2005 Year in Review

Two Morrison women making history as new attorneys!

Jenny Vaughn

Colleen Buckwalter

The process of first attaining an undergraduate degree, then attending and graduating law school, then you face the seemingly toughest task of all, passing the Illinois bar. These two women also made a different type of history, they were included in first time ever women dominated graduating classes from their law colleges, a phenomenon playing out across the United StatesColleen Buckwalter and Jennifer Vaughn received the exciting news of their passing the bar on Saturday October 1. Each of these Morrison women had a unique and interesting story to tell so we decided to interview them both.

TC1:How did you find out about passing the bar and where were you?

Colleen: "I was with my family attending a junior tackle football game and watching our son Seth play. It was kind of funny how it all played out because I have been on pins and needles waiting to find out if I passed. The process takes so long it is hard to not think about it after you take the test and wait for up to 8 weeks for the pass or fail notice. But, we were at the game and a friend of mine called and said the results were on line and would I want her to check for me. I said yes, of course and then was very excited to find out I passed. My son Seth then found out and he became excited and told everyone on the field. The coach became very concerned because he thought I had “passed away”. But we got thru that okay and it was a very emotional time for me. I was very happy.”

Jennifer: “I had been working part time at a gift store downtown Chicago and fortunately for me, I did not know the results were online until I got home that evening, otherwise I probably would have been uncontrollably happy inside that gift store and that might not have been a good thing. I had been checking the website daily waiting for the results to be posted and then when I saw my name on the passed list I simply wouldn’t believe it until I had Peter, my husband verify it 4 times!I was absolutely shaking like a leaf in the wind with excitement, it is so gratifying to attain this after all we went through.”

TC1:Tell our viewers how you came to make the decision to attend law school?

Colleen: "I graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Math in 1991 and started law school at the University of Northern Illinois, Dekalb in 2002.”

Jennifer: "I graduated from MHS in 1994 then attended and graduated DePaul University in 1998 with my Bachelor’s in Communications. Then I started Valparaiso University school of law in 2002.”

TC1:Why did you choose to go into law and what motivated you to this decision?

Colleen: "I was very interested in new opportunities and I saw a chance to make a difference. My husband Mike and son Seth age 12 and daughter Liz age 9 encouraged me and knew how long and difficult this journey would be.”

Jennifer: "When I was about 9 I started a detective agency in Morrison along with my good buddy Angie Connelly. We had a single business card and solved every missing hamster case within 3 blocks. We even went to see County Clerk Dan Heusinkveld at the Whiteside County Courthouse to offer our services!I entered law school as an extension of my interest in criminal law and have thoroughly enjoyed the entire experience and now look forward to the actual practicing phase.”

TC1:Can you describe your law school experience?

Colleen: "The studying is so consuming of your life, we would spend literally 7 days a week either in class and studying or just plain studying.I would say on average study and class time was 10 to 12 hours per day. There is so much to learn and after awhile 3 years seems like not enough time.Being able to help here at Weinstine Shirk and Buckwalter has helped me to stay focused on my studies while simultaneously actually working within an active law firm.I am not sure anyone can be properly prepared to take the Illinois Bar exam as it is so extensive. Two days of testing was an endurance test of will and memory and exhausting.”

Jenny: "I was fortunate to have been able to work in a Valpo criminal clinic where my group of 20 law students were able to work under the supervision of an attorney with the Public Defenders Office. We mixed school with actual criminal cases for defendants not able to pay for an attorney. I had some favorite cases including a domestic battery case with an agreed deal so it never went to trial and we helped our client.I represented a client in a home invasion case that was very interesting and helped my client again to a favorable conclusion. I saw first hand how the law can be very helpful to those who otherwise not be able to afford a defense.When not working or going to class I spent 7 days a week studying and most days it averaged 12 hours a day. You simply cannot study enough in law school.”

TC1:Are you aware women are graduating in record numbers from law colleges nationwide?

Colleen: "My graduating class had 102 and for the very first time in the college’s law history, more women than men, 51% graduated.”

Jennifer: "Valparaiso college of law never had had a majority of women law graduates.Our class of 180 was 60% women.”

TC1:What advice can you give an aspiring law student and what are you now planning?

Colleen: "Make sure it is what you really want to do as it is an all consuming adventure, you simply must make the commitment to succeed. I am really looking forward to rejoining the Morrison community as a regular citizen and fellow business member. We receive our license to practice in early November at a swearing in ceremony. I am looking forward to practicing criminal defense here in Morrison and will also be available for legal matters concerning wills, real estate and taxes. I wish to thank my family and friends and co workers here at Weinstine Shirk Buckwalter for all their support.”

Jennifer: ”Once you make the commitment to go to law college, take it seriously, study hard and learn to respect the profession.The swearing in ceremony in November will be a meaningful step and I am looking forward to receiving my license!I have been fortunate to have worked extensively with the Cook County Public Defender’s office in Bridgeview and would really like to be able to continue as a public defender in criminal defense.I wish to thank my husband Peter for putting up with me for 3 years and all of my family and friends for all their collective support.”

TC1: We wish to thank these two Morrison women for their time sharing with all of us their experiences attending law school and graduating and now attaining their goal of a law license in Illinois. Morrison can be proud of these two as they start their law careers.

by  Editor, theCity1.com
October 3, 2005