Hot Bench with Brendan

Well, thanks, Brendan. 

I'm so honored that you're . . . . 

That I chose you? 

 Yeah, it's so sweet. 

Of course, you're my boss and my friend. I'm super happy to do this. Well, thank you again for doing this with us. I'm really excited to have you on our Hot Bench, because you're an amazing person and contributor to the Law School community. First things first, where are you from? Who is Brendan McGovern? 

 Well, thanks so much for having me, Donald; that's so nice of you. I grew up in Chicagoland, so I grew up in Mount Prospect, Illinois, which is close to O'Hare Airport, and about thirty minutes from downtown Chicago. 

Nice. How did you like growing up in Chicago? 

 I loved it. I feel like a large part of my personality at the Law School is being from the Midwest. I really enjoyed growing up there. I enjoyed the tight-knit community and liked having access to the city. It also just kind of, like, gave me a much different perspective coming to the East Coast, a place I've never been before. 

How did you end up wanting to go to law school? I know you were a teacher before law school, so I'm curious if you can walk me through your journey to where you are today. 

Yeah, for sure. In college, I studied English and political science because I knew that I wanted to be an English teacher, but I was also very interested in law and policy. So, I began my career as a sixth-grade English teacher in North Chicago, and I fell in love with it. I feel like the age group was a really good fit for my personality, and I found teaching, reading, and engaging with the books that I taught to be really exciting and probably the most meaningful thing that I've ever done. But at the same time, it was really frustrating to work in a severely underfunded, under-resourced school and feel like what you could do as a teacher was very limited. So that kind of prompted me to, you know, talk with other people in my school district, and I was surprised to see that there's actually a lot of lawyers involved in education and educational advocacy. I think they really inspired me to go to law school.   

I think the choice to come to UVA was very easy, just given their commitment to education, as you know very well, Donald, in terms of clinics and classes and the professors that we have here. I felt very confident that UVA would set me up for what I want to do long term. 

Do you feel like your time at UVA has unfolded in the way that you had imagined?  

Maybe this sounds extremely lame, but I feel that the time that I've had as a law student has been close to the happiest and most social times for me ever. I definitely did not anticipate just the amount of social interactions and things to look forward to coming into law school, as I have now. Sorry, what was the first part of your question? What else have I learned? 

Yeah, just like the experiences that you've had in law school and if they unfolded in the way that you had expected? Were you surprised by anything, or what has stood out to you in your years here? 

So I think just the amount of opportunities and paths that are available to you is something I definitely did not anticipate. So for example, I knew that I wanted to come into law school, work with the career offices to secure a job back in Chicago, but I never anticipated the amount of other opportunities that would be available to me. I've been able to do some really cool pro bono work that was not on my radar. I was able to do a really cool judicial internship that was not on my radar. I’ve been able to work with different student groups and professors—I didn't really know these opportunities were available, and I feel like they all have really expanded my horizons and given me a better sense of what I want to do long-term. 

You're clearly a star here at UVA. Everyone loves you. 

You're the star, Donald. 

No, seriously, you are. But, you know, you're very involved at UVA. What has been a highlight and something that you are excited to take away with you when you leave law school? 

Oh, this is a great question. The first thing that comes to mind is . . . well, first and foremost, I feel very blessed that everything I'm involved in very much fills my cup. I feel like it's a blessing to be busy with things that make you happy in addition to going to school at UVA. But I think, to answer your question, my time working with the admissions office, whether it's at the front desk or giving tours, is something that I think I'll really take away with me, and I think that's because when you're there, it gives you a really good sense of the community at UVA and what UVA is known for. And I'm excited to take everything I have learned there into my practice as an attorney, as somebody who is hopefully easy to work with, collegial, and someone who does ultimately care about the public good. Looking back, my interactions with different student groups, or prospective students, or people who are coming to visit, being able to talk about my experience and my happiness as a law student is something that I will always remember going forward. 

That's so sweet. I love that. You're going to be an amazing attorney, and people are going to be very lucky to work with you. Okay, we're going to move on to super quick, rapid-fire questions to end our time. So this will be quick hits.  

On-the-spot questions. 

On the spot, yes, easy. What has been your favorite class so far? 

I think that Law, Inequality and Education Reform [which] we took together with Professor Robinson has been my favorite class. I really liked that the space of a small seminar allowed all of us to discuss topics in education law, and it was the first time that I was able to study the law and policy of something that I worked so closely in.  

Next up, what's your favorite spot in Charlottesville to eat? 

Birdhouse is definitely the best restaurant I've been to. They have a smaller menu, and the restaurant as a whole has a much more intimate vibe, and the food is delicious. It's always a good time when you go, and it's definitely my favorite spot to bring people. 

Sounds amazing; I’d love to eat there one day. What's your favorite study spot, either in the Law School or on Main Grounds, anywhere at UVA? 

I think Shenandoah Joe's near Dairy Market is my favorite spot, or Grit Stonefield. 

If you could be a legal concept, what legal concept would you be? 

This is such a good one. I think I would be the Doctrine of Laches because I, for the most part, like to do things quickly. And it’s either you use it or lose it, so that's what I would be. 

No delay. 

No delay. 

If there's any advice you could give to a 1L, what advice would you give? 

I think, first and foremost, it would be to calm down. I think it takes a while to learn that everybody at UVA will be more than fine, and going through the initial learning curve is extremely scary. And I think, as cheesy as it sounds, I would definitely tell 1Ls to trust themselves as they learn what process works for them and go through the awkward experience of 1L. That's definitely true for me and something that I wish I took more seriously when people told me. 

Okay, final question for you. I know you have a bright legal future ahead of you, but is English teacher Mr. McGovern going to make a resurgence later down the line?  

I think that English teacher Ms. Mr. McGovern makes a resurgence all the time. I think it might take me a while, but I will definitely find my way back to education in some capacity where I will be able to flex my teacher muscles again. And hopefully it allows me to do something much greater than a classroom teacher. 

 Well, thank you, Brendan. This has been so fun for me, as your friend, to interview you in this way.  

You're such a professional interviewer. I'm impressed. 

 No, you're such an easy interviewee, so I appreciate you taking the time.