"Got a Minute?" with Ray Lappin, 3L

Welcome to UW Law’s “Got a Minute?” series. These are fun, short-answer interviews with 20 rapid-fire questions. We’ll find students throughout William H. Gates Hall as they study, wait for class or hangout with their classmates.

This week’s “Got a Minute?” interview is with Ray Lappin, 3L.

UW Law: Where are you originally from?

Ray Lappin (RL): I’m from Puyallup, Washington, which is a suburb south of Seattle.

UW Law: What's one interesting fact about where you're from?

RL: It’s home to the Washington State Fair and it's a really cool thing to be a part of. We got fair tickets every year growing up from the school district, and we got a half-day to go to the fair. So, it was a pretty big deal.

UW Law: Who was the first classmate you met?

RL: The first classmate I met was Juwon Lee. I met him at either Orientation or Admitted Students’ Day, the first day we were here. We found out that we went to the same junior high school, but we didn't know each other at the time.

UW Law: Which classroom is better, room 133 or room 138?

RL: I'm going to go with 133 because 138, I think, is too big. Especially for a classroom setting where you're not going to have that many people, I think 138 is too spread-out.

UW Law: Which professor would you recommend to host, SNL?

RL: I’ll give you my top three. I think Professor David Owens would be great. I also think Professor Maureen Howard would be really good. And I also think Professor Benjamin Halasz would be good because he's got, kind of, a deadpan style.

UW Law: Without looking, how many glass structures are in the courtyard?

RL: Three.

UW Law: It's actually four. Where's your favorite part of the library to hang out?

RL: Ooh, I don't go to the library too much anymore since I'm more confined to the journal suite. But I did like the bottom level, L2. There's a desk all the way at the end that's kind of secluded. I liked that spot as a 1L or the study rooms.

UW Law: Finish this sentence, “Law school is like…”

RL: This is from my own personal experience of growing up in Washington. Law School is like when you're leaving a building and you come out and you find it's pouring down rain, and you make a mad dash from the building to the car. You don't want to get all rained on, so you're sprinting. But then if you just take a pause and you realize it's just water, it's all going to be okay.

UW Law: Which class have you laughed the most in?

RL: Oh, that would definitely be civil procedure with Professor Feldman.

UW Law: Where's your favorite spot on the UW campus, excluding William H. Gates Hall?

RL: Bowling alley in the HUB. That's a good spot.

UW Law: How many different Law & Order TV shows have there been?

RL: Oh, I've seen zero of them. So, I’m not going to give you answer. [Laughs] Uh, six. I have no idea.

UW Law: Close, eight. Tell us something you learned in class this quarter that blew your mind.

RL: I learned about the stepped-up basis rule in individual income tax and how it prevents a lot of generational wealth from being taxed.

UW Law: What's your favorite time slot for a class?

RL: My absolute favorite time slot is probably the 10:30 to 12:20 slot. Although, I have changed a little bit. I'm not opposed to 8:30s now. You know, 1L me would absolutely have been opposed to 8:30s, and 10:30s were a little early, but now I'm good with 8:30s and 10:30s, but 10:30 is probably the best.

UW Law: Are you an umbrella or raincoat type of person?

RL: Raincoat person, unless I'm wearing a suit, then it's got to be an umbrella. I'm a Seattleite at heart, but I'm not willing to sacrifice the suit.

UW Law: Where's your favorite spot to get a bite of food nearby?

RL: When I have late classes and I get out of here at 7:30, I like going to BB’s Teriyaki.

UW Law: Mac or PC?

RL: PC, all the way, but iPhone.

UW Law: What was the most recent class you attended?

RL: The most recent class I attended would be the Civil Rights and Justice Clinic last night from 5:30 to 7:20 with Professor Owens.

UW Law: What was a highlight from that class?

RL: We got to speak with one of our clients who was formerly incarcerated and recently got his certificate of innocence from the state of Illinois because he was wrongfully convicted. We got to talk to him about his experience of spending nearly three decades in prison for something he didn't do, as well what's going on in his life now — both in terms of the lawsuit that we're representing him in and reintegrating.

UW Law: How old is UW Law?

RL: It's old. [Laughs] I know 100th anniversary of Washington Law Review. So, is it 125 years?

UW Law: Yes, it is. Well done! Finally, what area of law would you like to pursue after you’ve received your J.D.?

RL: Land use and real estate litigation.