A Pitbull For The Underdog
by Devon Christopher Corry
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| Photo: Courtesy |
What college(s) have you attended and your level of education?
“For undergrad I attended Richard Stockton College, now Stockton University in Pomona, NJ and for law school I attended the school with the baddest band in the land Southern University Law Center in Baton Rouge, LA.”
How does being from Newark, NJ impact your life as an attorney?
“Being from Newark, NJ has had a profound impact on my life as attorney. Coming from a city that is misunderstood and where most citizens are automatically counted out because of where they’re from has not only given me a great sense of pride but has also given me a strong desire to persevere under any circumstances. Also, seeing the effects of not having access to competent legal counsel and not fully understanding how the “system” works has enabled me to empathize with those who find themselves in unfortunate legal conflict and it given me the drive to ensure they receive the legal counsel that they need and deserve.”
Since we have the law program I was curious to know how Mrs. Ramirez feels knowing that students have the opportunity to learn and study the law in high school.
“During my time at University we did not have a law program (insert sad face). We did have an elective that I believe was titled “law in action”. Unfortunately, when I was able to enroll in that elective, most students chose not take it because the teacher that taught it was known to make you work your butt off, so due to lack of enrollment the elective was not offered.
When I heard that University had a law program, I was ecstatic because it’s a great learning opportunity and selfishly I was kind of sad because I wished that this program was available when I attended University. I think it’s a great idea to expose students to law and the various career options that can present. “
Can you recall a life lesson that a University teacher taught you and will never forget?
“There are soooooooo many lessons that I’ve learned from teachers at University. But, the two that stand out is to never accept mediocrity and to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. These two lessons have played an important role in my personal life, my years in the military (yes, I was in the military, for almost 11 years US Army JAG Corp) and as an attorney.”
What advice do you have for people who are unsure about the legal profession?
“If a person is unsure about the legal profession, I would recommend that he/she reach out to someone who is in the legal field and ask them as many questions as they can about their journey (good and bad) to becoming an attorney. It would also be wise for them to take [full] advantage of the law program that University offers.”
What sacrifices if any, did you have to make when you finally became a certified attorney?
“Sacrifices, woooooo how much time do you have??? Lol The road to law school, bar exam preparation and passing the bar exam was filled with sacrifices. I think one of the biggest sacrifices was my time. Studying both while in law school and for the bar exam was a huge time commitment. Friends and Family had to understand that although I was once readily available to attend events, have long telephone conversations, or just hang out, during this time I was not available and if I was, my attention and time was very limited. Now that those things are behind me I think biggest sacrifice now is……SLEEP. Even with these sacrifices, I wouldn’t change anything.”
What is your favorite type of law and why?
“My favorite type of law is criminal defense specifically for juveniles. When working with juveniles, it’s more than just about the crime that has been committed there is usually extenuating circumstances (family issues, mental health, etc) that has caused the juvenile to be in the legal system. Juvenile defense forces you to look at the totality of the circumstances before imposing a punitive punishment. I love fighting for the underdog.”
Even though I am enrolled in the law program. I’m not even interested in becoming an attorney even though I love the law! But Mrs. Ramirez has inspired me to consider becoming a lawyer. And about how should I be working harder? I'm looking forward to connecting with her on Alumni Day, or even our annual Law Day. I'm a firm believer that connecting with the right people and absorbing all of their wisdom makes all the difference.
When I heard that University had a law program, I was ecstatic because it’s a great learning opportunity and selfishly I was kind of sad because I wished that this program was available when I attended University. I think it’s a great idea to expose students to law and the various career options that can present. “
Can you recall a life lesson that a University teacher taught you and will never forget?
“There are soooooooo many lessons that I’ve learned from teachers at University. But, the two that stand out is to never accept mediocrity and to push yourself outside of your comfort zone. These two lessons have played an important role in my personal life, my years in the military (yes, I was in the military, for almost 11 years US Army JAG Corp) and as an attorney.”
What advice do you have for people who are unsure about the legal profession?
“If a person is unsure about the legal profession, I would recommend that he/she reach out to someone who is in the legal field and ask them as many questions as they can about their journey (good and bad) to becoming an attorney. It would also be wise for them to take [full] advantage of the law program that University offers.”
What sacrifices if any, did you have to make when you finally became a certified attorney?
“Sacrifices, woooooo how much time do you have??? Lol The road to law school, bar exam preparation and passing the bar exam was filled with sacrifices. I think one of the biggest sacrifices was my time. Studying both while in law school and for the bar exam was a huge time commitment. Friends and Family had to understand that although I was once readily available to attend events, have long telephone conversations, or just hang out, during this time I was not available and if I was, my attention and time was very limited. Now that those things are behind me I think biggest sacrifice now is……SLEEP. Even with these sacrifices, I wouldn’t change anything.”
What is your favorite type of law and why?
“My favorite type of law is criminal defense specifically for juveniles. When working with juveniles, it’s more than just about the crime that has been committed there is usually extenuating circumstances (family issues, mental health, etc) that has caused the juvenile to be in the legal system. Juvenile defense forces you to look at the totality of the circumstances before imposing a punitive punishment. I love fighting for the underdog.”
Even though I am enrolled in the law program. I’m not even interested in becoming an attorney even though I love the law! But Mrs. Ramirez has inspired me to consider becoming a lawyer. And about how should I be working harder? I'm looking forward to connecting with her on Alumni Day, or even our annual Law Day. I'm a firm believer that connecting with the right people and absorbing all of their wisdom makes all the difference.
This has been your exclusive for today, from Devon Christopher Corry. Until next time, continue to be RISE up Phoenix Family.
I'm extremely proud of my wife Shaakira Gold-Ramirez and all of her accomplishments! She sets the bar high on her studies and professionalism. Though she has had many hardships, she never gives up. She has no limits!
ReplyDeleteIt is good to hear about something that I want to do especially when she graduated from the school I'm about to graduate from. I'm looking forward to studying criminal defense for juveniles as well. I'm going to take her advice and succeed just like her.
ReplyDelete