Calvin Edwards
graduated from DePaul University College of Law in May 2016, earning his Juris
Doctorate, with a certificate in Health Law. In a conversation with E-pulse,
Calvin, better known as Cal to his peers, shared his interests and favorite
classes, experiences during law school, and provided advice for future health
law students.
Cal graduated
from Lewis University, with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.
During his undergraduate studies, Cal became interested in health care law. His
roommates’ majors were in healthcare focused areas, and he would often debate
about topics in healthcare and the way law shaped health policy across the
nation.
At DePaul College
of Law, Calvin was drawn to the health law program, and the plethora of courses
that it offers, including regulatory, transactional, litigation, and policy. Cal
furthered his knowledge of health law through DePaul Journal of Health Care Law,
where he was the Business and Managing Editor, and through Mary and Michael
Jaharis Health Law Institute, where he was a member of the student advisory
board. He thrived in each position, and helped with both the publishing of Volume
18 of the DePaul Health Care Law, as well as organization of JHLI Annual
Symposium, entitled “The New Frontier of Health Innovation: Navigating the Regulatory
Landscape.” True to his thirst for knowledge, Cal ventured out of the health
law, and fully immersed himself in the law school experience.
Cal emphasized
the importance of student organizations, Journals and Moot Court Society, of which
he was a member, and urged new students to experience as many of these
activities as they can. Through these groups Cal met many new life-long
friends, and had the opportunity to hone in his writing and oral argument
skills, the most invaluable qualities a practicing attorney can have.
At DePaul, Cal
cherishes the practical experience he gained while working as a research
assistant for professor Cary Martin-Shelby. He also wanted to thank professor
Chapman, for the immense help in writing his article. He was also selected to
participate in a poverty law clinic, where he wrote and argued a motion in
court. His favorite classes at DePaul include Disability Law and Health Policy
and the Law.
Outside the
classroom, Cal’s experiences are as diverse as his school activities. Cal
worked on criminal matters, dealing with post-conviction appeals, while working
for now-retired Judge Paul Biebel, at 26th and California. There, he helped
draft opinion orders, prepared memoranda for judges, and learned the inner
workings of the courthouse. On the civil law side, he worked both at Goldberg
Law Group, and Nyham, Bambrick, Kenzie and Lowry, where he experienced
preparation for litigation, courtroom trials, developing medical chronologies,
and fee schedules for clients. This was a great opportunity to gain practical
legal experience that is so important to graduates entering the job market.
For entering
students, Cal recommends to keep an open mind, and take an active role in both
their extracurricular activities, and out-of-school opportunities. Cal learned
a lot from his mentors, and passed that knowledge along to his many mentees. He
shared that some of his fondest memories from DePaul included winning a raffle
at PILA auction to take friends out, and the intense competitive moments of
Moot Court versus Law Review Kickball game.
Cal will be
sitting for the Illinois bar in July of 2016, and we wish him the best of luck
as he finalizes this step towards a great legal carrier, and look forward to
having him as a valuable asset in out alumni network.