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Emily McLaughlin
1,225
Bold Points1x
Finalist![user profile avatar](https://static.bold.org/profilePictures/lauren100879283618d70cc33d4924531923b23f612f37e96.webp)
Emily McLaughlin
1,225
Bold Points1x
FinalistBio
Hello! My name is Emily and I'm a first year law student.
I was inspired to attend law school following a serial killing that engrossed my community when I was in high school. One of my mock trial coaches prosecuted the murderers. My coach represented a positive image of the law and was a powerful female role model to my young self. After such a horrific crime, she helped to heal the community through law. Her confidence, her dedication to the community, her success—she embodied everything I hoped I would see in myself someday.
While my gravitation towards law began with a criminal case, my work experiences further cemented my interest in the field, opening my eyes to other possibilities that a legal education will allow me to pursue. Working for a family attorney granted me hands-on experience with divorce and custody cases, specifically Special Immigrant Juvenile cases. My job as a paraeducator aiding students with multiple disabilities introduced me to special education law, and the ways in which attorneys advocate for students and families.
After a stimulating first semester, I'm proud to share that I made the Dean's List, ranking in the top 20% of my class. Recently, I earned a spot on Drexel's nationally ranked trial team. I'm also a member of Drexel's Criminal Law Society and the Women's Law Society.
This summer, I have the opportunity to work with a federal judge as an unpaid intern. I'm grateful for the opportunity to earn scholarship funds, which will help to ease my financial burden and allow me to pursue internships and a career in public interest law.
Education
Drexel University
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)Majors:
- Law
Muhlenberg College
Bachelor's degree programMajors:
- English Language and Literature, General
Bensalem High School
High SchoolCareer
Dream career field:
Law Practice
Dream career goals:
Attorney
Public services
Volunteering
AARK Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center — Volunteered weekly coordinating care of injured animals2020 – 2021Volunteering
Cara's Sweetheart — Collected toys during the holiday season; prepared and served food to families staying at the Ronald McDonald House2015 – Present
A Man Helping Women Helping Women Scholarship
On a July morning in 2017, I awoke to helicopters hovering above my friend’s house, where I had stayed the night. We watched from the driveway in disbelief as the police searched the neighbor’s home, having arrested him for murder. The faces of four missing boys, just a few years older than I was at the time, had flooded the news for days by this point. The boys’ bodies were recovered on Cosmo DiNardo’s family farm, and he confessed to their murders. His accomplice, Sean Kratz, was also arrested and eventually convicted for his crimes. Both DiNardo and Kratz are currently serving life sentences.
This case engrossed my community as we followed the headlines. The local news eventually moved on, along with the rest of my town, but the DiNardo murders continued to haunt me. I was immersed in it.
By this time, I was already on my high school’s mock trial team. My decision to join mock trial was easy—I didn’t play a sport or an instrument; I didn’t have an artistic bone in my body. I was shy. I wanted to meet new people. I wanted to be a part of something. So, I tried out for the mock trial team. One of my mock trial attorney coaches was a Bucks County Assistant DA; it was only after working with an attorney that I first considered the possibility of going to law school. She represented a positive image of the law and was a powerful female role model to my high school self. My coach also happened to prosecute Sean Kratz. After such a horrific crime, she helped to heal the community through law. Her confidence, her dedication to the community, her success—she embodied everything I hoped I would see in myself someday.
While my gravitation towards law began with a criminal case, my work experiences further cemented my interest in the field, opening my eyes to other possibilities that a legal education will allow me to pursue. Working for a family attorney granted me hands-on experience with divorce and custody cases, specifically Special Immigrant Juvenile cases. My job as a paraeducator aiding middle school students with multiple disabilities introduced me to special education law, and the ways in which attorneys advocate for both students and families, and teachers/school districts.
My decision to pursue a legal education was not the result of some defining moment or epiphany, but rather a culmination of my experiences. I have seen the impact of major crime within my own community, and the ways we can use law to cope with crisis. The presence of a strong female attorney with a commitment to the community and the law helped me to realize my own goals. Whether prosecuting criminal cases or advocating on behalf of students with special needs, I plan to use my legal education to create positive change within the community and empower other women to do the same.
Margot Pickering Aspiring Attorney Scholarship
On a July morning in 2017, I awoke to helicopters hovering above my friend’s house, where I had stayed the night. We watched from the driveway in disbelief as the police searched the neighbor’s home, having arrested him for murder. The faces of four missing boys, just a few years older than I was at the time, had flooded the news for days by this point. The boys’ bodies were recovered on Cosmo DiNardo’s family farm, and he confessed to their murders. His accomplice, Sean Kratz, was also arrested and eventually convicted for his crimes. Both DiNardo and Kratz are currently serving life sentences.
