Stacy Jo knew she wanted to be a lawyer from a young age. “I tended to be a little on the argumentative side,” she says, “and my parents were always telling me ‘you should go to law school.’”

In college, however, she found herself drawn to a different “argumentative” field. Jo studied political science at UCLA, with a specific interest in international relations. Born in Seoul, South Korea, and raised in the U.S., she wanted to leverage her multicultural background in whatever career she chose.

After starting her career in the political arena, conversations with her family and professionals at the State Department steered her back toward a legal education. “They really emphasized going to law school, because it would open up a lot of doors,” she explains.

Jo liked Vanderbilt because of the small class size and accessibility – “I wanted to get to know my classmates, and you get to build relationships with professors” – and the Raymonde I. Paul Scholarship, which aligned with her international focus. “(I knew) the mentorship from Professor Michael Newton would be really helpful, because he’s really well known in the (international) field,” she says.

The Raymonde I. Paul Scholarship offered her other benefits as well. 2L and 3L student mentors offered her advice on how to handle each school year. Scholars are also invited to private dinners with Guest Speakers from around the world. “I recently had dinner with a UN Ambassador and a member of the State Department,” she recalls. “I think everyone should apply for the Raymonde I. Paul Scholarship.”

The school’s close-knit community helped Jo navigate a rigorous first year, as she found a group of friends to study and commiserate with during tougher moments. “There’s not much competition amongst your peers,” she says. “They all want you to succeed.” She also worked with Professor Newton to identify classes and internship opportunities that aligned with her interests.

Jo spent her 1L Summer as a diversity summer associate at K&L Gates’ D.C. office, first with K&L Gates and later with PNC Bank’s regulatory group. She credits her first-year experience with giving her the confidence she needed to be herself through the interview process. She also worked with the Career Services team to polish her statements, practice interviewing, and eventually accept her offer. She is returning to K&L Gates for her 2L Summer.

With her first full year in the rearview mirror, Jo looks forward to serving as Diversity & Inclusion Executive Board Member at the Journal of Transnational Law, and mentoring students. She is also keen to explore more of Nashville. “The food scene is pretty great, everyone is really nice, and it’s fun exploring different parts of the city,” she says.

Jo encourages young professionals with hesitations about returning to school to take the plunge, “even if you have a single doubt about becoming a lawyer. Face those fears, and you will realize that law school really isn’t as bad some people make it out to be.” She cites the support she received from friends and professors at Vanderbilt.

“I really debated coming to Vanderbilt at first, because it was so different from California,” she says. “The students share similar values; they care about getting a great education, but they also care about building a community.”