and equally for all. The “uncertainties” in the law are there for interpretation, and the young minds of the legal profession will soon come to play a crucial role in said interpretation. These are not vague, above the fray issues – but serious legal problems, which will affect possibly millions of people.

The choice to go to law school is not an easy one, but it is definitely a rewarding one. Everyday I appreciate going to class, acquiring knowledge that will ensure I am prepared to adequately address any legal issue presented. I find comfort in knowing, even though there are those who may disagree with me; we are all bound by the same law. During such tumultuous times, the world needs honest, fair-minded lawyers who will pledge to uphold the law. Not all heroes wear capes. Sometimes they wear robes and suit jackets.

– Jöel Thompson is a 1L and student ambassador from Fairfax, Virginia.

Rewards of staying busy

Student finds place in legal community during hectic 2L year

You may have heard the old adage: the first year of law school they scare you to death, the second year they work you to death, and the third year they bore you to death. I can’t speak about the third year yet, but I can say that my second year of law school has been the busiest — but most rewarding — year of my life.

Claire Kebodeaux with partner Matt Smith before KU's in-house mock trial competition.

Claire Kebodeaux with partner Matt Smith before KU’s in-house mock trial competition.

The first year of law school is scary, but completely doable. It’s hard because it is so different from anything you’ve done before.

I convinced myself this year that I could do everything. I’m president of Women in Law, president of Student Ambassadors, part-time employee in the admissions office, staff editor of the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy, intern in the Paul E. Wilson Project for Innocence. And, oh yeah — I take classes.

I learned I could do everything, but it took support from my family, friends and faculty. One of my favorite parts about KU Law is the supportive atmosphere. Students are friendly and willing to work together. Professors have a true open-door policy. If they are in their office and their door is open, they are willing to chat with you. Not just about class, but about careers or life. Faculty here at KU go above and beyond to help you.

A passion for women’s rights and criminal prosecution brought me to law school. Through my classroom education and extracurricular activities, I have been able to explore my interests and prepare for my career. As an intern in the Project for Innocence, I am able to work with real clients as a second-year student and help them with post-conviction remedies. By taking Criminal Practice in Kansas, I am learning how Kansas statutes work, which will directly translate to my future practice. On the Kansas Journal of Law and Public Policy and in my Sex Crimes and Feminist Jurisprudence classes, I wrote in-depth research papers on topics that truly interested me.

While I loved learning the basics of law during my 1L year, 2L year has allowed me to explore my passions and find my place in the legal community.

— Claire Kebodeaux is a 2L and KU Law Student Ambassador from Olathe.

Unexpected expert

KU Law student Kevin Berndt

Legislative committee invites KU Law student to testify on tax credit 

Earlier this semester I had the privilege of testifying before the Assessment & Taxation Committee of the Kansas Senate. Of all the unique and interesting experiences KU Law has afforded me so far, this one really stands out and was certainly the most unexpected.

The opportunity to testify came out of my involvement in the Public Policy Practicum during the fall semester. I enrolled to improve my research and writing skills and gain exposure to the interactions between law and public policy. As part of the practicum, students embark on the semester-long task of writing a research paper on a topic of particular interest to the Kansas Legislature. The practicum, taught by Professor Jennifer Schmidt, culminates in the submission of this paper to the Legislature for members to read and rely upon. I found this aspect of the practicum novel and almost surreal since most papers we write in school are essentially for educational purposes only and never receive exposure beyond the confines of the classroom.

The topic of my paper was Kansas’ earned income tax credit (EITC). This tax credit helps low- to moderate-income working Kansans by easing their tax burdens. However, awarding these tax credits also means reducing the funds available to the state budget. Because of the fiscal implications, the EITC has become a topic of much debate within the Legislature, with 2015 alone seeing the introduction of two bills concerning the EITC – one hoping to reduce the credit, the other hoping to increase it.

KU Law student Kevin BerndtAfter submitting my paper and concluding the fall semester, I thought my involvement was complete. So I was surprised when, a week before spring break, I received an email extending an invitation from Sen. Caryn Tyson, chairwoman of the Senate Assessment & Taxation Committee, to appear before the committee and testify on the EITC.

Without really knowing what I was in for, but knowing I could not pass up the opportunity, I accepted Sen. Tyron’s invitation. And I am glad I did because the experience that followed was truly rewarding and enlightening.

Professor Schmidt met me in Topeka at the Capitol and introduced me to members of both houses, lobbyists, Capitol staff, and other members of the political community. Before my testimony, I sat in on a hearing about a tax increase on gasoline and witnessed the impressive oratory skills of veteran lobbyists as they advocated for their sides the issue. Following that, I was called to lead off the hearing on the EITC.

