Heather McCollum '09 J.D./M.H.A.

Hometown: Hunterdon County, NJ

The Particulars

Legal Area of Interest: Health Law

Undergraduate degree: B.S. in Criminal Justice Studies, Minor in Biology

Scholarships/Honors: Winner of the National Health Law Moot Court Competition and Winner, Best Legal Brief, 2006; Saint Louis University M.H.A. Ignatian Scholarship

Extracurricular involvement: Health Law Association, Phi Alpha Delta, SBA Mentor, SLUMark, Research assistant for Professor Sidney Watson

The Details

What do you like best about the School of Law : Put simply, the people. The faculty and staff go out of their way to get to know you and help you when you need it. The students are competitive, but not caustic. It's a fantastic environment to learn and grow.

What has been your biggest challenge in adjusting to law school, St. Louis, or both? The biggest adjustment for me was the pace of life in the Midwest. It's amazing what a difference 1000 miles can make. In New Jersey, life moves at a sprint. In St. Louis, it's more like a slow jog. But I found a happy medium by joining student organizations and taking on a second degree. Law school is what you make of it – and I choose to make my experience a busy one.

What are you learning about law that you didn't anticipate? People tend to think that the law is a rigid and immovable object. But the truth is, law is always changing and evolving. Today's students have a chance to shape the law for a better tomorrow.

What's your passion? Life. You only get one shot at it, so why not live every moment to the fullest?

Advice

Advice on studying: Study like you're in the Kentucky Derby. Start at a moderate pace, pull out from the pack around the final turn, and give it your all down the home stretch.

What do you need to do well in school? Dedication. When it comes right down to it, everyone has access to the same study materials – textbooks, library resources, study guides, Lexis and Westlaw. To stand out from the pack, you need to show a deep understanding of the law – something that only comes from lots of time and effort.

Sound Bytes

Hobbies: Sport fishing, horseback riding, classical vocal performance

One cool thing: I traveled to the Brazilian Amazon for a remote sport fishing experience.

Favorite restaurant in St. Louis: Cha Yoon (sushi) in the Central West End.

Coffee or Tea? Coffee — black, no sugar.

Favorite quote: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” – Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken

Fill in the blank: I couldn't imagine life without love.

Favorite books: Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad); Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)

Favorite Study Spot: Mokabe's Coffeehouse (corner of Grand and Arsenal – near Tower Grove Park) – fantastic hot chocolate; you can sit there for hours and no one bothers you; seating/tables upstairs and downstairs.

What do you like about the city? As cities go, St. Louis is very accessible. At any given time, you are no more than 15 minutes from where you need to be. Dining options, social opportunities, museums and even your groceries are only a few miles away. And there's very little traffic on the local roads – even during rush hour!

What things do you do in your free time? Making time to ensure your physical and mental health is vitally important to surviving law school. I spend my free time at the gym, visiting the Zoo and Forest Park, tending to my bonsai and socializing with friends. As important as it is to study, it's also important to make time to take care of yourself.