Myra L. McKenzie

Myra McKenzie

Education

  • J.D., Notre Dame Law School, ‘02
  • B.A., Spelman College, Political Science & English, ‘99

Extracurricular Activities While at NDLS

  • Black Law Students Association (Officer)
  • Student Bar Association (Committee Chair)
  • Notre Dame Legal Aid Clinic (Legal Intern)
  • Client Counseling Competition Team (School and Midwest Regional Champion)

Employment

Assistant General Counsel with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. in the Employment Practices Division
Bentonville, AR

Insights Regarding My Area of Practice

  • I practice in the employment practices division of the legal department in a Fortune 500 company. In this division, much of my work centers on counseling internal business clients on employment issues that may trigger protection under federal and state employment statutes. Practicing in this area affords me the opportunity to maintain my research and writing skills and get hands-on experience working with everyday employment situations and providing practical advice to business clients.

Volunteer Work

  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Columbus Urban League

On Professional Opportunities:

“Being a member of the Notre Dame family has truly impacted my professional opportunities. In fact, on two separate occasions Notre Dame alumni gave me access to job opportunities I would not have had otherwise. Their desire to assist me first as a Notre Dame Law student and then as a recent graduate was truly encouraging. In essence, Notre Dame graduates take care of Notre Dame graduates—I know that first-hand, and I plan to continue that legacy in my professional life in the years to come.”

On Classmates and Friendships:

“I have ongoing relationships with several of my classmates from Notre Dame, but one relationship has been particularly enriching, as it produced one of my dearest friendships. Tamona Bright and I met as first year law students, and we shivered through our first “true” winter together (we are both from the South), worked at the Legal Aid Clinic together, lived together, competed in ABA competitions together, and studied for exams together—we did just about everything at Notre Dame together! She was and continues to be a wonderful support for me. Even though we now live 700 miles apart, we will always be linked because of our shared experiences at Notre Dame, and I will always be grateful that God saw fit to send us there to laugh, cry, stress out and celebrate—together.”