Annie Harkins '09

Hometown: Potomac, Maryland

Undergraduate degree: History, Saint Joseph's University

When Annie graduates from the School of Law, she plans to practice in the field of health law, specifically disability discrimination. "It is important individuals feel that the law not only gives them rights, but that it also gives them a voice with which they can enforce those rights," she says.

The School of Law's renowned Center for Health Law is what drew Annie to Saint Louis University from Washington, D.C. "I knew that when I graduated from SLU with a J.D. and Health Law Certificate that my degree would instantly be recognized and respected throughout the country," she explains.

Annie met with several faculty and administrators at the School of Law before making her law school selection. "Every one I met offered me really meaningful and insightful advice about my law school decision," she says. "I continue to find that SLU is a community that values integrity and the wholeness of a person, and students are treated as more than just a number."

Student Profile

Extracurricular involvement: SLUmark, Managing Editor for the Childress Lecture Issue of the Law Journal, Student Bar Association softball

Hobbies: Baking, cooking and running. A good work out or trying a new recipe is satisfying after putting in a long day of studying at the library.

Favorite film: "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"

What do you hope to accomplish with your legal education? In law school it became clearer to me that without legal training, the law can be inaccessible and unusable by the citizens whom it was enacted to protect. I hope to use my legal education to help these individuals understand and use the law in a meaningful way that will improve their quality of life.

Law School Snapshot

Who is your favorite professor? Professor Sydney Watson. Her in-depth knowledgeable of and passion for health law comes through in the classes she teaches. I have never had a teacher so invested in the success and development of her students.

Your best experience at the School of Law? One of my best experiences has been working on the Law Journal. The scholarly exercises have made a huge difference in my writing style, and Journal participation has presented a number of opportunities to excel and participate within the law community. I've also developed a number of great friendships in law school. We've carried each other through the more challenging aspects of law school, and we've also had a lot of fun on the rare occasions we have downtime.

What does it take be successful at the School of Law? Always work hard and try your best. A successful student sees opportunities and takes chances and makes mistakes but learns something from all of it and is able to apply that knowledge moving forward.

What do you want others to know about the School of Law? SLU is a place where you will do well if you put in the effort and make experiences happen for yourself. The school is also open and willing to change when students participate in the change by perpetuating and even initiating it.

What are you learning about the law that you didn't anticipate? That it actually makes a lot of sense. For the most part, it's a study of human behavior and sociology.

Spotlight on St. Louis

What's been most challenging about adjusting to law school in St. Louis? Moving to a city where I did not know anyone or anything. Even though family and friends are only phone calls away, it's been challenging to balance law school's intense workload and maintaining so many long distance relationships.

Favorite part of St. Louis: Soulard and Dogtown

Favorite place to eat near campus: Pickles Deli

What would you tell a prospective student about St. Louis? This town LOVES baseball. If you're not a Cardinals fan either lie and say you are or come prepared to defend your team!