Alumni Spotlight

Our First Bradley Alumni Spotlight is Michael Farrell - the 2024 Bradley Scholar Award Winner for McKinney School of Law. Michale graduated from Bradley University in 2024 with a B.S. in English.

What's one thing about law school that surprised you the most?

Some practical advice - Many people go into law school and even spend a good portion of their first semester thinking that the readings and case law assigned each week are essential to study and memorize for their exams, but they’re really only there to provide examples of the various ways in which the legal concepts you’re learning have been applied in courtrooms throughout history. Professors never see your case briefs, and the purpose of a case brief is to make a case BRIEF, so if you don’t have time to thoroughly read everything you’ve been assigned…skim and highlight! In fact, that’s often what you’ll find yourself having to do.

What was your favorite undergraduate course at Bradley, and has it helped you in law school in any unexpected ways?

It’s hard to pick a favorite, but one that I think has been the most useful to my being a law student is the Shakespeare class I took during my last semester, taught by Prof. Ullmann. I was essentially doing the same thing I find myself doing in law school: reading through dense texts with language that is difficult to interpret (legalese is arguably just as esoteric and ambiguous as Shakespeare) and considering how their historical context helps inform their meaning. 

If you could give your pre-law self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Know that it works out in the end! There’s so much pressure to meet the standards imposed upon you, especially when it comes to your law school applications and the process of studying for and taking the LSAT. But you must realize, there’s always a new hurdle to overcome, and a new goal in which you’re incentivized to feel that you must prove that you’re worthy or “good enough” to have the success you crave. While you’re pre-law, you can get consumed by your immediate objectives: Find the right law school, study for the LSAT, and get a score on the LSAT that’s considered adequate for your desired school or the scholarships you want. But when you’re in law school, it becomes: Compete to be part of the top 10% of your class so you can stand out and secure opportunities, get the right internships/externships, study for the bar, pass the bar, etc. Realize sooner rather than later that you are deserving of what you want, simply because you want it, and that you’re more than enough. You don’t need to wait on anybody else, be it an institution or a person, to validate you and tell you that you meet your standards. Feeling secure and stable is a choice. 

What's your go-to study break activity to help you recharge?

I love physical activities the most for de-stressing. Going to the gym, running, and even doing yoga have always been constants. And when you’re feeling like it, treat yourself to a bubble bath and light some candles.

Favorite law school class so far?

Hands down criminal law. The professor is extremely engaging and knows how to break down complex legal concepts into a digestible format. Also, criminal law is one of the easier subjects to relate to real life.

What area of law are you most excited to explore?

Criminal law, mainly because I see myself being a criminal defense attorney.

Inspired by Michael's journey? As a Bradley Scholar Award recipient, Michael received a half-tuition scholarship throughout his law program at McKinney School of Law, exclusive networking opportunities with legal professionals, and automatic admission to the McKinney Law Student Ambassador program. Bradley students or alumni with a 3.6+ GPA and 155+ LSAT score can apply for this prestigious opportunity. Applications for the IU-McKinney Bradley Scholars award are due 3/31!