For Katie Lawrence, the path to law school was paved in a third-grade classroom. A native of Alpharetta, Georgia, Lawrence attended Wake Forest University for her undergraduate degree before becoming a teacher. Her time teaching revealed systemic challenges that eventually led her to the American University Washington College of Law (AUWCL).

“I know teaching is the hardest job I’ll ever have, and I also believe it was the most formative,” Lawrence said.

While she did everything possible for her students, Lawrence quickly realized that a lack of resources and systemic support created significant barriers.

“I resolved that my next steps would be to support teachers by advocating for the time, resources, and collective support they need so that they can be their best for their students,” she said.

When choosing where to pursue her JD, Lawrence sought an environment that aligned with her values and public interest goals. AUWCL stood out not only for its location in Washington D.C. and the financial support that made a public interest career feasible, but for its unique culture. Recalling her visit to the campus, she notes that while other schools made students feel “lucky to be here,” the message at AUWCL was “we are so lucky you’re here”.

While studying at AUWCL, Lawrence’s interest in labor law blossomed far beyond her initial focus on education. Through research on migrant workers’ rights with Professor Jayesh Rathod to her own membership in the graduate student workers’ union, she saw firsthand the “all-encompassing” nature of the labor movement.

Her experience has been further enriched by the AUWCL alumni network in the D.C. labor community, where she has worked on projects ranging from challenging executive orders to labor arbitrations. For Lawrence, championing workers’ rights is deeply personal. It means “supporting workers as humans first” and ensuring they have conditions that allow them to thrive both at work and in their lives beyond it.

After graduation, Lawrence will join the National Education Association (NEA) as a fellow, an opportunity she once only dreamed of.

“I cannot imagine anywhere else I would rather start my career,” she said, noting that she will be working in the same building where she held her first legal internship.

While Lawrence knew where she wanted her career to go when she arrived on campus, she offered a piece of advice to those that don’t.

“Work or volunteer in the communities you might want to represent,” she said. “Not only did this drive my passion for workers’ rights, but it consistently helps me pull back from the abstract and focus on the real lives this work touches.”