"Got a Minute?" with Corey Retell, 1L

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 Corey Retell, a first-year J.D. student.

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

Corey Retell (CR): No, I'm originally from Buffalo, New York.

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

CR: My parents’ house is less than a 15-minute drive from Niagara Falls.

UW Law: Where did you earn your undergraduate degree?

CR: University of Pennsylvania.

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

CR: I did, yeah. I took upwards of five years off. I was in the Peace Corps, and then I got a job in D.C. I also drove Lyft and Uber, did Instacart and worked at an Apple Store.

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

CR: I saw it as beneficial to my career, even if I don't become a lawyer. My dream job is to be a foreign service officer in the State Department, and I had a mentor who is a former lawyer himself. His wife was a foreign service officer, and at one point he said it would be good to go to law school, even if you don't end up becoming a lawyer because it would be helpful if you wanted to get hired by the State Department.

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

CR: Is it Taft?

UW Law: It is! What's one thing you wish you had known before your first day of law school?

CR: To run my own race and just focus on myself. Don’t get caught up in the peer pressure of certain career paths or certain activities or whatever. Just focus on what you're interested in and what you think you can accomplish.

UW Law: Which professor would you pick to be your karaoke partner?

CR: I would say Professor Knudsen. She seems fun. I liked her a lot.

UW Law: Do you have any big plans for summer?

CR: Yeah, I’m almost certainly going to have a 1L summer internship with the Army JAG corps. I'm actually a reservist in the army.

UW Law: Which Article of the U.S. Constitution establishes the judicial branch?

CR: Three.

UW Law: Correct. Do you have any secret talents?

CR: Well, I'm decent at a game called GeoGuessr. At one point, I was in the top 1,000 players in the world. It was much less popular when I played it back then, so I would not be today. It's an online game where Google Maps Street View drops you somewhere and you have to try to figure out where you are. It's really fun.

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

CR: Professor Knudsen, Professor Calo, Professor Nguyen, Professor Fan, Professor Ziff, Professor Schumacher. If I'm missing any of my professors, I'm going to feel really bad. Dean Pendo, I don't know if that counts as a professor.

UW Law: Seven! Which achievement or accomplishment are you most proud of?

CR: The one that comes to mind is probably finishing enlisted army basic training. I questioned every day whether I would be able to do it, especially since I was a bit older at 28 when I went in. Things don't really roll off your back like they do to 18-year-olds. So, I think, it's almost easier to go in younger.

UW Law: What's been your favorite case to read so far?

CR: It’s maybe a cliche answer, but Marbury v. Madison. Constitutional law is probably my favorite class so far, and I think a lot of how I describe the Supreme Court to people is that they really just make it up. And to me, Marbury v. Madison felt like the most make it up thing they ever did. And then it's just the basis for everything going forward. It's somehow made up, and somehow also totally fundamental.

UW Law: What are you looking forward to this quarter?

CR: Spending more time outside as the quarter progresses.

UW Law: What advice would you give incoming 1L students?

CR: I would say work hard, but don't work too hard.

UW Law: Do you have a favorite law-related TV show or movie, and if so, which one?

CR: I watched “Suits” back in high school, and as unrealistic as it probably is, I enjoyed it very much growing up.

UW Law: Is there a particular clinic, journal or student organization that you're looking forward to joining?

CR: I would love to join the Tribal Court Public Defense Clinic. I'm interested in criminal law and would love to join that one to get experience.

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

CR: Sure, my parents for putting up with me living on the other side of the country when I'm sure they'd love for me to be closer to home.

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

CR: My favorite pastime is watching hockey. Despite most young boys in Buffalo growing up playing hockey, I quit when I was very young because – as I was told by my parents — I was not willing to put up with falling on my butt all the time when I was learning to skate.