Student Spotlight: Joshua Hall, L’24
As we celebrate Black History Month, we’re sharing how some of our current students are making Black history right now. Like transfer student Joshua Hall, L’24, who is excited to be completing his law degree in his hometown of Richmond, VA.
Why did you decide to attend law school?
When I was in elementary, middle, and high school, I was always more interested in the classes that focused on social studies and history. From there, I went on to get my associate degree in criminal justice and my bachelor’s degree in political science. The natural next step was to pursue a law degree to round out my education. When I was just starting high school, the Travon Martin case happened, and when that decision came out as not guilty, I think something inside me made me want to know how, after hearing those facts, a verdict of not guilty could be reached. Now I know that was the spark that inspired me to learn about how the American judicial system operates.
Why Richmond Law, in particular?
I started my law school career at Widener University Delaware Law School. But I decided to transfer to the Richmond Law because this is where I am from. I started from very humble beginnings on the South Side of Richmond. My mother passed away when I was very young, and I know it would mean everything to her for me to earn my JD in the city where my journey started.
What are your career goals? How does your experience as a Black man impact those goals?
I aspire to be a lawyer for a firm that handles complex issues for clients in the corporate space. I find the legal issues surrounding the business world so fascinating. Finding the answer to a legal business problem is like solving a puzzle to me and your work on the case is just one piece of solving that giant puzzle with your team for your client. Being a Black man has impacted my goal of wanting to be a corporate lawyer because you don’t see too many Black people as lawyers or in the corporate space of law. I strive to one day be a resource for other Black people who also want to be a lawyer.
How have you benefitted from being a member of BLSA?
I have benefitted from joining BLSA by finding a community of students who are going through some of the same struggles I am going through in law school. It can be hard to find your way as a first-generation minority student in law school, but BLSA makes it a little easier.
What aspect of your law school experience has surprised you the most?
I have been very surprised by the different levels of knowledge people have coming into law school. Some students are second, third, or even fourth-generation law students. So those students come in knowing what they want to do and how they must go about doing it. Whereas for a lot of minority first-gen students, you aren’t just adjusting to the work in law school (which is greatly different from undergrad) and you have to also figure out who you want to be and how you are going to do it. That can be very stressful, and it was very stressful for me until I got the hang of things and received guidance from my mentors and professors.
What impact do you hope to make on the legal system after you graduate?
I hope to become an excellent attorney who produces great work for my clients and becomes a resource who can give back to other students trying to become an attorney.
In one word, how would you describe your experience at Richmond Law?
Life Changing (Sorry, I know it's two words but that’s what Richmond Law has been for me).
Transcript lightly edited for length and clarity.