My testimony, which lasted about 15 minutes, began with an overview of the EITC and its policy implications and ended with me fielding questions from the committee. Taking their questions, while a little nerve-racking, was definitely a highlight because it showed not only that the senators had read my paper but that they trusted the knowledge I had gained in researching the topic enough to feel comfortable relying on me to answer additional questions on the subject.

And to think, prior to enrolling in the Public Policy Practicum, I knew almost nothing about tax credits in general and had never even heard of the Kansas earned income tax credit. That in one semester I could go from having essentially no knowledge on a topic to being invited to testify on the same topic is a testament to the research skills I’ve honed under the guidance of KU Law professors.

– Kevin Berndt is a second-year KU Law student from Kansas City, Missouri. He plans to pursue a career in civil litigation.

Brunch, cherry blossoms, and KU basketball: Sixth Semester participants discover D.C.’s friendly side


Sixth Semester group on Supreme Court stepsI can sum up my experience in D.C. by taking you through the events of Saturday, March 25, 2017—the day Frank, Josh and Devontè broke our collective hearts. It started like the best weekend mornings in D.C. — eating brunch with friends, mimosa in hand. For reasons I haven’t quite deduced, brunch is a way of life in D.C. (except when we’re protesting), and when you come here you better be prepared for that.

After a couple more drinks, we set out to explore a sight only D.C. can offer, thousands of cherry blossoms in full bloom. There’s something iconic about seeing the Washington Monument framed by those beautiful flowers. One of D.C.’s greatest strengths is its abundance of amazing (and free!) entertainment. I’ve spent afternoons exploring the National Museum of Natural History, the National Air and Space Museum and the National Gallery of Art, among others. Kansas will pass a tax increase before you find yourself bored in D.C.

Mannebach with Bob Dole

Mannebach meets former Kansas Senator Bob Dole.

After the cherry blossoms, we headed to the KU alumni bar for KU’s Elite Eight game against Oregon. If you can’t watch the game in Lawrence, watching with a few hundred alumni and KU fans at a bar in D.C. is a nice consolation. Meeting KU alumni and other Kansans has been one of my favorite things about this experience. I’ve met lobbyists, government attorneys, members of Congress and senators. I even had the chance to ask Senator Roberts why several of President Trump’s nominees were less than honest about Russia in their confirmation hearings (this may shock you, but I didn’t like his answer). These are opportunities you can only get in D.C., and specifically, in the Sixth Semester program.

I don’t think I need to recap the KU game for you. Let’s just say the mood at the bar was more somber than Paul Ryan’s house after he couldn’t pass a healthcare bill he had seven years to work on. Of course, it was still Saturday night and we couldn’t head home yet, so we mingled with the other people hanging around.

At this point I should mention my favorite aspect of life here: No one is from D.C., so everyone understands what it’s like to move here without knowing anyone. This makes people much friendlier compared to other places I’ve lived and visited. For instance, as we mingled after the KU game we ran into a few people we’d met once before. These people barely knew us, and certainly didn’t owe us anything, but after a few minutes of talking about the game they invited us to jump in their Uber and head  to a house party they were going to. Likewise, at the house party everyone was incredibly friendly and let us party with them the rest of the night. This is just one of many instances where I received uncommon friendliness from D.C. residents.

So I guess what I’m trying to say is—if you like delicious food, free entertainment, meeting Kansans doing remarkable work, talking politics like you know what’s going on, or hanging out in a big city with friendly people, then you’ll enjoy this experience as much as I have and the Sixth Semester program is for you.

– Nathan Mannebach is a 3L from Garden Plain, Kansas.

Finding balance

Sophia Dinkel with children at Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence.

Busy law student, former teacher makes time to mentor children

While in law school you may have to give up a few things, like sleep. But you don’t have to give up your passion.

I have been working with kids for about 11 years now. The majority of those years were divided between three different summer camps. I also got my bachelor’s degree in secondary education. After I graduated from college, I taught 5th grade.

It’s safe to say that my passion is working with children.

But when I came to law school, I gave up working with kids to focus on my studies and really immerse myself in the law school experience. That was a good plan for my first year, but I really missed working with and mentoring children. So toward the end of my 1L spring semester, I applied to be a group leader at Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence. It has been one of the best decisions I have made so far! I am able to work with children and balance my busy law school schedule.

I love law school and all of its challenges. But I also love working at Boys & Girls Club and giving back to my community. Law school demands a lot, but everyone needs balance and a passion or hobby that helps them deal with the stress. Whether it’s reading, hitting the gym, climbing mountains or even mentoring children, we can make time in our busy lives to pursue the things that feed our spirit.

— Sophia Dinkel is a 2L and KU Law Student Ambassador from Norman, Oklahoma.