Alumni share their experience


Alisha Trotter

Alisha Trotter

"My work experience in combination with my passion for affordable health care is what led me to pursue a law degree."

David Wilkinson

David Wilkinson

"I wanted to explore a graduate-level degree geared towards finding solutions and effecting change. That led me to law school."

Emily Gause

Emily Gause

"I knew I was going to law school to become a criminal defense attorney after my first criminal justice class my freshman year at Washington State University. I felt so compelled to help fix a broken system."

Hannalore Burns Merritt

Hannalore Burns Merritt

"I resolved to learn more about the law and how to assist those who cannot help themselves."

Tracy Flood

Tracy Flood

"I wanted to be Claire from the Cosby Show. But even more importantly I wanted to have the tools I needed to make a difference in my community."

Mark Morgan

Mark Morgan

"I wanted to make a difference and advocate for people that are either under-represented or have been wronged. As lawyers, we are in a position to make a difference."


Alumni in non-traditional jobs


Joey Mack

Joey Mack

"The lowlight of Joey Mack’s football career at the University of Memphis was getting knocked unconscious on national television. But one of the highlights was meeting a football booster who helped shape his career."

Joseph Polito

Joseph Polito

"Finance skills are valuable in this job, and that’s the kind of thing you can learn in business school or on the job, but I wanted a law degree to set myself apart"

Katina Thornock

Katina Thornock

"I found an internship at Starbucks the summer after my 1L year and stayed on part-time through the school year," she said. "I enjoyed the spirit of the company and its mission. I had a unique opportunity to see what practicing law might look like."

Kathy Kim Carpenter

Kathy Kim Carpenter

“There’s so much I got out of going to law school that I use every day in business — whether it’s dealing with issues of contract performance, delivery, compliance or something else.”


Part-time program Alumni


Debbie Akhbari

Debbie Akhbari

"I applied to law school because I have always had an interest in the law. I was not sure exactly what I wanted to do, but I knew that a law degree was going to help me get there."

Laura Turczanski

Laura Turczanski

"I found employment law to be incredibly interesting, and I decided to pursue a law degree so that I could help employers dealing with legal issues."

Will Witherspoon

Will Witherspoon

"Arguing before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals is a rarity for practicing lawyers. So when Will Witherspoon found out he would have the opportunity to do so while still a student in the Seattle University School of Law Part-Time Program, he knew it was an extraordinary opportunity."

Lola Zakharova

Lola Zakharova

"During my time with the State Department, I received extensive training at the Foreign Service Institute and U.S. and international law enforcement agencies."

Tammy White

Tammy White

"The part-time program is filled with many students who are working professionals, starting a second career, or returning to school after raising children. This professional diversity offered an array of perspectives that led to lively classroom discussion."

Gus Lindsay

Gus Lindsay

"I choose to embark on my work career and forgot about my interest in the law. Years later, because of my role supporting EEO investigations, I began working on matters with my employer’s outside legal counsel."

Tom Raymond

Tom Raymond

"While I wanted to pursue a legal degree, I was not willing to leave my developing career. When the opportunity to accomplish both goals became available through the Part-Time Program, the pursuit of a law degree was an easy decision to make."

Samir Belyamani

Samir Belyamani

"Moreover, studying the law gave me the opportunity to increase my knowledge and understanding of a subject that affects nearly every aspect of our society."

Contact Admission

Seattle University School of Law
901 12th Avenue, Sullivan Hall
Seattle, WA 98122-1090
Phone: 206-398-4200
Toll-free: 800-471-1767
Email: lawadmis@seattleu.edu