Christie Kure '09 J.D./M.B.A.

Hometown: Washington, D.C. & Lake of the Ozarks, MO

The Particulars

Undergraduate degree: B.A. in Political Science, Minor in International Affairs

Extracurricular involvement: Officer, American Constitution Society, officer, Asian American Law Students' Association, chair, Make a Difference Day Committee: Public Interest Law Group, WestLaw Student Representative

Hobbies: Pilates, scuba diving and ballroom dancing

The Details

What do you like best about the School of Law? People go out of their way to have a life. There is an avid effort to balance work and life.

Favorite class? Business Associations with Professor Scarlett

What would you want others to know about the School of Law? The School of Law cooperates with several other departments to offer dual degree programs. Dual degrees are great opportunities to learn, specialize and differentiate yourself. The M.B.A. degree has been valuable to me. I understand business related law courses better than had I not had this background. Options, to me, are a priority because I want to get the best job possible – one that challenges me, allows me to grow and gain responsibilities, and in an area I’m passionate about. Having a dual degree provides me with the education and experience to stand out among a sea of law student graduates.

Advice

Advice on studying: The library and coffee shops are noisy. Bring your music to help you focus.

Balancing studying, friends, family and work: It's a juggle, but doable. Leave the weekends to have fun and the week to work and study. Tell yourself not to quit. Never give up putting your “all” into it.

Sound Bytes

One cool thing you've done: I watched the sunset over the Taj Mahal, and the view took my breath away.

Places to eat near campus? King and I (Thai), Guidos (Italian and Spanish Tapas), Cha Yoon (Sushi Rolls), El Maguey (Mexican)

Favorite Study Spot: I like to study anywhere near windows. If I can't be outside, I like to at least see it.

What are the things every prospective student should know about living in St. Louis? Coming from Washington, D.C., having gone to college and worked there for several years, St. Louis was a pleasant surprise. St. Louis has a little bit of everything. It's a mid-size city with a laid back attitude. This means that there are pockets of culture and interesting activities. There's enough to do year round to keep you busy. Things are generally slower and more laid back than the East and West coasts. This was great for me. I like very active cities, but with law school, I didn't want to be too distracted. You need to be able to focus. At the same time, when you want to do something different and get out, you have options. Also, it's less expensive to live here than in New York, D.C. or Los Angeles. Traffic is nothing compared to those cities either. Overall, I like St. Louis.