Elle Woods continues to influence law students more than 20 years after she made her (theatrical) debut at Harvard Law School: 3L John McIntyre says the film Legally Blonde first encouraged him to become a lawyer.
“As I got older this idea progressed, and I saw the impact that lawyers could have on small communities like the one I grew up in,” McIntyre recalls. “As a result, I decided my goal was to become a lawyer so I could help communities like mine flourish through small business development and supporting the industries that help these communities thrive.”
Though McIntyre holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, with a concentration in supply chain management, he says he is most passionate about securities law, which he first became interested in during a summer field placement.
“I got to take two securities courses with our very own Professor Schwartz and then spent the better part of my second summer dedicated to securities law at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP,” McIntyre says. “I hope to continue developing my knowledge and skills in this area as I move forward with my legal career.”
McIntyre says he wishes he’d known how to find a balance between his personal life and school before starting law school.
“You hear a lot about how time-consuming law school can be, and that can be true, but it’s important to always find time for your personal life,” he says. “This is a skill I have managed to develop (somewhat) over the course of my time here, but having a better understanding of what a healthy balance looks like beforehand would have been great.”
While he is still learning to juggle classes and a life outside law school, McIntyre says he is most proud of the relationships he’s formed while at the S.J. Quinney College of Law.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some of the kindest, funniest and most thoughtful people I’ve ever encountered, and those relationships are what I value the most,” McIntyre expresses. “Getting good grades is cool. Getting my dream job is cooler. Building relationships that will last forever—the coolest.”
Having chosen S.J. Quinney for its small class sizes, McIntyre has been impressed by the interactions with faculty.
“I felt like I could get a more personal learning experience, and this has absolutely been the case. From my fellow classmates, to faculty, to the deans (special thanks to Dean Burton and Dean Kronk Warner), everyone has been super kind and a blast to be around,” he says. “I think that the quality of professionals we have here is unmatched.”
Since the summer after his 1L year, McIntyre has worked at the same law firm, continuing each summer and during the current semester. He looks forward to his future there beginning in 2024.
“After graduating from S.J. Quinney, I will be joining Michael Best & Friedrich LLP as an associate in their transactional practice group. I hope to have a long and successful career there and (hopefully) become a partner one day,” McIntyre says. “The experience has certainly been rewarding, and I couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity to learn and develop my skills with some of the best people I have ever met.”