Adam Logan (‘15) Joins Sanghavi Law Office
The Class of 2015 alum leveraged his clinical experience to find meaningful work in a small practice.
Adam Logan (’15) was introduced to the legal profession by his first summer job; he spent the months between high school and college organizing the filing system in a small immigration law firm. While he studied history and took an interest in Native American history at the College of the Holy Cross, he continued to work at the firm during the summers, working his way up from administrative work to helping compile immigration petitions for filing. “This experience of working closely with attorneys over a number of years opened my eyes to the wide range of professional paths available to JDs, and piqued my interest in applying to law school,” he says.
A Massachusetts native, Logan chose BU Law because of its location and the reputation of its faculty. In his first year at BU Law, he participated in a spring break pro bono trip to Oklahoma City to work with Oklahoma Indian Legal Services. “It was a fun and fulfilling experience that allowed me to see a different part of the country while learning about [American] Indian law, and working with my classmates,” he says. Logan was also an active member of the Student Government Association as well as the Public Interest Law Journal during his second and third years.
In addition to his studies, he participated in the Civil Litigation Clinic during his final year at BU Law to gain hands-on experience and work with Greater Boston Legal Services assisting vulnerable and underserved populations in Boston. “Working with Clinical Associate Professor Naomi Mann in the Housing, Employment, Family, and Disability section of the clinic was the single most rewarding experience I had during law school, as I was able to represent clients in administrative hearings and in housing court,” he says.
While participating in the clinic, Logan worked on a notable housing case in which the clients were facing eviction for non-payment of rent after their relationship with the landlord soured. Logan and his team gathered the necessary evidence to pursue a counterclaim against the eviction and eventually reached a settlement with the landlord. “As difficult and exhausting as that case was, I found it to be the most informative and rewarding experience from law school,” he says. “I was forced to use all of the knowledge and skills I had acquired, and the process and final result meant so much to my clients.”
Logan’s experience in the clinic led him to his current position as an attorney at Sanghavi Law Office. In his final year at BU Law, Professor Mann learned about the position through her connection with the Brookline firm’s owner, Elizabeth Sanghavi, and offered to recommend him for the position. Despite his limited exposure to higher education laws, Logan was drawn to the position because of his broad interest in civil rights issues, and because of the opportunity to learn about the day-to-day operations of a small business.
In his current role, Logan serves as a co-investigator for Title IX investigations. He interviews parties and witnesses and contributes to the process of writing the final investigation reports. The position required Logan to learn about the substantive law surrounding Title IX investigations, and to adapt his writing to the investigative format of the firm’s final reports. “The most rewarding parts of my job has been working with my coworkers, who bring a wealth of experience and passion into the office,” he says. “I look forward to our team meetings when we can discuss our current cases and trade ideas about how to approach particular scenarios or reports as these conversations are the most effective tools I have to improve my understanding and eventual work product.”
In addition to Title IX investigations, the Sanghavi Law Office handles civil rights investigations for both high schools and colleges. “As the body of law and guidance relating to civil rights in education has expanded, these have become prominent issues for many schools and so our firm also offers proactive solutions, such as audits of policies and procedures, and training sessions for responsible school personnel,” says Logan.
With his experience working in the Civil Litigation Clinic one of the most transformative experiences of his BU Law career, Logan’s number one piece of advice for students is to participate in a clinic. “BU Law’s clinics offer an unparalleled opportunity to get real experience interacting with clients, thinking analytically about real world issues, and planning, organizing, and executing a plan for a particular case,” he states. “The skills you learn in a clinic are completely transferable between substantive areas and are the best way to become a better lawyer during law school.”
He adds that being flexible and keeping an open mind is advantageous in this legal market as well, since this is what led him to his current position. “I never would have predicted that I would end up working for a small firm on Title IX investigations,” he says, “but I am relishing the experience as I expand my base of knowledge and discover career opportunities that I had not previously considered.”
Reported by Erin Phelps (Questrom’16).