The 150th: Minji Kim
The member of BU Law's 150th graduating class reflects on her experience in law school.
Minji Kim (’23) Was Lifted Up by Her Community
The member of BU Law’s 150th graduating class reflects on her experience in law school.
The Commencement of the Class of 2023—BU Law’s 150th graduating class—makes a fitting culmination to a year of events celebrating the school’s sesquicentennial. Like tens of thousands who have gone before them, these graduates are poised to go out in the world and accomplish amazing things.
Studying and socializing together across various cultural backgrounds and experiences, they formed close bonds and learned about themselves and the law.
This group of JD students arrived from 21 countries and 35 states, plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. They had the added challenge of beginning their studies during a pandemic. But they went the distance. They worked hard to apply themselves and find career paths that matched their interests and abilities.
Likewise, the LLM, masters, and certificate students hailed from 40 countries and represented professionals at every career level, from age 21 to 70. Many received intensive instruction in legal English to build a strong foundation for their studies. They will use their newfound knowledge to advance their careers and improve legal systems here and abroad.
We checked in a group of students—including Minji Kim (’23)—during their final year to learn more about what made their time at BU Law unique and how they plan to make the most of their degrees.
Q&A
with Minji Kim (’23)
The Record: What was your law school journey like?
Minji Kim: I did my first year fully remote from Los Angeles. Once I got to meet people in person, I built some really great relationships. The thing I’ll remember most is the community that I’ve found through my involvement with the affinity groups. I was copresident of First Generation Professionals, networking chair for OutLaw, and codirector of the Be Yourself Orientation.
In college, you came to class to learn things you didn’t know. And then, in law school, I’m expected to come to class knowing things already and have a discussion from there. That was an interesting shift for me and something that took a little time to understand. Having these strong connections really helped you get through the harder academic parts.
The Record: You are a first-generation Korean-American and the first in your family to graduate college. How did you discover you wanted to go to law school?
Minji Kim: If I’m being honest, I don’t think I really knew what law school was before I came. I decided to go to law school to continue intellectually challenging myself. I look back at my 1L self and think, wow, you really did not know what you’re getting yourself into. That being said, I don’t regret it. I’m excited about the opportunities this education is going to afford me.
The Record: What support did you receive?
Minji Kim: Being the child of immigrants, I had always been afraid to ask for help or acknowledge or admit I was struggling. Law school was the first time I felt other people were willing to help me.
I will always have a special place in my heart for Associate Dean [Geraldine] Muir, who is just a dream. She provided me with a sense of reassurance and comfort during more difficult times at law school. She will advocate for you, listen to you, and take you seriously. I was shocked at how well supported I’ve been through some personal struggles.
Being the child of immigrants, I had always been afraid to ask for help or acknowledge or admit I was struggling. Law school was the first time I felt other people were willing to help me.
The Record: What advice would you have for others new to law school?
Minji Kim: Your community is your best resource. I would be completely lost if it wasn’t for my mentors. Create a board of directors for your experience, people of different backgrounds. There’s a ton of informal mentorship resources at BU. I’ve been so touched by how willing my peers have been to help me.
Another piece of advice is not to lose yourself in the law school world. Keep your hobbies, friendships, and your other relationships outside of law school active. It can be really easy to fall into the echo chamber of law school and feel everything related to that world is the be-all, end-all.
The Record: I understand you are a powerlifter.
Minji Kim: Powerlifting has helped me maintain a sense of identity throughout the very intense and demanding experience of law school.
When I was a personal trainer, I was a competitive powerlifter. That’s about lifting as much weight as possible for one repetition. It’s a mix of preparation and planning, but you also have to have blind faith at a certain point and believe you can do something that seems a little impossible. I’m about 5’4’’ and was able to deadlift 315 pounds. Powerlifting has been an integral part of keeping my sanity through law school.
The Record: What’s next for you?
Minji Kim: I’ll be doing labor and employment law in Philadelphia upon graduation at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, where I was a summer associate. I love labor and employment because it deals with human capital.
The Record: Your parents must be thrilled.
Minji Kim: Yes, absolutely. It’s a stereotype of immigrant families, and especially Asian immigrants, to want their kids to become doctors or lawyers, but it’s true that I’m their immigrant dream. They came to America with nothing, with two suitcases, and now their daughter is going to be an attorney. My dad will randomly text me all the time and say, “I’m so excited my daughter is gonna be an attorney,” and “I’m so proud of you.” And that definitely does feel good, especially since I’m an only child and feel a lot of pressure to make my parents’ struggles and journey over here worth it. This is something that I’m achieving not only for myself but for my family and what they’ve sacrificed.