2019 Alumnus Keeping Busy in Law School

“It’s an outstanding program, and I’m on track to graduate in 2026,” said Jaxon. “One of the reasons that I selected the University of Minnesota was that it requires students to do clinic work in law school.” 

When Jaxon was ready to dedicate his “free time” in law school to a clinic, he said he wanted to make a positive impact on an issue that was important to him: gun violence. 

“I am the student director at the Minnesota Law Gun Violence Prevention Clinic,” reported Jaxon. “It’s the only clinic in the nation dedicated to this critical work. I’ve had the opportunity to partner with the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office on litigation efforts, and I’m conducting legal research and drafting briefs, motions, and interventions aimed at mitigating and preventing gun violence.”

Focusing further, Jaxon is also working as a litigation intern this summer in New York City for Everytown for Gun Safety.

“It’s the largest gun violence prevention organization in America,” said Jaxon. “I've been performing legal research and writing for the litigation team, along with writing newsletters that provide updates on case law.” 

It makes for a full day, but Jaxon said he enjoys taking the train in and out of NYC. And, as if that wasn’t enough, Jaxon is also the editor-in-chief for the Minnesota Journal of Law & Inequality.

Jaxon maintained that he may have gotten the idea for a law career in Lisa Hill’s classroom. Lisa is the History Department Chair and Director of Inclusion, Equity & Diversity at Hamden Hall.

“She used to talk about law school in class and that made a positive impression on me,” recalled Jaxon. “I was involved with Model UN and student government at Hamden Hall. I learned the importance of writing, arguing, and public speaking. I also took chemistry and physics classes, and that’s where I learned that I was definitely a humanities person.”