“Got a Minute?” with Lincoln Sherwood, 2L

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 Lincoln Sherwood, 2L.

UW Law: Are you originally from Seattle, and if not, where?

Lincoln Sherwood (LS): No, I am from Kirtland, New Mexico.

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

LS: It was not incorporated as a town until 2015. It’s very small. We had one stop light, no grocery store. We'd go about 30 minutes to get to a grocery store. We lived off 7-Eleven.

UW Law: Where did you earn your undergraduate degree?

LS: Arizona State University.

UW Law: Did you take time off between undergrad and law school?

LS: I did. I took about a year off. I worked for Puget Sound Energy as an energy advisor. So, I helped people — both commercial and residential — understand how they could reduce their energy consumption by either doing personal things or by investing in things that helped reduce their energy usage.

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

LS: Four.

UW Law: Which historical legal case would you time travel to witness in person?

LS: Bong Hits 4 Jesus [also known as Morse v. Frederick]. If my memory serves me right, it was a school in Alaska and the Olympic games torch was going to be running through the town. So, the school decided to let everybody out to watch the torch go by and some students held up a massive banner on the sidewalk that said, “Bong Hits 4 Jesus.” The school made them take it down and they sued for their First Amendment rights protections, and the students lost. I just found it so fascinating.

UW Law: If you could give out one superlative to any professor, what would it be and who would win it?

LS: “Most likely to be an angel” to Professor Eberhard.

UW Law: What is the name of Scout's best friend in “To Kill a Mockingbird”?

LS: Never read it.

UW Law: Which legal term would make the best name for a band?

LS: I feel like the band should be called “Tortilla,” like torts and tortillas.

UW Law: Where do you like to get a bite of food nearby?

LS: I don't eat.

UW Law: Name one professor that should give a TED talk and on what topic.

LS: I think that Professor Nguyen should give a TED talk — she's so brilliant — and it should be on whether or not the U.S. government is a corporation.

UW Law: What would your opening statement be — in favor of, or against — double dipping a chip in salsa?

LS: Let me live my life.

UW Law: What area of law would you like to pursue after you receive your J.D.?

LS: The area of law that liberates the planet from humans. And if you want more specific, the intersection of environmental justice and indigenous justice is where I see the solution to that. But I just think we don't know how to tell ourselves when to stop.

UW Law: What's a fun thing you like to do on the weekends?

LS: Big chill.

UW Law: Which three lawyers — real or fictional, historical or current — would make up your legal dream team?

LS: Obviously, Elle Woods. I'm sure everyone says that. Then Erin Brockovich and Amal Clooney.

UW Law: If you weren’t pursuing a law degree, what would you be doing instead?

LS: Big chillin’.

UW Law: What's your favorite memory from law school so far?

LS: My favorite memory is the people that I have been able to build connections with. I would say that's the best memory. When you have people who are willing to still learn and not think that they have the answer. When you can meet a professor who still wants to learn and is not there to teach, it's magical. That's when you can really both feed off of each other and figure out solutions.

UW Law: Name one lawyer that inspires you and why.

LS: I would say lawyers don't inspire me. That's not where I find my inspiration. It's the people behind the cases, behind the lawyer — that's what inspires me.

UW Law: What are your plans for summer?

LS: Nothing — big chill. I didn't get a job, so I'm big chilling.

UW Law: What's one interesting thing about you that people may not know?

LS: I'm legally blind.