Meet Professor Jessica Erickson
Jessica Erickson is a Professor of Law and Director of the Richmond Law & Business Forum. She also runs this account. She teaches the 4-credit Business Associations course in the fall, Civil Procedure, and the Business Litigation Practicum. She previously worked in corporate litigation at Hunton Andrews & Kurth in Richmond.
Q: Why did you start the Richmond Law & Business Forum?
A: The Forum has been a long time in the making! First, I wanted to create a community of students interested in business law. Business law is the second most popular area of interest among our students, but we didn’t have a consistent way for these students to connect with each other and learn more about the practice.
Second, I wanted to create opportunities for students to network with business lawyers. I am *not* a networker! The thought of “networking” (which I imagine to include large banquet halls filled with awkward conversation among strangers) is my nightmare. But once I started to reframe “networking” as “building your professional network,” I realized that we could help students connect with business lawyers in ways that feel less awkward. Watch for our smaller events, lunches, and dinners this year.
Finally, I love our alumni, and I wanted to reconnect with them. They have so much to offer our current students, and I want to bring their expertise back to the law school.
Q: What courses do you recommend that students interested in business law take?
A: We have so many! Definitely start with Business Associations. In my view, the next courses to take are Securities Regulation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Finance, and Bankruptcy. You should also take Corporate Tax and Partnership Tax, especially if you want to go into transactional law. And I highly recommend our experiential offerings, from the IP & Transactional Law clinic to the In-House Externship program and the Start-Up Accelerator Practicum. From there, explore additional electives to find a mix that appeals to you. And don’t be hesitant to reach out to any of the business law professors for guidance on your individual situation.