Name: Michael William Holland

Major: Speech - Communication and Economics

Law School: University of Minnesota

Description of your job: Hennepin County Public Defender - I represent the indigent accused against the power of the State.

Do you have any advice for students who are considering going to the same law school you did? Try to get as much practical knowledge as possilbe. Don't worry about the bar exam and take classes that interest you versus bar reveiw type courses. Everything you need to learn about the bar exam can be taught to you in BarBRI or some other course over about 2 months.

Is there anything in particular that you did during your undergrad that benefited you more than anything else in getting through law school and/or transitioning into the legal profession? I met some lawyers and did some actual legal work

If you had a chance to go through law school all over again, is there anything you would do differently? No.

Is being a lawyer what you expected it would be? Why or why not? It is better than I had expected it to be. I was looking for a job (only about money) and found a career (something that I am passionate about).

What is it like transitioning from being a law student to being a lawyer?

Very difficult. Learning to think like a lawyer is hard to do. However, never forget common sense and intuition.

Is there anything students should know about the legal profession before they decide to commit their life to it? It is stressful - learn strategies to deal with stress.

What does a typical day look like for you as a lawyer?

Court

Dealing with Clients

Lunch

Preparing for Court

Court