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Sarah Graham is in her second year of law school in IU McKinney’s hybrid program. She works for the Indiana Public Defender’s Office,

Where are you from? Where did you do your undergraduate studies and what was your major?

I was born and raised here in Indianapolis. I earned an associate’s degree in paralegal studies from Ivy Tech in 2018 and a bachelor’s degree in law in Liberal Arts from IU in 2022. 

Any lawyers in your family? What made you decide you wanted to go to law school?

I have two aunts who are lawyers, but I am a first-generation college student. I decided I wanted to go to law school after reading Michelle Alexander’s The New Jim Crow and working with Fran Watson when she partnered with Ivy Tech’s legal studies program to do a wrongful conviction clinic there. I am particularly interested in post-conviction and re-entry, juvenile justice, and cases involving life without parole or the death penalty. 

 What brought you to IU McKinney in particular? What has your experience been like as a student in the hybrid program at IU McKinney?

IU McKinney was a no-brainer for me because it was the only law school in the state that would allow me to continue working for the Indiana Public Defender during the day and attend classes at night. I am also a mother and did not want to relocate my family. 

My experience in the hybrid program has been exactly what I expected. It is just as rigorous as I imagine any full-time law school program would be, especially for students who are working or raising families. However, the flexibility of the hybrid option makes the coursework manageable, and the professors have gone above and beyond to make sure we are staying on pace and understanding the material. 

What’s been the biggest adjustment you’ve had to make in your life since you started law school?

The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is learning how to manage my time more efficiently so I can juggle work, class, and parenting. At the beginning when I was still learning how to read cases, I struggled through many late nights and early mornings. Now I have developed a system that works for me and my family. I can sleep more and be more involved with my kiddos while producing the same results in my studies.

What student groups have you been involved in?

I am a member of the Black Law Students Association, Phi Delta Phi, and the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. As a hybrid student, it has been difficult to be as involved in these groups as I would have preferred. I’m hoping we can work better with the hybrid program in the future to schedule meetings and events on days when hybrid students are on campus. 

What are your plans for after law school?

After law school, I plan to practice as an attorney at the Public Defender’s Office, assisting clients in petitions for post-conviction relief. I’m also excited to use my future status as an attorney to find ways to give back to my Indianapolis community.