This case engrossed my community as we followed the headlines. The local news eventually moved on, along with the rest of my town, but the DiNardo murders continued to haunt me. I was immersed in it.
By this time, I was already on my high school’s mock trial team. My decision to join mock trial was easy—I didn’t play a sport or an instrument; I didn’t have an artistic bone in my body. I was shy. I wanted to meet new people. I wanted to be a part of something. So, I tried out for the mock trial team. One of my mock trial attorney coaches was Bucks County Assistant DA Mary Kate Kohler; it was only after working with Ms. Kohler that I first considered the possibility of going to law school. She represented a positive image of the law and was a powerful female role model to my high school self. Ms. Kohler also happened to prosecute Sean Kratz. After such a horrific crime, she helped to heal the community through law. Her confidence, her dedication to the community, her success—she embodied everything I hoped I would see in myself someday.
I quickly rose from my role as a back-up witness to team captain. I honed my skills writing direct and cross examinations. I shined in the courtroom controlling witnesses and arguing closing statements to a jury. I carried this love with me throughout college, where I started Muhlenberg College’s mock trial team. During the first month of my freshman year, I met with a professor who was interested in serving as the faculty advisor for mock trial. From there, I recruited friends and other students to join the team, most of whom had little to no experience with mock trial. We found a local attorney willing to coach us, and, after months of training, attended competitions against schools from across the country.
While my gravitation towards law began with a criminal case, my work experiences further cemented my interest in the field, opening my eyes to other possibilities that a legal education will allow me to pursue. Working for a family attorney granted me hands-on experience with divorce and custody cases, specifically Special Immigrant Juvenile cases. My job as a paraeducator aiding middle school students with multiple disabilities introduced me to special education law, and the ways in which attorneys advocate for both students and families, and teachers/school districts.
My decision to apply to law school is not the result of some defining moment or epiphany, but rather a culmination of my experiences. I have seen the impact of major crime within my own community, and the ways we can use law to cope with crisis. The presence of a strong female attorney with a commitment to the community and the law helped me to realize my own goals. Whether prosecuting criminal cases or advocating on behalf of students with special needs, I hope to make positive change within the community through my legal education and practice.
Skywalker Mission Education Scholarship
On a July morning in 2017, I awoke to helicopters hovering above my friend’s house, where I had stayed the night. We watched from the driveway in disbelief as the police searched the neighbor’s home, having arrested him for murder. The faces of four missing boys, just a few years older than I was at the time, had flooded the news for days by this point. The boys’ bodies were recovered on Cosmo DiNardo’s family farm, and he confessed to their murders. His accomplice, Sean Kratz, was also arrested and eventually convicted for his crimes. Both DiNardo and Kratz are currently serving life sentences.
This case engrossed my community as we followed the headlines. The local news eventually moved on, along with the rest of my town, but the DiNardo murders continued to haunt me. I was immersed in it.
By this time, I was already on my high school’s mock trial team. My decision to join mock trial was easy—I didn’t play a sport or an instrument; I didn’t have an artistic bone in my body. I was shy. I wanted to meet new people. I wanted to be a part of something. So, I tried out for the mock trial team. One of my mock trial attorney coaches was a Bucks County Assistant DA; it was only after working with an attorney that I first considered the possibility of going to law school. She represented a positive image of the law and was a powerful female role model to my high school self. My coach also happened to prosecute Sean Kratz. After such a horrific crime, she helped to heal the community through law. Her confidence, her dedication to the community, her success—she embodied everything I hoped I would see in myself someday.
While my gravitation towards law began with a criminal case, my work experiences further cemented my interest in the field, opening my eyes to other possibilities that a legal education will allow me to pursue. Working for a family attorney granted me hands-on experience with divorce and custody cases, specifically Special Immigrant Juvenile cases. My job as a paraeducator aiding middle school students with multiple disabilities introduced me to special education law, and the ways in which attorneys advocate for both students and families, and teachers/school districts.
My decision to pursue a legal education was not the result of some defining moment or epiphany, but rather a culmination of my experiences. I have seen the impact of major crime within my own community, and the ways we can use law to cope with crisis. The presence of a strong female attorney with a commitment to the community and the law helped me to realize my own goals. Whether prosecuting criminal cases or advocating on behalf of students with special needs, a legal education is essential for creating positive change within the community.