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Anne Svoboda is a 3L at IU McKinney School of Law. She plans to graduate in May 2024.

Where are you from originally? Are there any lawyers in your family? What made you decide to come to law school?

I am originally from Terre Haute, Indiana, and I will be the first lawyer in my family. Not only that, but I am also the first person in my family to graduate from college.

I originally did not want to go to law school – I wanted to go to college and either enter politics or governmental administration. I was a teenage mother and I struggled navigating the limited resources available to me in my rural community. After having my son in high school, I was pushed to drop out and obtain a GED so I could immediately enter the work force. I resisted the path that several other teen moms went down and graduated with honors. I wanted to advocate for those at their most vulnerable and end pointless cycles of poverty because those people in my same situation did not know how to do so. I wanted to bring awareness about the struggles that teenage mothers face and bring resources to schools to assist them, instead of pushing them out. As I progressed through college, I met a local judge that took me under his wing. I sat in on family law hearings and he convinced me to apply at the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office to learn more about being an attorney. I saw that I could make meaningful change through the skills that attorneys have, and I never looked back.

What made you chose IU McKinney for law school?

I chose IU McKinney for many reasons – primarily because of the massive experiential learning opportunities available. Not only are there hundreds of firms in downtown Indianapolis that take in law students, but the school offers drafting classes, oral advocacy skill building, and so many clinics. I knew I wanted to start helping people immediately and I have already earned over 300 pro bono hours during my time at IU McKinney. The school helped to foster not only my education, but my commitment to making change.

What experiential learning opportunities have you taken part in during law school?

During my time at IU McKinney, I have participated in the Civil Practice Clinic for the last two years and have successfully helped eight individuals expunge their criminal records. I have also counseled dozens more about expungement eligibility and their next steps. I began working at the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office in undergrad and I remain there to this day. I have been a Certified Legal Intern for the past year and have resolved dozens of pending cases. That experience has been invaluable to my legal education.

What are your plans for after you complete your legal studies?

After law school, I plan on practicing in Terre Haute focusing primarily on family law, general civil litigation, and estate planning. I will be joining the oldest firm in Terre Haute: Wilkinson, Goeller, Wilkinson, Modesitt & Drummy.