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Shane Ham
August 2007
The VLP is pleased to recognize
Shane Ham as the Outstanding
Student Volunteer for August.
Shane will be a third year law
student this fall.
Q & A with Shane Ham
Why did you choose to become
involved in the VLP Advocates?
As much as I enjoy sitting in
classrooms and carrying heavy
books, I went to law school because
I was inspired by the heroes of Doctors
Without Borders—I want to develop a
specialized skill that I can use to help
people. Being a student volunteer not
only gives me a chance to help right away
but it gives me a chance to learn from
experienced lawyers and non-lawyers so I
will be better at my job after
graduation.
What has been the most important thing
you have learned from
volunteering with the VLP?
Dealing with the legal system is
frustrating! People facing real problems do not
see the bewildering complexity as an
exciting learning opportunity and they are
not having fun. Watching the volunteer
lawyers in action has shown me that
good lawyers not only give their clients
sound advice but also connect on an
emotional level to reduce the sense of
powerlessness and vulnerability that
inevitably results from forced contact
with the legal system.
Has your view of the legal system
changed since you’ve been a law
student?
Definitely. I always thought of “the
legal system” as synonymous with “the
courts”, but now I realize the
importance of the people who work to prevent
conflicts from happening in the first
place and to resolve conflicts before they
get out of control.
What has been your favorite vacation
destination?
London during Wimbledon. The city is
better than New York and Washington
combined, and queuing for tickets on the
first Monday is one of the most fun
things I’ve ever done.
What was the focus of your undergraduate
and/or graduate work?
My primary focus was Wildcat football
and basketball, but I also made time
to study political science.
What is your favorite restaurant in
Tucson ?
Crossroads, on 4th Avenue and 36th
Street . I was late to discover it, but I fell
in love immediately, as did my wife and
daughter. Try the Gizmo!
What do you watch on television when you
should be studying?
The Daily Show and The Colbert Report
are the biggest drains on my studying
time, and I am only slightly ashamed to
admit that I enjoy Entourage on HBO.
What are your hobbies?
I enjoy self-hatred, so naturally I play
golf. I also like to read and write about
politics, so I took a position as a
columnist for the Daily Wildcat.
What is your dream job?
My passion is consumer protection, so my
dream job is one where I can stand
up for people who have been ripped off
because they are vulnerable. I haven’t
yet decided whether I can do that better
as a civil litigator or a white collar
prosecutor, but either would make me
very happy.
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Past Outstanding Volunteer
Student Awards |
