Maggie Ren

As an undergraduate student at China University of Political Science and Law, Maggie Ren studied law and journalism, with an eye toward a career in media or public relations. A successful showing at the Price Media Law Moot Court Competition at Oxford turned her onto the possibilities of tech sector. “Our  team won third place in the Asia-Pacific round, and we traveled to Oxford. Panelists were from companies like Google and Facebook, and after hearing from them, I really wanted to work in the tech industry, as a lawyer, in-house counsel, or something else,” she said.

Ren worked briefly in the PR field before earning a master’s degree in public relations and corporate communication from NYU. “This was around the time of the Facebook / Cambridge Analytica data crisis, the California Consumer Protection Act, and new legislation in China,” she said. “I was able to discuss these matters in class from a different perspective, because I was the only person that had a law degree.” A professor encouraged her to go to law school again, “because of the growing need for legal expertise in communications and technology industries.”

After weighing her options and interests, Ren opted to pursue an LL.M. degree. “One of my friends graduated from Vanderbilt several years ago, and she said it was a good experience,” she explained. “I’m also generally interested in law and business, so the certificate program stood out.”

The format of the Vanderbilt LL.M. program offers considerable exposure to the J.D. program, which Ren transferred into after one semester in the LL.M. program. “The more I integrated with the law school, especially the professors, the more I wanted to spend additional time here, because it’s so valuable,” Ren said. Professor Amanda Rose advanced Ren’s interest in corporate law through class and during office hours. She has also worked as a research assistant for Professor Morgan Ricks.

In her 2L year, Ren worked on the Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law (JETLaw), which aligned well with potential career paths. “I recommend that all students join a journal,” she said, citing the friends she made and the relevant experience she accrued through her time on JETLaw.

She also found her interests broadening as her confidence grew. “Originally, I just wanted to be a compliance or transactional corporate lawyer. Now I see new opportunities for me to consider litigation and dispute resolution. I was nervous, because English is my second language, and I didn’t know whether I was strong enough to do that kind of litigation work. But I participated in the moot court competition,” she said.

With the legal market “changing all the time,” Ren encourages prospective students to keep an open mind. “I feel like we all have to explore the curriculum, especially after 1L, to try to become more well-rounded,” she said. “Although I’m still working on building corporate, transactional skills, I’m also learning more about litigation and dispute resolution, because someday that might be the type of practice I need in the future.”

As she develops a well-rounded body of legal knowledge and skills, all while exploring career opportunities, Ren enjoys the tight-knit community she has found at Vanderbilt, among the student body, faculty, and alumni network. “I’ve made a lot of friends. There are plenty of opportunities to connect with the people you want to connect with.”