Meet Sami Lyew, 2L

Originally from Snellville, Ga., Lyew received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Auburn University. She is the online editor for the Journal of Legislation, secretary of the Federalist Society, a student ambassador for the Office of Admissions, and a member of both the Merchandise and Community Service Committees for the Student Bar Association. During her 1L summer Lyew was a legal intern with the corporate legal team at Chick-fil-A in Atlanta, Ga. For her 2L summer she will complete an internship in the Office of Inspector General at the Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. She hopes to practice in Washington, D.C., upon graduation.

I asked Lyew what she found most surprising when she began her 1L year at NDLS. She said:

“There were two surprising aspects of 1L year for me. First, I was surprised at just how strong the community was at Notre Dame Law School. One of the reasons I chose Notre Dame was specifically for the community and close atmosphere that seemed to be so apparent when I visited as a prospective student. Throughout my first year, I was continually pleasantly surprised—my roommate and I became best friends within weeks, a fellow student paid for my coffee at the Crossings Cafe, and another studied contracts with me for eight hours to review for the final. My friends and I even had (and still have) a weekly “family dinner” where we ate real, cooked meals with silverware and plates! The people here are so friendly, and I know I can count on them for anything. The community here really sets Notre Dame apart.

“The second most surprising aspect was the discipline necessary for reading and studying for class. Law school is very different from undergrad – especially because each class only has one exam at the end of the semester. However, I quickly learned to treat law school like a full-time job, studying and going to class for eight hours each day, taking a break for lunch, and going to the gym and spending time with friends in the evenings.”