Q&A with Krystal McLeod ‘21 J.D.: From Notre Dame to Forbes’ 30 Under 30

Earlier this year, Krystal McLeod, a 2021 graduate of Notre Dame Law School, was recognized on the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list, which annually honors individuals under 30 across various industries. As the director of New York University’s Center on Violence and Recovery, Krystal has made an indelible mark on efforts to combat violence and trauma, raising $2.8 million for the center’s vital programs. Her journey—from a law student at Notre Dame to a leader in social justice—demonstrates how transformative education and a passion for justice can be.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, we spoke with Krystal about her extraordinary career and how her time at Notre Dame Law School shaped her path. Krystal said being named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list was an incredible honor, one that extends beyond her own achievements. She views it as a recognition of the collective efforts and support she’s received throughout her career. For Krystal, the honor represents the transformative work being done at the Center on Violence and Recovery and brings to focus the call to create a world we truly want to live in.

Krystal said that it was at Notre Dame Law School that she was introduced to the concept of being “A Different Kind of Lawyer,” which shaped her commitment to using education as a tool for social change. “What I learned at Notre Dame is now a part of who I am, and I can bring that wherever I go,” she said.

At Notre Dame Krystal found an environment of deep support and understanding. She said that the law school provided not just academic training, but also support during difficult times. Notre Dame Law School allowed her to integrate her passion for social justice with her intellectual and professional growth. She says it helped her see herself as a whole person, rather than just a law student, and cultivated her sense of purpose. It was this sense of holistic care that made a profound impact on her career and personal development.

Krystal’s path to law school and social justice work was shaped by her personal experiences. As a first-generation college student and a Truman Scholar, Krystal realized the transformative power of education, not just in theory, but in practical application. In her law school application to Notre Dame, she shared her story as a survivor of domestic violence, expressing her desire for accountability. Her own experiences drove her to pursue law as a means of seeking justice, with a focus on holding those who have caused harm accountable and supporting survivors. “I wanted to find restorative responses to harm,” she explained. “I wanted to shift the conversation from punishment to understanding what accountability looks like.”

Krystal believes that law and legal education play a vital role in addressing social justice issues, especially when it comes to trauma recovery and violence prevention. She emphasized that the legal field must develop restorative and preventive strategies to better support survivors and create accountability systems that foster long-term healing.

“Legal education needs to help us approach justice in a holistic way,” Krystal said. “It’s about what the law can do for us, not punishment alone.”

At the Center on Violence and Recovery, Krystal’s work focuses on both preventing and responding to harm. She says that the center takes a dual approach: minimizing harm while building capacity in communities to support survivors and hold those who have caused harm accountable. Her work does not come without its challenges. She says there is tension between how society envisions justice and how those ideals can be applied in practice.

One of the biggest challenges is shifting culture—helping people embrace “loving accountability,” which means holding individuals accountable with compassion and respect. Krystal emphasized the importance of “calling in” people, as opposed to “calling out,” creating opportunities for understanding and growth. She explained that the ripple effects of violence and trauma are far-reaching, impacting not only individuals but entire communities.

The urgency to create meaningful change is what drives her every day. “It’s not just about providing immediate support,” she said. “It’s about shaping a future where we prevent violence from happening in the first place. That’s the bigger vision, and it keeps me up at night.”

Krystal’s advice to young women in social justice and law is simple but profound. “Stop trying to change yourself to fit existing spaces. Instead, challenge those spaces to evolve and accommodate you as you are,” she said. She also encouraged women to think about their younger selves—how they once searched for role models and how, through their own actions, they can now be the proof of what is possible. “Be evidence of what is possible,” Krystal said. “There are endless possibilities ahead, and you can be the proof that these things can happen.

Finally, she emphasized that the call to be “A Different Kind of Lawyer” is more than a statement mentioned at her first day of law school orientation. “When Notre Dame was saying 'A Different Kind of Lawyer,' what I was really being invited into was a possibility,” she said. “This invitation is not limited, but actually a way of being, a way of thinking that you then can apply to whatever it is that you want to do. It is really an expansive invitation.”

Looking ahead, Krystal hopes to continue pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in social justice. She is committed to innovating how society prevents and responds to violence, ensuring that her work at the Center on Violence and Recovery leaves a lasting impact on communities across the country. As she continues to raise the bar in her career, Krystal McLeod embodies the values Notre Dame Law School instilled in her and is truly making a difference in the world.