Vanderbilt Undergraduate Law Week introduces students to legal careers and law school preparation

Vanderbilt Undergraduate Law Week introduces students to legal careers and law school preparation Vanderbilt Undergraduate Law Week introduces students to legal careers and law school preparation The five-day series covered diverse legal topics, including criminal defense, government law, immigration policy and corporate law, alongside sessions on admissions and financial aid. Lara Barabanov Panelists discuss careers in corporate law and legal recruiting during Vanderbilt Undergraduate Law Week’s Big Law 101 workshop, as photographed Oct. 8, 2026. (Hustler Multimedia/Lara Barabanov) By Jenny Zheng and Lara Barabanov Oct 12, 2026 Vanderbilt hosted Undergraduate Law Week Oct. 5-9, bringing practicing attorneys, legal recruiters and admissions experts to campus to discuss careers in law and the law school application process. The week featured in-person panels at the law school alongside virtual workshops on admissions and financial aid.  Monday  The week began Oct. 5 with a criminal law panel featuring Tennessee attorneys Brent Hannafan, Alex Little and J.R. Glover from Litson PLLC. The panelists discussed their experiences in prosecution and criminal defense, the challenges of representing clients and the skills students should develop before entering the legal profession.  Little, founding and managing partner at Litson PLLC and a former federal prosecutor, emphasized the personal demands of criminal defense work.  “90% of my day is talking to people who are facing the most difficult time of their lives,” Little said.  The attorneys also encouraged students to strengthen their communication and writing skills and gain practical experience before law school.  Later that day, Katya Valasek of the Law School Admission Council led a virtual workshop on navigating the Credential Assembly Service, including submitting transcripts and understanding application requirements. The workshop included step-by-step tutorials on the platform, advice on maximizing credits, breakdowns of LSAT Score and GPA percentiles and obtaining strong letters of recommendation.  Tuesday  Attorneys from the Tennessee Attorney General’s Office discussed opportunities in government law Oct. 6. Panelists highlighted the variety of legal matters the office handles, from education and employment to taxation, and emphasized the opportunities available for young attorneys to gain litigation experience.  First-year Kaitlin Andersen said the event demonstrated the professional development opportunities available in public service.  “I think my biggest takeaway is that working in the attorney general’s office is [an] invaluable practice for attorneys to learn and develop as it gives you the flexibility to engage with various different fields of the law and take responsibility over important litigation cases quickly,” Andersen said.  The day’s programming also included a virtual workshop on financing law school, covering tuition, living expenses, scholarships and student loan options. The financial aid panel gave an overview of the general costs of law school, including application costs, tuition and other direct and indirect expenses. The workshop then shifted into ways to alleviate the high costs, focusing on three main categories: scholarships and grants, employment and student loans.  Wednesday  On Oct. 7, Doug Russo, an immigration attorney at Rose Immigration Law Firm PLC, joined Vanderbilt Law professor Garrick Pursley at the law school for a discussion on immigration law and policy. The speakers addressed changes in federal immigration policy and the implications of immigration regulations for international students.   Russo emphasized the importance of remaining informed about political developments and their consequences.  “Ignorance is bliss in a way, but it really is important to be involved and be aware of those things because it impacts real people all the time,” Russo said.  The day also featured a discussion on education law with Nora Kahn, Vanderbilt’s interim deputy general counsel, and Kosha Tucker, associate vice chancellor. The roundtable introduced students to legal work within a university setting.  Thursday  A Big Law 101 panel introduced students to careers at major corporate law firms Oct 8. Legal recruiters and Vanderbilt Law School career services representatives discussed professional development and the importance of transferable skills.  The panel also addressed how artificial intelligence could change the work of junior attorneys. Michelle Parsons, assistant dean for career services at Vanderbilt Law School, discussed the importance of adapting to emerging technologies.  “Someone compared it to when Excel came out for accountants,” Parsons said. “I don’t know if that’s an apples-to-apples comparison, but I think it’s a good way of thinking about it. You just need to know how to use it for the job that you’re doing.”  Sophomore Rania Mankodi said the event provided insight into career opportunities beyond the law school admissions process.  “I feel like in undergrad you’re so focused on just getting to school. You don’t really think about what happens after,” Mankodi said.  Friday  The week concluded Oct. 9 with a discussion about judicial clerkships and an informal event introducing students to Vanderbilt’s legal studies minor and pre-law advising resources.  Tags: campus events Law school post-grad View Story Comments 0 Like This Story Share on Facebook Share on X Email this Story Print this Story Leave a comment About the Contributors Jenny Zheng, Staffer-in-Training Jenny Zheng (’30) is majoring in philosophy with a minor in legal studies in the College of Arts and Science and minoring in music in the Blair School of Music. When not writing and photographing for The Hustler, you can find her singing along to her guitar, learning new guitar solos or concocting new drink combinations. She can be reached at [email protected]. Lara Barabanov, Staff Writer Lara Barabanov (’29) is from Washington, D.C., and is majoring in Political Science and Russian in the College of Arts and Science. When not writing for The Hustler, you can find her exploring Nashville with friends, traveling or trying new restaurants. She can be reached at [email protected]. More to Discover More about campus events PerDOREmative Male Contest makes its way to Vanderbilt Behind Closed 'Dores: Generation Action Plan your week: 10/9-10/15 More about Law school Law School ranks No. 14 in 2025 U.S. News rankings Vanderbilt graduate schools maintain national top rankings on 2023 U.S. News lists More about post-grad Seniors report job uncertainty amid federal hiring freeze