Student Profile: Vonne Lovejoy-Holifield

What attracted you to come across the country from Colorado to Charleston School of Law?

Vonne Lovejoy Holifield: The smaller class sizes and the fact that you can have a relationship with your professors. My undergraduate school was a fairly small, so I got that experience there, and that was something that I really wanted to make sure that I had in my graduate school.

Do you find that you learn better in a smaller setting?

Vonne Lovejoy Holifield: Yes. I’m more of a hands on learner, and so having professors that you can sit with and actually walk through what you’re learning with them helps me learn and succeed.

What were your expectations when you arrived as a 1L?

Vonne Lovejoy Holifield: I had graduated three years prior to coming to law school, so I did have some experience in the working world, and I was a little nervous about going back to school, and how the structure was going to be. Getting back into being in school all day and doing homework and having to read as much as we have to. But you learn how to balance everything really well.

Do you remember getting the call from Dean Bell?

Vonne Lovejoy Holifield: I do remember getting the call from Dean Bell. It was actually the first law school acceptance I received. It was a special moment. I was at my prior job and I received the phone call and I answered it. I just remember being surprised that I got a personalized phone call from someone at the school instead of just getting an email that might have had confetti in the email. So, it was just a really special moment. special touch to get a personalized phone call.

Do you know what type of law you’d like to practice?

Vonne Lovejoy Holifield: Once you’re here and you’re learning about the practice of law, you find what you’re actually interested in, what your strengths are and how different areas of law you can utilize your strengths. There’s so many organizations that you can join just to learn whether you’re interested in it.

I was able to do an internship at Charleston Pro Bono Legal Services. I was the Kat Westbrook Fellow. I was working with their human trafficking victim rights attorney there. In that internship we primarily worked with immigration law. I did get to work in human trafficking victim rights, which I’m interested in.

Charleston, S.C. is ranked the No. 1 city in America. What do you love about the Lowcountry?

Vonne Lovejoy Holifield: I do love about Charleston is the history of the state and of South Carolina and just the city itself. There’s so many opportunities to learn about the history and see the different monuments of Fort Sumter or the USS Yorktown. I’m from a military town and so getting to see those different experiences.

Imagine yourself talking to a prospective student. What were the key factors for you in consideration of law school?

Vonne Lovejoy Holifield: I think the key factors that a prospective student should consider when choosing a law school is what fits best for them. For me, having the smaller class sizes, the personal relationships with the professors was really important for me. I also think you have to be able to see yourself where you’re living. Charleston is such a great city to live.