|
Scott Simonson
February 2008
The VLP is proud to
announce that
Scott Simonson has been
chosen as
the VLP Outstanding Law
Student of
the Month for the month
of February.
Scott is a second year
law student at
the U of A and he
excelled in the Intake
Clinic during the fall of
2007. His sincerity
and compassion for others
put clients
at ease—making Scott one
of the
Intake Clinic’s strongest
interviewers.
Scott also has a valuable
ability to
obtain necessary
information from a client in an efficient manner, yet still allow
the client to tell their
story and feel validated. The VLP, and our clients, deeply
appreciate and receive
great benefit as a result of Scott’s volunteer efforts!
Scott grew up in
Portland, Oregon—a place for which he has great affection, and
that he lists as
his favorite vacation destination. He studied journalism as an
undergraduate at
the University of Oregon, and as a graduate at UC Berkeley.
He went on to work
for a time as a newspaper reporter for the Arizona Daily
Star and the
Fulton County Daily Report of Atlanta, GA. Since becoming a
law student in
2006, Scott says he has learned about how much
power and
effect procedural
rules have on a legal matter. “Before law school, I didn’t
recognize how much
could be determined by procedural law.” Scott has also
been impressed
with Professor Kenny Hegland’s teaching method and
philosophy towards
the law. “He believes in sharpening a student’s legal
intellect without
dulling one’s sense of compassion or one’s sense of humor.”
When he isn’t
studying or volunteering with the VLP, Scott relaxes by reading,
running, taking in
a round of golf, or just playing around with his two dogs. He
also enjoys
grabbing a bite to eat at his favorite restaurant, Taqueria Pico de
Gallo on south
Sixth Avenue. As a sports fan, Scott watches ESPN or the
Fox Soccer Channel
whenever he needs a mental break from studying the
law.
Scott says that
the experiences he has had during law school and through
the VLP have
taught him two very important things: that “practical
experience
is a great
teacher,” and that “no matter how busy my day is, volunteering
helps me maintain
perspective on my own problems.” When asked to
describe his
perfect job, Scott comments that his perfect job would be one
that allows him “to
be a skilled, honest lawyer who earns the respect of
his clients, and
the respect of those he works with, and against.”
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Past Outstanding Volunteer
Student Awards |
