“Got a Minute?” with Yen-Wen Lin, 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 Yen-Wen Lin, 3L.
UW Law: Are you originally from Seattle? If not, where?
Yen-Win Lin (YWL): I moved here to Seattle in 2009. I'm originally from Taipei, Taiwan.
UW Law: What’s one interesting fact about where you're from?
YWL: We have a mix of different cultures in Taipei because we’ve been a colony of Japan, Netherlands and Spain. So, we have a variety of cool buildings, and the food there is just amazing.
UW Law: Where did you earn your undergraduate degree?
YWL: Here at the University of Washington.
UW Law: Did you take time off between undergrad and law school? If so, what did you do?
YWL: I did — three years. I was a legal assistant and paralegal at the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office.
UW Law: How many glass structures are in the courtyard?
YWL: I'm going to say six.
UW Law: There are four. Which fictional lawyer do you think would make the best law professor?
YWL: I would say Michael Ross from “Suits.”
UW Law: If you could add a new class to the curriculum, what would it be called?
YWL: I would add another class on more intensive legal research and writing because academic writing is very different from real practice. It would be called Real Life Research Methods and Writing.
UW Law: Finish this sentence, “Law school is like…”
YWL: “a quick, quick dream.”
UW Law: How many different Law & Order TV shows have there been?
YWL: Eight?
UW Law: Yes! You’re the first person to get that correct. Which historical legal case would you time travel to witness in person?
YWL: I would want to time travel to watch Brown v. Board of Education.
UW Law: What's your favorite time slot for a class?
YWL: I like my 8:30s.
UW Law: Where's your favorite spot to get a bite of food nearby?
YWL: For a quick one, I like the H-Mart Grab & Go store. That has always been just nice and easy in between classes.
UW Law: Name one professor that should give a TED Talk and on what topic.
YWL: I’ll go with Professor Ross. He’s amazing with antitrust and healthcare stuff. So, I think somewhere in between those two topics.
UW Law: What was the most recent class you attended and what was a highlight for that class?
YWL: Yesterday, I had business organizations with Professor Page. I think the highlight from it was that we learned a lot about LLCs. I mean, I don't know if it was too exciting.
UW Law: How old is UW Law?
YWL: 125 years.
UW Law: What was the name of Reese Witherspoon's character in “Legally Blonde”?
YWL: Elle Woods.
UW Law: What area of law would you like to pursue after you receive your J.D.?
YWL: Criminal law.
UW Law: Name one lawyer that inspires you, and why.
YWL: Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson. She is quite inspiring and one of the most knowledgeable about the practicality of law, and an academic. She is a very well-rounded person to look up to.
UW Law: What's one class you're hoping to take while you're here?
YWL: You know, I'm really looking forward to next quarter's advanced evidence. I think that will be a really cool class. It’s taught by another practitioner, Assistant United States Attorney Stephen Hobbs. I think he will be able to bring a real-life experience and — knowing that most people in the class will already have the basic knowledge of evidence — take us to another level that we probably have never seen before. And I think that would be a beautiful experience.
UW Law: What's one interesting thing about you that people may not know?
YWL: I used to be a competitive swimmer.