Reflection and celebration: Catching up with the Class of 2020
We asked graduates who attended the recognition ceremony to share their thoughts on being back on campus, how their time at the Law School prepared them for their career, and more.
We caught up with some of the graduates who were able to attend the ceremony to ask them how they felt to be back on campus, to reflect on their journey at the Law School, and to share their mentors and role models.
David Gardner '20 
How does it feel to be back at the Law School to celebrate, and what are you looking forward to most about being back on campus?
I’m looking forward to taking time to recognize this moment with friends and family. Graduating in May of 2020 was odd. You knew it was happening, but because of all the uncertainty from the pandemic, celebrating felt somewhat insignificant compared to what was happening in the world. I missed the little things associated with a graduation—sharing memories and laughs with friends, celebrating moves and next steps of our lives. It will be so nice to have those moments, and I know being back at Duke and in Durham will make it much more meaningful.
How do you feel your time at Duke Law prepared you for your current career?
There’s still a lot to learn, but I think clinics made me feel especially prepared for the real world. There’s so much I learned from clinical work about making strategic decisions and collaborating with a team. Lots of things that aren’t viewed as traditional aspects of a legal education are keeping me afloat in my career now—for example, practicing empathy and relying on mentors and peers for advice and to grow.
Has your career path changed from what you thought it would be while you were in Law School?
I didn’t really know what my career path would look like exactly when I started law school, but I know it wouldn’t have happened without the guidance of my peers, mentors, career advisors, family, and friends. I can trace every big decision I made to the people willing to help me talk through decisions and stop me from overthinking about everything. In that sense, my career path has changed as I have learned more from the people in the Duke Law community who were important to me and helped me start a career where I could make an impact.
Who were your most influential mentors at Duke Law?
There are so many amazing mentors to list here, but I’ll mention my clinical faculty. They kept me grounded through the stress of law school, and they really inspired me to stay true to my values in starting a career. I went to them often if I needed to vent or if I was facing a big decision. I also really felt like they made the Law School more aligned with its mission to improve people’s lives and make legal institutions better. An example of this was when I worked with the Health Justice Clinic over the summer in 2020. I’ll never forget showing up in a parking lot double-masked, in gloves, and hands triple-sanitized to witness a will signing. Allison Rice and Hannah Demeritt, the clinical faculty, gave me a warm, socially distanced greeting I’ll never forget—much needed in the midst of bar studying—that made me remember that the work of the clinics goes on.
Of your former classmates, who do you admire most, and why?
I have so many peers I admire, but I’m especially inspired by my classmates who were in clinics with me. From being blown away by impeccable organization systems, to overhearing an empathetic call with a client, to getting a long list of ideas for overcoming barriers in my cases, I learned so much from them. Beyond that, they provided a physical (and eventually virtual) space that felt like home, where we could vent, laugh, and be together, especially on the very late nights while finishing a brief. I feel such gratitude for their examples of resilience and warmth, and I continue to admire the paths they’ve taken since graduating.
Andrea Rojas Rozo LLM'20 
What are you looking forward to most about being back on campus?
Being able to celebrate the joy of having gone through a very challenging year, with my friends that ended up becoming my family here.
How does it feel to be back at the Law School to celebrate?
It is amazing to see the building where we got to learn so much. Saying hello to friends and professors and, of course, the administrative team of the Law School is always something to look forward to also.
How do you feel your time at Duke Law prepared you for your current career?
My time at Duke Law helped me understand that we all have the potential to make a difference in the world. Through critical thinking, I was able to comprehend that the use of new technologies and tools designed by other disciplines, such as computer science, have the power of allowing everyone to have access to legal services and, therefore, access to justice. That was the main lesson I learned. I also learned that with technology and the law, it is not about how much you know about their intersection. That changes every day with new technology and new laws that apply to its use. What's more important is thinking critically about how should we use technology and about its potential, both positive and negative.
Has your career path changed from what you thought it would be while you were in Law School?
This was actually what I was expecting from my learning experience at Duke Law. I was able to change the course of my career from foreign trade and exchange to legal technology and innovation due to the things that I learned here. Now, I am working on legal innovation projects, which is something I am really happy about.
Who were your most influential mentors at Duke Law?
Professors Jeff Ward and Kelli Raker from the Duke Law Tech Lab. Also, Professor Bryan McGann from the Start-Up Ventures Clinic.
Of your former classmates, who do you admire most, and why?
It is hard to name one. All of my classmates have amazing careers and are amazing human beings. If I had to name one, I would say Luis López. He is a role model to all of us, and an example of what we can achieve with discipline and hard work.
Michael Wajda '20 
It’s very nostalgic. My last memory in the Law School is when Professor Bradley told us to have a safe spring break because the faculty were told to create distanced learning plans. Little did I know that would be my last time in the Law School building as a student.
How do you feel your time at Duke Law prepared you for your current career?
I referenced Professor Beskind’s evidence class nearly every day of my clerkship. He wasn’t kidding when he told us knowing the Rules of Evidence from memory was important. It was a huge confidence boost to be able to quickly offer recommendations to my judge based on what I learned in Professor Beskind’s class.
Has your career path changed from what you thought it would be while you were in Law School?
Not necessarily. I always intended on working in public service, and I’m happy to report that I’ll be working for a state attorney general’s office after my clerkship.
Who were your most influential mentors at Duke Law?
Professor Young was always very reassuring no matter what challenge I faced. His mentorship to all students, and especially the conservative ones, was invaluable. Professor Matt Adler put up with me for four different classes and continues to offer his advice on my career options. And Professor Sean Andrussier is the person who recommended me to the judge for whom I clerked. All of them deserve recognition for going above and beyond to help Duke Law students.
Of your former classmates, who do you admire most and why?
I admire the people who commit themselves to pursuing truth and justice. Two people who come to mind are Kayla Mullen and David Gardner. Kayla works as an Assistant District Attorney for the City of Philadelphia. David works as a Trial Attorney for the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. Both of them work to improve their communities and ensure that everyone is equal under law.
For more coverage of the Class of 2020 and their graduation, please view our special celebration page.