Chris Tolbert

Chris Tolbert More Student Profiles ...

Hometown: Saint Paul, Minnesota

Undergraduate School and Degree: Saint John's University, political science

Why a career in law? I thought (and still believe) that a legal education was the best way to prepare myself for a career in public service.

Why Hamline? The professors that I spoke with at Saint John's highly recommended Hamline to me as a place where a commitment to public service is well fostered and encouraged. They believed that Hamline would be the perfect fit for a person with my commitment to civic duty. I have found those professors to be correct. Also, the flexibility that Hamline offers students has attracted a very unique student body with very diverse backgrounds, which leads to an interesting intellectual atmosphere both inside and outside of the classroom.

Hamline's culture? It is a great and very unique community to be a part of. The numerous groups give me a chance to do all the non-academic things that I like to do: from playing on the intramural hockey and football teams, to being a member of the Law Democrats, I have had the chance to meet a lot of different people and form quality relationships.

How are you involved? Hamline Law Hockey, Law Democrats, ACLU, Intramural Football

Goals after law school? Immediately after graduation, I would like to do trial work, either in the criminal arena or in the civil arena. Eventually, however, I would like to work with public policy on the state or city level.

Last book read for pleasure? Team of Rivals

Favorite Twin Cities activity? Being on a lake or the Mississippi.

How do you stay in shape? Running and hockey.

What's playing on your MP3 player now? Johnny Cash.

One thing you wish you had known before starting law school? Financial Accounting.

How will you improve the world when you're a lawyer? Being a lawyer has placed me in a unique position to understand, interpret, and to see the long-term impact of policies and laws on people's lives. I believe that lending my hand to the shaping of those policies and laws may be able to help people.

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