Pre-Law Passions

^{In front of the U.S. Capitol}

Grace Halvorson ’25 | Moorhead
Majors: Political Science (Pre-Law), Philosophy
Minors: English, Social Activism

Please tell us about yourself.

I’m from Moorhead, and I’m studying political science and philosophy. Other fun facts: My favorite foods in DS are the cream cheese wontons or the herb feta pizza, I spend most of my free time at Twenty Below (my favorite drink is the Kinnick), I once had 43 items of Concordia merchandise in my closet (#lifelongcobber), and my favorite study spots on campus are the study rooms in the English department!

How were you introduced to Concordia and why did you choose to stay in Moorhead and attend college here?

My parents are Cobbers, and I grew up in Moorhead, so for most of high school I wanted to leave the area for college. However, I took a couple of classes at Concordia as a PSEO student, and I immediately felt connected to my fantastic professors and dynamic, intelligent classmates. I knew Concordia would be a perfect launchpad for my future, and I was right. The classes, community, and meaningful co-curricular experiences have been incredible.

What do you enjoy most about the Fargo-Moorhead area?

Twenty Below Coffee! I was in a study away program last semester, and I missed it so much. The best motivation to study is a hot chai latte with oat milk and the Ladybird toast on an English muffin. Other than that, Fargo-Moorhead has SO MANY amazing restaurants. A few of my favorites: Sol Ave. Kitchen, Pounds, Thai Orchid, Blackbird Pizza, Plaza Azteca, and Rustica (happy hour woodfire pizzas!).

^{With Sen. Tina Smith of Minnesota}

This past spring, you were in Washington, D.C., for the Lutheran College Washington Semester program. Could you give an overview of LCWS, what a day in the life was like for you, and what your key takeaways are?

Spending a semester in D.C. was at the top of my college bucket list, and my experience was better than I even hoped. Through LCWS, students intern for four days a week in D.C., take two evening classes with adjunct professors who work in the area, and spend Fridays exploring D.C. through guided field trips, guest lectures, and service projects. I worked as a legislative intern in Sen. Tina Smith’s office. In this role, I researched policy and current events, attended briefings and hearings, and communicated with constituents who called or wrote to Sen. Smith. Walking past the Supreme Court every morning and standing next to senators in the elevator never became less surreal! I left D.C. with a lot of hope; the area is full of people who genuinely want to make a positive impact on the country. Even if we disagreed, it was possible to have a kind, thoughtful, and productive conversation. Also, the elected officials we see on TV are just like us! I sat behind a senator at a hearing, and he was texting his wife about their power being out.

How did you decide on your majors and what inspired your passion for law?

I started college as a political science and English major. I still have an English minor, but I took a couple of philosophy classes and found them to be transformative and challenging. I switched to political science and philosophy as a sophomore. I’ve really enjoyed the combination of reading and writing, interesting research, philosophical discussions, and practical policy analysis/development. As I’ve thought through my skills, interests, passions, and goals, law school felt like the next step that would equip me to make a positive impact.

What course have you taken at Concordia do you feel has best prepared you for life after graduation?

This is tough; I’ve been lucky enough to take many fantastic classes. Last fall, I took Religion, Race, and Social Justice with Dr. Lelwica, and I strongly believe everyone should take that course. The class consists of two main parts: first, critical discussion of our country’s past and present systems and analysis of our capacity for positive change, and second, a weekly mindfulness group with the youth at the West Central Regional Juvenile Center. The connections I made with those kids have reaffirmed my commitment to a life of public service focused on building a more equitable justice system. Dr. Lelwica pushed me to think deeply about my role in creating more compassionate and healthy communities, and I feel more capable of and committed to being responsibly engaged in the world.

What activities have you been involved in?

I’m currently involved in mock trial, student government, campus ministry, Pre-Law Society, and Campus Democrats. In the past, I’ve been involved in choir, worked as a student ambassador, and did research on climate anxiety with the environmental and sustainability studies program. And I briefly taught swimming lessons!

What inspired you to serve as captain of Concordia’s mock trial team? Can you share what practices and competitions are like?

I knew right away that I wanted to be part of the mock trial team. The activity is a combination of so many of my favorite things: critical analysis, legal research, persuasive speaking, strong rhetoric, collaborative teamwork, and exciting competitions. We’ve had two fantastic coaches (both Cobber alumni!) and I’ve learned so much from them over the past few years. Each year, we receive a large case file that contains case law, court pleadings, witness affidavits, exhibits, and rules of evidence. We develop a theory of our case for our defense and prosecution teams and then compete in three-hour trials against other schools. Each trial consists of opening and closing statements, six witnesses who are direct- and cross-examined, and objection arguments throughout. Mock trial is so much fun and a fantastic mode of professional development;  I highly recommend joining the team!

What was a typical day for you as a legal intern at Haugen, Moeckel & Bossart?

Interning at a law firm has been a critical part of my college experience. Especially as I pursue a career in law, the practical experiences that I had at my internship have been helpful in affirming that I’m on the right path. I took client calls; researched case law and policy; attended hearings; summarized medical records, police videos, and other legal documents; and drafted and filed pleadings. This type of close-up learning has been invaluable.

Please tell us about your experience being a part of the Minnesota Young Women’s Cabinet.

It was an honor and privilege to be part of the Young Women’s Cabinet. As a member of the cabinet, I connected with incredible women from across the state who care deeply about making their communities better. Over the course of the program, we took part in leadership trainings, conducted policy research, and designed and advocated for our legislative agenda dedicated to empowering women in Minnesota. We helped with the successful implementation of free school lunches across Minnesota, guaranteed access to menstrual products in schools, and the CROWN Act, which prohibits discrimination based on natural hair.

