Meet Jack Halligan ’26L: Law Ambassador Jack Halligan loves to help prospective students make the "big decision" of where to attend law school.

By Law Communications
March 5, 2025

Jack Halligan ‘26L is from Nutley, New Jersey and attended Colgate University in Hamilton, New York for his undergraduate studies. At Colgate he studied anthropology and economics and began to think about attending law school his junior year. After working in Manhattan for a year at an expert network, he made the decision to attend W&L Law. During his first summer at W&L, Jack worked for the U.S. Navy’s Office of the Judge Advocate General at the Pentagon, where he focused largely on Administrative Law. This upcoming summer, he will return to Manhattan as a Summer Associate at Seward & Kissel, where he hopes to focus on corporate law.

Why did you choose W&L Law?

I have a bit of a family tie to W&L Law because my brother graduated in 2023. I had the opportunity to visit Lexington for Barrister’s Ball during my gap year.  It was unlike any other law school I visited. What stood out the most was how friendly and tight knit the community was. Without a doubt this was the right choice for me. I am incredibly grateful for the support and friendships my classmates and I have fostered for each other. In my opinion, Lexington provides the perfect law school environment.

Share an experience, class, professor/staff member that has had an impact on your time as a law student.

My 1L year, the Navy’s JAG Internship application came out very early and with a quick turn-around time of one week. I had never applied to any legal internships and was completely in the dark, especially when it came to a military branch. Dean Coleman-Jackson in the Office of Career Strategy walked me through every step of the application. Professor Alan Trammell was also extremely helpful at this time. To complete my application, I needed a letter of recommendation, and with a quick turnaround, I knew it would be difficult to find. Professor Trammell was my Civil Procedure professor and always looked out for me. I saw him in the gym a week before the application was due and explained my situation. He couldn’t have been more willing to help. Without his letter of recommendation, and general guidance throughout my law school career, I do not know where I would be.

Why did you choose to be a Law Ambassador—what are some responsibilities you have in this role?

I chose to be a Law Ambassador because I wanted to work alongside the Admissions Office and foster a welcoming environment for future potential students. Some responsibilities I have in this role are leading tours of the law school, speaking at career panels, and working admitted students’ days. It’s a lot of fun! I love to answer potential-students’ questions and talk about how much I love W&L and Lexington.

What do you enjoy about working with the Admissions Office and meeting prospective law students?
 
Deciding on which law school to attend is a big decision, so I try to foster an environment where prospective students feel comfortable asking any questions on their mind. I also love everyone who works in the Admissions Office. They’re a great resource and extremely helpful throughout the application process.

Anything you are looking forward to in this spring and your rising 3L summer?

I am very excited to get back to Manhattan and gain more experience working in a law firm setting. I am interested in a few different areas of the law and am excited to try some new ones out!