1990 Major: History
"I love good storytelling in all of its varied forms: songwriting, joke-telling, fiction, etc. In my view, history is documented, evidence-based storytelling. Documented storytelling is a critical, transferable skill for lawyers, especially those, like me, who chose to become litigators. Whenever you are advocating for a client, whether in front of a judge, a jury, a mediator, or opposing counsel, you need to marshal the evidence and to frame it in a compelling way that advances the interests of your client. That is a simple description of what I have done for 30 years as a lawyer. Different clients, different problems, but documented storytelling every single time."
"Seek out classes (and professors) that will broaden your understanding of the world and challenge your understanding of the "received wisdom," as my late professor, Lawrence Goodwyn, was fond of saying. Get out of your comfort zone. Learn about other parts of the worlds. Learn about cultures other than your own. Within each class, find the topics/issues that spark your interest and ask your professor for additional reading suggestions on those topics/issues beyond what is in the syllabus. You are the captain of your own learning adventure. Your professors are your experienced guides, but you have to chart your own path. Don't just default to the minimum or the grade. You only get to have this experience as a Duke history major one time. Leave it all on the court."
History