An Undergrad Student’s First Month of Law School

Earlier this year, Regent University launched its brand new 3-3 Law School Program: a program that allows high-ranking undergraduate students to skip their senior year and enter their first year of Law School while still earning their Bachelor’s. We recently caught up with three of these students to get their take on their first month of Law School.

TORI HIRSCH

Hometown: Tucson, AZ
Fun fact: her dream job is to be an architect or interior designer.

Tori Hirsch. Oct. 1, 2019 (Kana Turley)

How did you decide to attend Regent Law?

I didn’t even think about it. I got the email, and I said, “I’m doing it.” It was something I was praying about over the summer: should I go to Law School? When this opportunity presented itself, it was the Lord saying, “Yes – and you’re going right now.”

What is your favorite thing about Law School?

The professors. They are so wise, not just in teaching the law, but explaining it in a way that makes sense. Also, they’re just easy to relate to, and you can tell that they actually care about their students.

What is the most challenging thing about Law School?

Being disciplined with my time. For example, I waste a lot of time just “getting ready” to study. I’ll check my email, look at my syllabus for the fifth time, just little tedious things that are big time wasters. That’s been a big thing: realizing that I’m wasting my time a lot of the day.

Where do you want your J.D. degree to take you?

I would love to work for IJM. I love their mission and how they’re working to combat human trafficking. One thing I do know is that good writing skills are valuable, no matter what kind of lawyer you are. That’s one thing I want to work on: becoming a better writer.

How do you hope to grow personally in Law School?

The first phrase that comes to mind is “death to self.” You have to be very disciplined, and that’s something I’m still learning. I’m learning how to take care of my responsibilities as part of my self-care. I’m trying to be a good steward with my time.

ALEX TOUCHET

Hometown: Newport News, VA
Fun fact: his pet peeve is when people say “eXpresso.”

Alex Touchet. Oct. 1, 2019 (Kana Turley)

How did you decide to attend Regent Law?

I was praying a lot about whether to go to Law School. This summer, I got an internship, then went to Japan on a mission trip, so I thought there was no chance for me to go to Law School this year. Then, I got the email: you can go to Law School, skip the LSAT, AND finish your senior year of undergrad. Three days later, I was in.

What is your favorite thing about Law School?

Everyone in the program actually cares about being there. Everyone takes what they’re doing very seriously. No one’s skipping class or not doing the reading.

What is the most challenging thing about Law School?

The quantity of work is much higher. You have up to 50 pages of reading per class per day, maybe more. You can’t skate by through skimming it. You have to know what you read, what the reading meant, and then incorporate that into the exam.

Where do you want your J.D. degree to take you?

I think constitutional law is really interesting. Maybe if I’m not doing something like constitutional scholarship, I’ll be doing federal or state policy analysis. I find the policy side really interesting. 

How do you hope to grow personally in Law School?

Time management, just because of how much you have to do. I’m trying to make time for reading the Bible. I’ve tried to keep my Sundays completely free so I can go to church, come back, and do nothing. And personal responsibility: dealing with assignments. And building relationships and networking with other people.

HANNAH LILLEMO

Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Fun fact: she could eat fruit snacks for every meal.

Hannah Lillemo. Oct. 1, 2019 (Kana Turley)

How did you decide to attend Regent Law?

I opened the email, and was first like, “I don’t want to go to Law School, so I’m not going to consider it.” Then, I could not sleep that night, and I thought about it the whole next day. I prayed: “Lord, why can’t I let this go? As crazy as it is, I think I’m gonna apply to Law School.”

What is your favorite thing about Law School?

Interacting with students who challenge me intellectually and operate on similar wavelengths, as well as the opportunity to sit under professors who have a deep love for the Lord mixed with wisdom in regard to applying faith to the law.

What is the most challenging thing about Law School?

Learning how to prioritize my time and juggle my ever-widening schedule. Asking the Lord what things need to remain in my day-to-day life – and what has to go – has been a hard, but rewarding, adjustment.

Where do you want your J.D. degree to take you?

One thing I’ve learned is that God has a habit of dramatically redirecting my steps after I’ve charted out a clever little path. So, in regard to what I will do with a law degree … it’s really up in the air. At the moment, the idea of working in international law and assisting with the legal side of human rights issues is appealing.

How do you hope to grow personally in Law School?

Embracing and choosing joy in the midst of a stretching experience. Through Law School, I want to increase in wisdom, discipline, and joyful peace. I think so often people become entirely focused on discipline that they forget peaceful rest, or vice versa; learning to balance those well would be superb.