What have been your responsibilities for Concordia’s Student Government Association and how did you get involved?

I’ve had a few different roles in student government. Other than my new role as president, I really enjoyed serving as the civic engagement advocate. I applied to the position because I care deeply about involving college students in our democracy, so I was excited to lead Get Out the Vote and voter education efforts on campus during the 2022 midterm elections. I also coordinated Concordia’s Day at the Capitol experience, where 45 Cobbers went to St. Paul and met with their legislators to ask for increased funding of higher education. It was exciting to see so many of my classmates advocating for greater scholarship support for students.

^{With Jacob Schoenborn ’25 and Daniel Davies ’25 in front of the Kennedy Center}

You were elected SGA president for 2024-25. Why did you decide to run for student body president? 

Honestly, it took me a bit to decide to run! I didn’t want to make that decision quickly. I knew that if I decided to run for the role I wanted to be very intentional about what my goals would be, how I would approach connections with the student body and broader community, and the way I would lead SGA. After many conversations, my running mate Daniel (Davies) and I knew that we cared deeply about building a tangibly better Concordia experience for students, and we felt like we had the experience and knowledge to hit the ground running and make real progress. I’ve been grateful to learn from and work alongside many incredible student leaders — Ashley Chepkorir, Anna Kronbeck, Fanan Nizam, and Bokao Tshoganetso, just to name a few — and my time at Concordia has been better because of their leadership. I’m excited to continue to partner with students, staff, and faculty across campus to hopefully give back to a community that has given so much to me.

What are you most excited about for your term?

We’re currently working on launching a young alumni mentorship program, and I’m so excited about it. Young alumni have a unique capacity to support Cobbers as they move into their careers postgrad, as they recently made this transition themselves. They have important knowledge about the workforce for people just starting their careers and can share advice and connections with current students. Not only will this program be beneficial for current students, but it also gives recent graduates an opportunity to give back and stay connected with the college.

What motivates you to be as active as you are in co-curriculars and how do you balance everything?

My life is so much better when I’m surrounded by engaged, intelligent, joyful people. Many of the most important lessons I’ve learned at Concordia have come from being involved in co-curriculars. I’m a better person, student, and community member because I work hard to show up to events, programs, speakers, and activities. I’m grateful for the advisors and students that I get to work with; they continually teach me so much.

What is your favorite Concordia tradition and why is it your favorite?

There are many Concordia traditions that I love, but I think my favorite is when the faculty line up on either side of the main campus walkway and clap for first-year students as they walk toward Opening Convocation and the beanie toss on the first day of class. Four years later, on graduation day, faculty line up again and applaud the graduates on their way into the Commencement ceremony. That tradition is a testament to the meaningful relationships that students have with faculty and staff and exemplifies that our professors care about us as people, not just as numbers on a class roster.

What do you value most about being a Cobber?

The people. Concordia’s community is unlike any other, and I am grateful for the people who I am lucky enough to learn from, be friends with, and say hi to in DS (shoutout to Alain from the sandwich bar). In particular, the professors at Concordia are incredibly invested in and supportive of their students. Dr. Varner, Dr. Moore, and Dr. Lelwica are just a few faculty members who have mentored, challenged, and supported me over the past few years, and I am so grateful to learn from them.

Faculty have mentored, challenged, and supported me, and I am so grateful to learn from them.

^{With the Jefferson Memorial in the background}

What are your postgrad plans and career goals?

I plan to go to law school after graduation, though I may take a year to work in D.C. again first. After law school, there are many things I want to do, so we’ll see where I end up! At this point, I hope to do civil litigation through the government or with a legal nonprofit.

How has Concordia’s pre-law program allowed you to pursue your passions?

The best part of the pre-law program is that it is extremely flexible. You can choose any major and be equipped for law school! For me, that’s meant that my college experience has been tailored to a wide variety of my passions. I’ve interned at nonprofits that I care deeply about, worked in political offices and volunteered on campaigns, done research on environmental issues, gone on a camping trip for a philosophy class, and fully embraced the liberal arts curriculum.

A new pre-law minor is now being offered. Do you plan on adding that to your current areas of study? How do you think a pre-law minor can benefit current and future Cobbers?

Because I’m graduating next year, I don’t have time to add the minor, but I strongly encourage students to consider it. The new pre-law minor is a great way for students to prepare for law school, as it outlines classes that will strengthen their critical reading, technical writing, and analytical thinking skills. Law school is a big commitment, so I’m grateful that Concordia is creating more pathways for students to explore whether it would be a good option for them. The new minor is a great way for students to be set up for success in law school and beyond.

What is your favorite pre-law course? Why is it your favorite?

I’ve taken so many meaningful classes over my time at Concordia, so it’s hard to pick just one. However, Constitutional Law with Professor Quick has been one of my favorites. Professor Quick has been a defense attorney in the Fargo-Moorhead area for decades, so he has a wealth of real-world experience. Each week, we read and briefed cases on an area of constitutional law, listened to Professor Quick’s perspective of the history and current implications, and discussed our thoughts and questions. The course developed my foundational knowledge of constitutional law, validated my plans for law school, and prepared me for case briefs and complex discussions. Professor Quick also invited us to attend one of his classes at UND School of Law, so I was able to sit in on one of his criminal law courses and talk to the students about their experience in law school. I really appreciated his pragmatic approach to the law, and I have a folder full of more than 100 case briefs that I’m sure will be useful going forward.

What advice would you give to a student considering Concordia?

Come tour campus; it’s the best way to experience Concordia’s energy and joy. The warmth of this community is unlike any other, and we’d be so excited to welcome you to the Cobber family.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I’m such a happy Cobber and so grateful for this community. Roll Cobbs!

^{Published September 2024}