Kate M. Wharton

wharton

Education

  • J.D., Notre Dame Law School, ‘04
  • B.A., University of the Pacific, Political Science and Spanish, ‘98

Work Experience prior to coming to NDLS

  • After obtaining my undergraduate degree, I worked for three years in California State politics. Beginning with a position with Governor Pete Wilson, my three year stint culminated with my position as Deputy Press Secretary for the Assembly Minority Leader. This work with the media, as well as some speech writing experience then brought me to the Corporate Communications Department of Charles Schwab in San Francisco, where I was the manager of the Executive Speakers’ Bureau.

Work Experiences while at NDLS

  • I spent my first summer in Belfast, Ireland, working for a human rights law firm (Madden & Finucane Solicitors). There, I interviewed and took statements from victims and witnesses of alleged police negligence and brutality. These statements became part of a portfolio compiled for Amnesty International.
  • I was a law clerk for the United States Attorney’s Office in San Francisco for my second summer. I handled a full misdemeanor caseload, wrote and argued motions before Federal Magistrate judges, negotiated and wrote plea bargains, and made all related court appearances.

Employment

  • Deputy District Attorney for Contra Costa County (San Francisco Bay Area, CA)
  • 2004-05, one-year clerkship for the Honorable Ronald S.W. Lew, Federal District Court, Central District of California.

On the NDLS Experience:

“Notre Dame seems to treat being an attorney as more of a calling than a profession. It’s not just what you do – it’s who you are. With a constant moral and ethical backdrop, Notre Dame not only teaches you how to be a good lawyer, but it teaches you to be a better person.

Somehow I had this preconceived notion that I was going to have to put my social life on hold for the three years of law school. This idea was lost somewhere between the tailgate parties, the law school bowling league, and all the wonderful friends I’ve made along the way."