Law School tour opens eyes of delegates, shows opportunity

By Brianna Schreurs

For more than 100 years, the University of South Dakota Law School has created respected lawyers across South Dakota and the country.

Wednesday night, Girls State delegates were given an opportunity to take a tour of USD’s historic law school and see what it has to offer.

“This law school has a pretty proud history,” Nick McInerey, USD’s director of admissions and communications said. “It’s the only law school in the state of South Dakota, and its mission is to train the future lawyers, the future judges, the future attorneys of the state of South Dakota and beyond.”

McInerey led the tour of 51 Girls State delegates through the law school. He showed delegates a classroom, the school’s courtroom and the law library, which serves as a legal resource for the whole state of South Dakota. Along with showing off the school, McInerey also discussed the types of students that attend it.

“There is so many misconceptions of what law school is,” McInerey said. “Really what we’re looking for are people who are critical thinkers, driven, and intelligent. There is really no one major that leads to law school.”

He said that students who join the law school have majors ranging from biology to dance.

“Do what you love, love what you’re passionate about,” McInerey said. “What we are really looking for is someone who is can think logically and critically, because that’s what law school’s about.”

Hearing this made delegates, like Karleen Murtha from Boston, think about pursuing law studies in the future.

“I took the law tour because I was elected in as a state’s attorney (at Girls State). I thought maybe since I’m doing this job, maybe throughout the week I’ll become more interested in it,” Murtha said. “I liked what he was about while you’re going to law school how you can take classes that you enjoy.”

Other delegates also appreciated the tour and the opportunity to see what law school was all about.

“I thought it was a great sort of taste of what South Dakota law school would be like,” Morgan Fuller, Detroit, said. “He did a great job of explaining what is explaining what is expected, what we would want do if we wanted to get in, and how the school runs. It was very compressive.”

The tour opened the eyes of delegates to new programs that will be available at the future. McInerey mentioned a program called “3 + 3”, which will reduce the number of years students spend in school.

Instead of seven years, students apart of the program will be able to finish all their schooling in six years.  Students will begin law school their senior year, instead of after their senior year, making them use their skill in the state quicker.

McInerey made sure to let the delegates know they can still pursue their passion while going to law school.

“Do what you love,” McInerey told delegates. It’s not about the education you have, it’s about you.”

(Photo: University of South Dakota Director of Admissions and Communications Mike McInerey explains the ins and outs of USD’s Law School. Jordann Krouse / Sacajawea Scroll)