A Different Kind of Lawyer: McKenzie Brummond, Class of 2025 | News | The Law School

A person with glasses and a blue and white patterned shirt smiles in front of the Main Building's Golden Dome at the University of Notre Dame. — *McKenzie is a proud Double Domer—earning both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Notre Dame.*

When McKenzie arrived at Notre Dame Law School, she was returning to a place that had already shaped much of her life—but her journey there was anything but conventional.

Raised in Colorado and drawn early to deep questions of faith, McKenzie fell in love with theology during her undergraduate years at Notre Dame, where she was a Protestant surrounded by Catholic tradition. “I started to realize there were so many misconceptions on both sides,” she said. “I really wanted to dig into that.” That curiosity led her to Yale Divinity School, where she earned a master’s in theology. “It was a very different environment in a lot of ways, but still a really valuable experience.”

Then came an unexpected turn: Nashville.

In the spirit of “having no regrets,” McKenzie pursued a career as a singer-songwriter, performing in writer’s rounds and playing drums in the honky-tonks. “It was so much fun,” she said, “but I realized it wasn’t something I wanted to make a career of. The constant self-promotion—it didn’t feel sustainable.”

Still, those years in Nashville left an indelible mark. She substitute taught during the day, built connections in a creative community, and contributed to a website focused on women in the Bible. Her days were eclectic, meaningful, and human-centered—an experience that reminded her of how much she valued connecting with people in tangible, service-oriented ways.

“I missed the academic rigor of school,” she recalled, “and I loved getting to meet and work with all kinds of people. Law school felt like the right way to combine both.”

Smiling woman in a blue and white patterned shirt and black pants stands by a bench in front of the Grotto at the University of Notre Dame. White tulips are in bloom in the foreground, and the Grotto, filled with lit votive candles, is behind her. A statue of Mary is visible above the Grotto entrance.

Notre Dame, as it turned out, was the obvious choice. A former marching band member, ND Vision staffer, and long-time Grotto visitor, McKenzie had made major life decisions at Notre Dame—leading to her conversion to Catholicism in 2020 where she was confirmed by Associate Professor of Law Rev. Pat Reidy, C.S.C. “There’s a strong sense of community here. It’s a home base for people.” Though many of her classmates were new to campus, McKenzie was coming home. She knew the rhythms of Notre Dame, the unique ways its community came together in both faith and friendship. That familiarity made it all the more natural to dive deeply into student life and take on new leadership roles. During law school, McKenzie continued to serve that community as an assistant rector in Flaherty Hall, building relationships with undergraduates, organizing liturgies, and mentoring RAs.

McKenzie made an equally significant mark within the Law School community. She served as Editor-in-Chief of the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy, where she found unexpected joy in recognizing the strengths of her peers as she built the Journal’s masthead. “You get to look at your classmates and say, ‘You have this gift—let’s use it.’” She was also devoted to finding real-world experience through externships, completing placements with a public defender, a United States Attorney’s Office, and a superior court judge. “Judge Elizabeth Hurley was wonderful—we still keep in touch!”

A person with long brown hair, wearing a black shirt and dark pants, plays an acoustic guitar on a stage. They stand before a microphone, keyboard, and drum set, facing an audience seated in rows of chairs. Stage lights shine on the performer. — *McKenzie performing at the 36th Annual Father Mike Show*

Her summers were equally immersive. McKenzie interned at the District Attorney’s Office in Colorado Springs both 1L and 2L summers, getting real courtroom experience and even helping manage half a docket under the Student Practice Act. This fall, she’ll clerk for a federal magistrate judge in Laredo, Texas, and hopes to become a prosecutor through the DOJ Honors Program or return to Colorado.

For McKenzie, being a “different kind of lawyer” means embracing both justice and mercy. “I used to think they were on opposite ends of the spectrum,” she said. “But the more I’ve seen the law in practice, especially in criminal law, the more I realize they can’t exist without each other. The truest form of justice always includes compassion.” Her faith, she says, gives her strength and perspective. “Thinking theologically helps me find the light spots, even in tough moments,” she said.

With heart, intellect, and humility, McKenzie embodies what Notre Dame Law aspires to instill: a lawyer whose courage is matched by compassion—and whose commitment to justice never loses sight of the human story.