Our class of 2020 graduates are actively engaged in the permanent job search and you can help! To connect with any of our talented class of 2020 graduates, please contact Assistant Dean for Student and Career Services, Sarah Beznoska, at s.beznoskanull@csuohio.nulledu.
Today meet Matt Wagner, who served as President of the Student Bar Association during the 2019-2020 academic year, demonstrating exceptional leadership and advocacy on behalf of his fellow students through the year and especially after March 2020 as students quickly pivoted to remote learning. Matt graduated in May 2020 and sat for the bar examination in October 2020.
What motivated you to attend law school?
I always wanted to attend law school since I was younger. I remember in the 5th grade when I was the student of the week, when asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said I wanted to be a lawyer. As time went on, that goal always remained the same.
Tell us about your legal work experience (law clerk, externship, internship, etc.).
While in law school, I worked as a law clerk for both public and private entities. I was a law clerk in the Geauga County Prosecutor's in my first summer after beginning law school. While there, I primarily worked in their civil division. The summer between my second year and third year of law school, I worked for Meyers, Roman, Friedberg, & Lewis. In the Fall of 2019, I externed for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the criminal division. Throughout these positions, I have drafted answers, memorandums, briefs, and motions.
What are the best qualities you will bring to a legal employer?
I think my resilience and tenacity are the best qualities. In law school, my ability to respond to circumstances strongly was demonstrated time and time again. Throughout my involvement in law school, which included Moot Court, the Student Bar Association, the Global Business Law Review, and more, I have also demonstrated strong leadership and teamwork abilities.
What are your goals for your legal career?
I mostly want to keep an open mind with my legal career. I just read Outliers by Macolm Gladwell and in the book he talks about the career of Joseph Flom who became a pioneer in the field of mergers and acquisitions, specifically in the area of corporate takeovers. He got to that point in his career by taking the positions that were available to him and building expertise in that field. In that same vein, I am not trying to artificially close doors for myself.