In the next post of our BC Law Student Org Spotlight Series, Jillian Jacobson discusses why she chose to lead The Federalist Society, what her greatest challenges have been, what she’s learned and why she encourages others to take up leadership positions.

What is your name, year in school, and post-grad plans?

My name is Jill Jacobson and I am a 2L. Next summer I will be at Latham and Watkins doing litigation work. Ideally, I would love to clerk for a judge after graduation! 

Can you give me a quick rundown of what Federalist Society is all about?

In essence, the Federalist Society is a group for conservative and libertarian law students interested in questioning the current state of the legal order. Its basic principles are that the state exists to preserve freedom, that the separation of governmental powers is central to our Constitution, and that it is emphatically the province and duty of the judiciary to say what the law is, not what it should be. I would like to think the Federalist Society plays an important role in promoting intellectual diversity on campus. 

Why did you choose to lead the Federalist Society?

As someone formerly considering academia as a professional pursuit, intellectual diversity and open debate are extremely important to me. In my view, teaching one ideological or theoretical lens to students as though it is dogma is paternalistic. We are all smart, capable future lawyers. We deserve to be taught a plethora of ways through which to view the law and the role of the judiciary… and be given the opportunity to decide for ourselves. 🙂 I think the Federalist Society is one way in which we can ensure forums that achieve this aim still exist. 

What is your favorite Federalist Society event? (Can be past or future events)

I really enjoy our Supreme Court previews! I am also looking forward to our joint event with the Harvard, Boston University, and Suffolk chapters in a few weeks. 

What have been some difficulties in leading your organization, and how did you overcome them?

Given that the school year has just begun, not many! That being said, a personal goal for the year is to encourage all members of the BC Law community to attend Federalist Society events. Listening to perspectives outside of one’s ideological camp is something we should all strive to  make time for. 

What have you learned from being a student leader, and do you recommend other law students to take up that mantle?

Getting through law school intact is a logistical feat of its own. Leading the Federalist Society has taught me the value in staying connected with the community (whether that be 1L’s, professors, etc.) no matter how hectic our schedules may get! For this reason, I think the added workload is worth it.

Do you have any members you want to give a shout out to? 😀

Shoutout to our former President Austin Fahnestock without whom I would not have had such a smooth transition into this leadership role!

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Seung Hye (Shang) Yang is a second-year student at BC Law. Contact her at yangben@bc.edu.