Zachary Donaldson says CLJC provides 'breadth and variety of experiential learning opportunities for pre-law students'

Zachary Donaldson found his experiential learning opportunity through the Center for Law, Justice & Culture (CLJC), and his advice to pre-law students is to check out the many connections the center helps provide for internships, guest speakers, and more.

"I would recommend that students searching for internship or work opportunities contact Larry Hayman and stop by the CLJC. We have fantastic resources for connecting students with different legal professionals right here in Southeastern Ohio and beyond, and experiential learning can absolutely bolster your perspective as a pre-law student here," Donaldson, a political science major in the Honors Tutorial College, said.

As a pre-law associate in the center, Donaldson is responsible for writing articles for the CLJC newsletter, reaching out to alumni and law school admissions officers to set up events such as the Law Fair and Pre-Law Day, and handling other day-to-day tasks for the center.

"To me it has been incredible to get a full view of the breadth and variety of experiential learning opportunities the center provides for pre-law students. Being on the ground-level now, I get a firsthand perspective on the planning and facilitation for all of the speaker visits, trips, and events we have in store, and I have to tip my cap to my advisors Larry Hayman Esq., Dr. Kevin Uhalde, and everyone else that helps make the center the best it can be," Donaldson said.

“Zach is an outstanding and forward-thinking student and CLJC Pre-Law Associate,” Hayman said. “He helps coordinate and distribute our weekly newsletter, maintains communication with law schools and law-related alumni, and assists in facilitating CLJC’s many events, among other duties. He also always brings a positive attitude to his position and shows up eager to learn new things. We are lucky to have him as part of the team.”

Donaldson said an added benefit is that working at the center has reaffirmed his interest in studying and practicing as an attorney.

"The opportunity to get acclimated more personally with a variety of amazing members of the legal community has been a constant reminder of why I do the work I do. It’s also challenged me and broadened my horizons on just how many different populations and sections of service attorneys can provide, whether it is the throes of large-stage international law or public defense of the little guy in Appalachia," Donaldson added.

Q&A with Zachary Donaldson

Q: Who have been your favorite professors and how have they made an impact on your life? 

A: My favorite professors so far have been Dr. Nukhet Sandal and Dr. Kathleen Sullivan. Dr. Sandal helped broaden my knowledge and horizons as a student of political science last year in our tutorial on international relations, giving me a more global perspective to the work I do and pushing me as a researcher and communicator. Dr. Sullivan has been a fantastic resource as my academic advisor and was also instrumental in furthering my passion for the legal field through her Politics of Law course. I’ve utilized both the practical knowledge and skills obtained from their mentorship in my writing, discipline, and networking in this position.

Q: What has been the hardest hill you had to climb (not counting Jeff Hill) at OHIO? And how did you overcome challenges or obstacles in your path?

A: The most challenging but rewarding obstacles in my OHIO academic career have been my tutorials. Having the opportunity to deep-dive into research on topics of interest one-on-one with faculty has been a unique privilege and forced me to become more grounded in academic argument, discipline with completing work, and research. I have been able to thrive in these situations with the help of my incredible advisors, and frankly experiencing trial by fire and leaning into the challenge.

Q: What are your favorite OHIO memories?

A: My favorite OHIO memories professionally and academically are getting to compete on the Mock Trial Team. I hope to practice law in the future, and having the chance to both try cases and build incredibly close bonds with my teammates was rewarding and enriching.

Q: What’s the one thing you would tell a new OHIO student not to miss?

A: I would tell new OHIO students to not miss out on immersing themselves in the area around them – especially if they aren’t originally from Appalachia. I came from out of state, and exploring the rich culture, regional history, and natural beauty of Southeast Ohio has been one of my favorite parts of coming to Athens.