At LCA, we truly believe in the saying, “once a lion, always a lion,” and we love to celebrate alumni in the current chapter of the story God is writing in their lives. Today, we are proud to celebrate class of 2016 Salutatorian Rachel Byers for passing the bar to become a Georgia Attorney!
After turning her tassel at LCA, Rachel pursued her law degree at the University of Georgia, but she dreamed of this journey far before walking off our stage. From an early age, Rachel knew she wanted to pursue a career in law. She participated in a variety of clubs during high school, but there was one project in particular that helped to solidify her dreams before heading to college.
For her senior project, Rachel chose to shadow former State Representative Tom Kirby and former Gwinnett County District Attorney Danny Porter. When shadowing Rep. Kirby, Rachel had the chance to visit the State Capitol, meet other legislators, and learn about the legislative process at the state level. With Mr. Porter, Rachel spent time sitting in on hearings, meeting other attorneys, and observing the fast-past environment of a district attorney’s office. When recalling these opportunities, Rachel said, “These experiences undoubtedly shaped my career, as I went on to study political science in undergrad and then attend law school. Having a taste of politics and lawyering first-hand is a rarity as a high school student, and I’m thankful the senior project at LCA gave me the platform for me to seek out those experiences.”
In addition to her senior project, another confirmation for Rachel was attending Girls State in the summer of 2015. “Having the opportunity to meet other girls from across the state who were passionate about public service was an enriching experience, and many of the friends I met that week have continued to remain close friends throughout college and beyond.”
When recalling her preparedness for law school, she also noted a critical skill that was honed in her time at LCA:
“Arguably the most important skill an attorney must have is the ability to write. My writing skills began to develop far before I started law school as a young student at LCA. My earliest memory of writing was in Mrs. Armstrong’s class in 6th grade. I can remember learning to diagram sentences and how to write in an organized fashion with an introduction, thesis, topic sentences, and conclusion. These are all simple, but paramount skills attorneys utilize every day. My current job as a law clerk is to assist my judge in writing her opinions. When writing an opinion, every word and punctuation mark is carefully considered and analyzed for grammar and legal meaning. This attention-to-detail mindset began at LCA, and I’m grateful to have entered college and law school with a strong foundation of writing skills. To Mrs. Armstrong, Mrs. Westbrook, Mrs. Smith, and Mrs. Corrente, thank you for making me the writer I am today! I am forever indebted to all of you.”
Rachel, we are so proud of all that you have done and continue to do in the story God is writing in your life!
Need advice for a student who is interested in pursuing a career in law? Read Rachel’s advice below!
“Going to law school was the most challenging yet most rewarding experience I have ever had. With that being said, I think the best way to prepare yourself for law school is to get legal experience at a law firm, non-profit organization, or local district attorney’s office. While paid positions are hard to come by especially as a high school or college student, getting real-world legal experience will set you up for success in the classroom. As I’ve recently begun my first job out of law school, I am quickly learning that studying the law and practicing the law are two very different things. Things that may have not seemed as interesting to me in the classroom have now come to life in exciting ways in the courtroom. Gaining experiential learning opportunities will better equip you to understand and appreciate the law, as you learn about it in a classroom environment.
Also, this applies to both law school and life in general – keep healthy blinders. Everyone thinks they have the secret method that will guarantee them an A in a law school class. Oftentimes, the most outspoken students are the most unprepared students because they think they know all the right answers, yet their own pride blinds them from recognizing the areas in which they could improve. Find what works best for you, and stay in your lane. Get advice from others when it is helpful to do so, but at the end of the day, you know how you study best, so stick with that. Law school is full of a lot of noise. Life is full of a lot of noise. In law school and in life, keep healthy blinders.”
