RAISING THE BAR
WHY I GIVE
F
or Julia Wolfe ’19, clerking for a state district court in Rochester, Minnesota, added to the depth and breadth of the legal education she received at Minnesota Law. “I clerked for a year and a half in state district court,” says Wolfe. “This was a great experience because, outside the Twin Cities, state district court judges don’t specialize in an area, so my judge handled everything: criminal, civil, probate and family law. I worked on multiple jury trials too.” These experiences led Wolfe to her current role at Stinson, where she practices estate planning. “The intellectual challenges of my practice and working with individuals and families on such personal issues are very rewarding.” Maintaining her connections to Minnesota Law are also important to Wolfe. She says she supports the Law School because “I had such a great law school experience and want to maintain a connection and support an institution that was so important to my professional and personal development.” When it comes to influencing change in the legal profession, Wolfe says that “as a young lawyer, myself, I’m staying open to ideas and experiences and listening closely to people with different perspectives and using that to continually learn.” She believes that being a lawyerleader is more than just being a subject-matter expert but should also include “being
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Julia Wolfe ’19
someone that your friends, colleagues and acquaintances turn to for more than your substantive legal knowledge,” she says. “Be the person who shows up and listens,” she advises, “whether it’s venting about a work or personal issue, asking for referrals, or just wanting to talk. To me, a lawyerleader goes beyond legal expertise.” HOMETOWN: Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, grew up in Roseville, Minnesota GIVING LEVEL: Lockhart GOLD WHAT IS ONE THING WE WON’T WE FIND ON YOUR RESUME? I love to cook and bake. Tackling big kitchen projects is always fun and therapeutic. WHAT IS ONE PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO FIRST-YEAR LAW STUDENTS? Take advantage of all the opportunities to do legal work outside the classroom in a variety of settings. Judicial externships, internships, law school clinics, provide a well-rounded look at what the legal profession is like.
