Student Spotlight: Kyle Chamberlin ‘10
Many of my peers moved thousands of miles to pursue a degree at Notre Dame Law School—I moved across town. Not only did I grow up in Mishawaka, Indiana, I also completed undergraduate studies here at Notre Dame. When it came time to choose a law school, I knew no other institution could replicate the educational home I had already discovered.
College showed me how great of an impact Notre Dame has on the community around it. The University’s mission manifests itself most notably in the many opportunities for service available to the campus community. I was fortunate enough to serve as the face of Notre Dame, the Leprechaun, during my final two years of college. Beyond just the big games, the visits to schools, nursing homes, and soup kitchens that came with this cherished role were where I learned the true meaning of being a member of the ‘Notre Dame family.’
My graduation in 2006 also marked a turning point in my relationship with the local community. No longer was I content, as perhaps I had been in my youth, to engage solely in activities I found entertaining. Instead, I began feeling duty-bound to use my education to enhance the area I grew up in.
The balanced atmosphere at Notre Dame Law School has allowed me to continue integrating myself into the South Bend community even while enrolled as a full-time student.
During my 2L year, I threw my hat into the public service ring and ran for a seat on the South Bend Community School Corporation Board of Trustees. Though I was a long shot candidate in a field of 15 , the experience was invaluable. My status as a Notre Dame undergraduate and J.D.-degree candidate brought instant credibility to my candidacy and opened a number of doors for my campaign.
Of course, I have managed to make some room in my schedule for legal experience as well. After both my first and second years, I worked as a summer associate at the South Bend office of Barnes & Thornburg LLP. Two of the most exciting courses I have taken at Notre Dame, Intensive Trial Advocacy and the Public Defender Externship, sparked a recent interest in criminal litigation. Following graduation, I will be starting a position with the Elkhart County Prosecutor’s Office.
I have long considered myself a jack of all trades, master of none. Pursuing my professional degree at Notre Dame has afforded me the highest level of legal education without forcing me to sacrifice the multitude of other activities important to me. This wide range of life experience will no doubt make me a more effective attorney and, it is my hope, a valuable contributor to my community.
