/ Law Admissions/ Mariah Hogan

Mariah Hogan

I absolutely LOVE studying in the corner of the silent-study section of the library where it is nothing but forest in every direction you look.

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Degree and Class Year

JD ’24

Hometown

Kent, Washington

Undergraduate/Graduate School(s)

Central Washington University

Areas of legal interest(s)

Public interest, public defense, and family law

Brief Background

When I graduated from high school, I didn’t even want to go to college because I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do or pursue with my life. However, my mom and I came to an agreement where I would attend one quarter at Central Washington University, and if I truly didn’t like it or didn’t feel any inspiration there, she would let me drop out. I fully intended to leave at the end of that first quarter. Instead, though, I discovered my passion for the law and its practice in an Intro to Law and Justice class that I happened to sign up for. That class was the very first time in my academic career I had been exposed to the legal practice and I was HOOKED. From there, I decided that I wanted to go to law school and I never looked back from that decision for even a second.

Why did you choose to attend Lewis & Clark?

As strange as it sounds, Tryon Creek State Park was a big deciding factor in my decision to attend Lewis & Clark. Ultimately, the law schools I was choosing between were very similar in terms of programs and rankings so, for me, it came down to where I thought I would feel the most comfortable and where I was going to feel the most excited to learn. The first time I looked at pictures of Lewis & Clark, nestled peacefully inside the park, I felt incredibly drawn to it. That feeling was only solidified once I visited and took my campus tour. I absolutely LOVE studying in the corner of the silent-study section of the library where it is nothing but forest in every direction you look. I even love the walk from the baseball field parking lot to campus, through the trails and trees.

Give us your top list about Portland.

My favorite things and places in Portland, in no particular order, include:

PDX Sliders (the BEST burgers I’ve found so far—specifically “The Sellwood” burger)
Pips & Bounce (a SUPER fun ping-pong bar!)
Jam on Hawthorne (my favorite place for brunch and mimosas)
The Sweet Hereafter bar (their Sweet Serenade is one of my favorite drinks of ALL TIME)
Powell’s Books (needs no explanation but deserves the emphasis, regardless)
Rose City Book Pub (combining many of my favorite things: books, french fries, and wine!)

Tell us about a meaningful Lewis & Clark academic experience that happened outside of the classroom.

Early into spring semester my 1L year, I contracted COVID and had to attend a week’s worth of classes remotely while my classmates attended in person. I had only directly told a couple of my close friends that I would be absent, but I was absolutely blown away by how many of my other classmates noticed my absence and reached out to check in on me. Many of my classmates selflessly offered to send me class notes, pictures of their pets, and even groceries. I felt so, so loved by my Lewis & Clark law community that week, and I have never before felt so held by my classmates at any of the academic institutions I’ve attended before.

Do you have any advice for students making their final law school choices?

I think, unless your career plans involve working at a big law firm right out of law school (which is a TOTALLY valid and admirable goal!), that it is more important to choose a law school where you will feel the most comfortable and supported. Regardless of what your career plans are, you’re going to spend three very intense years living and breathing law school, so I think it’s really important to consider how your own mental health and readiness to learn is going to be affected by the environment and community that you choose to do so in.