TIMBERWOLF SOLDIER GIVES VETERAN’S DAY SPEECH AT HIS LAW SCHOOL

Thank you for being here tonight. As Hadley mentioned, I have served in the Army as a Paralegal for 17 years in a variety of assignments. One would assume that my experience as a Paralegal in the Army would provide a leg up on other incoming 1L’s in law school in terms of my legal knowledge. But I did not necessarily find that to be the case. Although there were fundamental legal concepts that were transferrable, much of the rules and procedural aspects of the Uniform Code of Military Justice were different than civilian practice. The entire concept of civil litigation was essentially foreign to me.

Though the Army did not teach me the specifics about the law I would be required to know as a 1L, it has taught me plenty of skills that have allowed me to succeed as one. One of the skills you must master to succeed as an enlisted in the Army is discipline. You must rise at the same time every morning. You must be at formation at a specified time every day. You must maintain your physical fitness (though I am finding that increasingly difficult with age). This discipline has allowed me to prioritize and complete the multitude of assignments and reading expected of me in law school.

The military also taught me how to deal with and overcome stress. During Advanced Leaders Course, the final week consisted of “stress training.” I remember hearing about that and wondering what stress training could be. I quickly discovered stress training was simply a denial of sleep. I need not tell you how transferable a scenario that has been for me at law school. But this sleep deprivation taught me how to perform my tasks under pressure. How to control my emotions. Mental resiliency. Perhaps most important, that experience (and many others in the Army) taught me that we are all capable of much more than we believe.

One of the biggest takeaways I have learned from the Army is that you can endure almost anything… so long as you know how long you must endure it. Knowing what you need to do allows the strength of will to see it done. This skill has been incredibly useful as we approach the end of the semester, with me still having to complete my Legal Writing II Appellate Brief, take the MPRE, study for finals, sign up for classes for next semester, and applying for externship and internship opportunities for next summer, all while balancing my duties in the Army Reserve and my family.

Despite all these upcoming tasks, I know they will all get done. I know this not because of my confidence in myself, but because of my confidence in others. Which brings me to the most important skill I learned in the Army: Teamwork. Anyone who has served in the military knows the importance of teamwork. Mission accomplishment requires many people striving towards a common goal, each willing to sacrifice and help to see that goal achieved.

To all my fellow students and anyone who has attended law school, I know you have all sacrificed. Know that those around you have as well. Whether it is your family, your friends, or even your employer. I say that not to make you feel guilty, but so that you know how many around you want you to succeed and are willing to help you do so. Rely on them. I would not have made it through my 1L year without the help from my family, friends, and fellow students. Know that we are all in this journey together.

Law School has not been easy. At times it has been overwhelming. It requires a tremendous amount of discipline, mental resiliency, and teamwork to complete. For my fellow students, I feel your pain. But I promise, if you have the discipline to plan what you need to get done, put in the work to complete it, and rely on those around you to help you through this journey, you will graduate. To everyone else, thank you all for help and sacrifice.”

1st Sgt. Nicholas Valade, with the Headquarters and Headquarters company 104th Division (Leader Training) goes to law school full time at the Seattle University School of Law and is the current President of the Veteran’s Law Society, an Executive Board Member of the Moot Court Board and the National and Regional Competition Committee Co-Chair.