Law Day celebrates Furman students and alumni heading to law school

Furman University students and alumni made their deliberations and the jury is in: They’re heading to law school.

The Furman University Pre-Law Society hosted its Law Day Celebration on April 29, recognizing the Paladins who are rising first-year law school students. The event honored 26 graduating seniors and recent alumni, many of whom announced their decisions on what law school they will attend.

This law school cycle, Furman had more than 40 prospective law students who sent out more than 400 applications combined, said Maya Russell, the pre-law advisor in the Office of Pre-Professional Advising (OPPA). The university’s faculty and staff supported them with more than 100 letters of recommendation, and many of these mentors attended the Law Day festivities.

“People ask me all the time, ‘Why should I go to Furman?’ It’s the people in this room – their support, their advocacy,” Russell said.

Emerson Gray ’25 gives thanks to Dana Professor and Chair of Politics and International Affairs Glen Halva-Neubauer for his mentorship and guidance through Furman’s mock trial team. Photo by Owen Withycombe, Furman University.

Support beyond the classroom

As the rising “1L’s” took the stage in the Trone Student Center Watkins Room, they gave thanks to the many inspiring mentors and peers who helped guide them along their journey to law school.

For some, Study Away experiences gave them perspective that opened their eyes to new possibilities. Summer internships offered practical examples of their future career prospects and prepared them for the professional world.

For philosophy and politics and international affairs double major Emerson Gray ’25, Furman’s mock trial team helped him see himself in the courtroom. He connected with multiple internship opportunities by networking with professionals through the mock trial team’s founder, Dana Professor and Chair of Politics and International Affairs Glen Halva-Neubauer.

“All of our coaches are attorneys, and they meet with us three to five times a week, investing their time and energy into our success,” Gray said. “These kinds of relationships give students a leg up.”

Paladins are heading to law schools throughout the country, including Northwestern Prtizker School of Law, George Washington University Law School, Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University and the University of South Carolina Joseph F. Rice School of Law, among others. The following students and alumni were honored at the Law Day Celebration:

• Morgan Chapman ’25, politics and international affairs
• Halley Cleary ’20, history
• Evie Crumrine ’26, communication studies and French
• Arnav Desai ’26, psychology
• Molly Ford ’22, politics and international affairs
• Colin Gagné ’24, history
• Ella Drye ’26, music and sociology
• Caitlin Goldwait ’25, politics and international affairs
• Emerson Gray ’25, philosophy and politics and international affairs
• Boland Grayson ’25, politics and international affairs
• Patrick Guinee ’26, politics and international affairs
• Jaeyden Hill-Mims ’24, Africana studies and politics and international affairs
• Ellie Howard ’25, sociology
• Erin Jacob ’26, psychology
• Alex Lewis ’25, art history and English
• Sophie Michael ’26, politics and international affairs and urban studies
• Christian Mancino ’24, economics and politics and international affairs
• Lillian Meyer ’24, Africana studies and politics and international affairs
• Isabella Restrepo ’25, French and politics and international affairs
• Smith Sanford ’26, politics and international affairs
• Delaney Schwab ’25, English and Spanish
• Jackson Sudermann ’25, Japanese studies and politics and international affairs
• Lynley Stewart ’26, psychology and French
• Alex Threlkeld ’24, German and politics and international affairs
• Jackson Willeford ’26, Spanish and politics and international affairs
• Eric Wilson ’24, Spanish and politics and international affairs