Emily (Strickler) Voorheis

Intellectual Property and Data Privacy Associate, McGuireWoods LLP

2014 | Richmond, VA

James Madison University | Public Policy Administration

“We have a unique position located on a Big Ten campus. We receive the networking benefits of a huge alumni base, but with the advantage of retaining our private school status.”

What is your experience with MSU Law?
The Law College trains students to meet the shifting demands of clients in the current legal market, with an emphasis on utilizing our clinics and externships.

We also have a unique position located on a Big Ten campus. We receive the networking benefits of a huge alumni base, but with the advantage of retaining our private school status. All of the tuition dollars stay within the law college.

Describe your relationship with fellow classmates and faculty.
There is a stigma that faculty only care about their research, which I have never experienced here. Every faculty member is focused on enhancing the experience and being available.

One night my first year, my professor knocked on my study room door in our law library. He asked how I was doing and if I had questions. He was known for making frequent rounds in the library. The night before my first final exam, he walked around the building to find students he knew to wish us good luck.

When I received my first project at my summer internship and was uncertain how to research the issue, I emailed one of the research librarians. She responded within 15 minutes with the answer, as she waited in the airport terminal to travel out of the country.

Describe your experience as a dual JD/MBA student.
Pursuing the JD/MBA dual degree has been the best decision. I will practice in various areas of business law, so it is useful already knowing how to read a balance sheet or income statement, and basic accounting principles. The MBA program is a team-focused experience, similar to how law firms accomplish goals by effectively working together.

Tell us about your involvement in the Michigan State Law Review and Women’s Law Caucus. How has participation in these organizations contributed to your education or employment?
Employers recognize the dedication required to be a member of the law school’s flagship journal. During my first year, I completed my student Note, satisfying my upper level writing requirement, and allowing me to research an unresolved issue. I also met great friends who are valuable contacts.

Through Women’s Law Caucus, I gained appreciation for mentoring. While law schools have achieved gender parity, the legal profession has not in the number of women advancing. I interacted with successful women in the legal profession to learn how they have achieved success.