"Got a Minute?" with Arenjot Sanghera, 2L

Welcome to the second season of UW Law’s “Got a Minute?” series. Like last year, we’ll find students throughout William H. Gates Hall and ask them 20 questions about their law school experience, a bit about themselves and occasionally drop in a pop quiz or two.

This week, we’re featuring Arenjot Sanghera, a second-year J.D. student.

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

Arenjot Sanghera (AS): I’m from Ferndale, Washington. It's a small town near Bellingham, Washington.

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

AS: Probably just the fact that Jake Locker is from there. Or that it's a 20-minute drive to the border. My family and I visit Canada, like, once a week.

UW Law: Where did you earn your undergraduate degree?

AS: UW. So, I’m a Double Dawg.

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

As: I took one year off. I worked in an immigration law firm doing predominantly asylum work. Then I studied for the LSAT and traveled a little bit.

UW Law: Why did you decide to go to law school?

AS: Growing up, I was the child of immigrants. Both my parents were blue-collar workers. I saw them navigate the immigration system. And I saw my dad, who’s the owner of a small construction business, have problems with Labor and Industries and people backing out of contracts. Witnessing all of that made me want to be in rooms where people make decisions and have access to legal protections and help others have access to them.

UW Law: Which U.S. president also served as Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court?

AS: I think this is wrong, but for some reason I'm thinking about William Taft. I don't think that's right.

UW Law: It is right! Which professor would you pick to be your karaoke partner?

AS: I'm going to say Professor Nguyen, just because I would love to see that. I feel like she may have a hidden talent for karaoke.

UW Law: What are your 2L summer employment plans?

AS: I'm going to be at the Attorney General's office in the Civil Rights Division here in Seattle.

UW Law: What's one thing that every visitor to Seattle should go see or do?

AS: I would say go to Gas Works Park and watch the sunrise or sunset from there. That was one of the first places I went to as an undergrad.

UW Law: If you could come up with a new class at UW Law, what would it be?

As: Maybe something with class action litigation. There used to be a consumer protection seminar, but they haven't had it for a few years, so just bringing that back. But yeah, maybe something specifically with class action litigation, or class action lawsuits.

UW Law: Do you have any secret talents?

AS: I like to travel, so maybe creating travel itineraries. Whenever my family goes somewhere, I'm always the one trying to figure out where we go for dinner and managing directions and all of that at the same time because my siblings don't do anything.

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

AS: I'm not exactly sure yet. Probably something in civil litigation, but I'm still exploring. Maybe consumer protection or labor and employment.

UW Law: In 30 seconds, list as many UW Law professors as you can.

AS: Porter, Schnapper, Feldman, Nguyen, Calandrillo, Nicolas, Evans, Garavito, Sancken, Boxx, Calo, Hintze.

UW Law: 12 — well done! Which achievement or accomplishment are you most proud of?

AS: Probably just getting into law school. I'm the first in my family to go to a college in the United States, and then first in my extended family to go to law school.

UW Law: What's the name of the building that houses the Washington Supreme Court?

AS: Temple of Justice. I'm externing there next quarter.

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

AS: Definitely journalism — and maybe investigative journalism. I always wanted to go to countries with corruption and cover stories that people aren't covering, or ones that governments didn't want you to cover.

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

AS: It's not a specific memory, but probably just all the study groups — especially during 1L year — and being able to connect and trauma bond with other students.

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

AS: Okay, I have two. The first person isn't a lawyer, but his name is Jasvant Singh Khalra. He was a human rights activist who uncovered a bunch of extrajudicial killings in Punjab, India. And I grew up learning about him in my community, because it was in Punjab, which is where my parents are from. So, he really inspired me to pursue law.

And then for a lawyer, I would say Brian Stevenson. He wrote Just Mercy and did a lot of work in the criminal justice field and defended people that were wrongfully accused of crimes.

UW Law: Is there anyone you would like to give a shout out to?

AS: I'll say my sister for making sure that I'm alive and eating and forcing me to touch grass sometimes. And not to think too deep or get too stressed out. She keeps me connected to my roots.

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

AS: I was born at the UW Medical Center. I was a complicated delivery, so they drove me in the ambulance from Bellingham to here. And then I also was a research baby because they had a bunch of interns observing everything.