Dalton Davis first became interested in the law when one of his friends asked him to volunteer as a witness for a mock trial during his freshman year of college. The experience led him to get heavily involved in both mock trial and moot court in undergrad, which solidified his interest in law school.

When he began applying to law schools in his senior year, Dalton immediately focused on Vanderbilt Law for multiple reasons. It was relatively close to his home state of North Carolina, and he appreciated the collegial atmosphere and strong employment outcomes. Vanderbilt also offered him a significant scholarship, which sealed the deal.

“Vanderbilt had the best combination of culture, lack of debt, and opportunities coming out of law school,” he recalled.

Coming into law school, Dalton knew that he was already interested in litigation, especially in administrative law; his senior thesis covered a related topic. Taking Civil Procedure with Ingrid Brunk during his first semester of law school only further confirmed his interest. He also enjoyed taking two Constitutional law classes with James Blumstein and courses on complex litigation and federal courts with Brian Fitzpatrick. He was also able to work as a research assistant for Professor Blumstein for the past year and half.

Dalton’s campus involvement extends beyond academics and research. He’s a Notes Editor for the Vanderbilt Law Review and the President of the Federalist Society. He also completed externships at the Supreme Court of Tennessee and the Tennessee Office of the Solicitor General.

“[A] lot of law schools” are in more rural places, “but being in a capital city, we have the Tennessee Supreme Court and Attorney General’s Office right here. It was just a great opportunity [to extern during the school year,]” he explained.

Dalton interned at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia his 1L summer. He returned to D.C. the following year as a summer associate at Latham & Watkins, working in various cases being litigated in federal district and circuit courts on appeal.

After graduation, Dalton plans to clerk in three different courts: first at the Supreme Court of Tennessee in Nashville, followed by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa, and finally at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in Greenville, South Carolina.

“It was really cool how my professors were instrumental in helping me get those clerkships, because I’m a first-generation law student,” Dalton explained. “It’s unfamiliar territory, so having professors that were able to really help me through that process was invaluable.” After completing his three clerkships at, he plans to begin working at a law firm, focusing on litigation practice.

He says that his time at Vanderbilt Law School has prepared him well to join the working world full time.

“I think Vandy did a really nice job of marrying two important concepts, where we think about why the law works the way it does and how it should work better, while also actually developing the practical skills to go and be an attorney. That was part of what I was looking for in a law school, and I found that to be the case at Vanderbilt,” he said.