As an incoming freshman at Western Carolina University, Caroline Condrey was intent on pursuing an education in interior design and architecture. However, that quickly changed her first semester when she took a class on individual rights and fell in love with the law. There was no turning back. The following semester, she changed her major to criminal justice and criminology and started making plans to attend law school.
“Looking back, the decision happened really fast. By sophomore year, I was looking at LSAT prep courses and study tools. Something just clicked when I took that individual rights class. I knew I wanted to make a positive impact on our current system,” Condrey says. “My parents like to call me a bleeding heart, because I really care about people and hope to make a difference.”
The S.J. Quinney College of Law appealed to Condrey in many ways, beginning with its surrounding mountains and nationally recognized faculty. As a North Carolina native, Condrey felt more at ease with each campus visit—one being Admitted Students Day, which helped her make connections with the college’s administration and other perspective students.
“Overall, the big thing that led to my decision to go to Utah Law was the atmosphere and how I felt at the school and with the people. Not only did I feel at home, but I also felt that I would be inspired and challenged here,” Condrey says. “My family instilled in me that you never want to feel like the smartest person in the room. That means you are not achieving everything you may be capable of in your life. It is important for your teachers and other students to test your limits.”
Now in her final year of law school, Condrey most appreciates the people at Utah Law. She has enjoyed being involved in the International Law Caucus and the Women’s Law Caucus student organizations. Moreover, she values the support system she has found among the students, faculty and staff, whether it be for study groups or having people there for her during the hard times.
“The professors and deans are always reaching out with support and offers to help. Recently, I had a bit of a health issue that was not immediately diagnosed and ultimately required surgery. The deans and professors were extremely accommodating and supportive throughout the process,” Condrey says. “Additionally, my peers have been great outlets who know what you are going through and can commiserate. It is simply nice to know that there are people in your corner, because law school can be tough and you need all the support you can get.”
With a passion for helping others, Condrey completed two field placements where she developed an interest in practicing family law and juvenile justice. She first worked in the Attorney General’s Office during her 2L year in the child protection division, working in appeals on cases about child abuse and neglect as well as parental rights termination. In addition, she worked with Judge Monica Diaz (JD ’08) in the Third District juvenile court this past summer.
“In my previous position, I did not ever see the victims or alleged perpetrators of the neglect and abuse cases I analyzed, but I have now witnessed rape trials, adoptions, and child removal cases. It is challenging to hear about these terrible situations, but it certainly helped me understand my place and responsibilities as an attorney on either side,” Condrey says. “I loved being immersed in the court and having the opportunity to be involved in the entire process.”
Even though she has a new passion from these work opportunities, Condrey is still keeping her options open after graduation. She is also interested in business law and feels she can help protect people in a different way with her prior experience in privacy law. One thing is for certain: She will always have her clients’ best interests at heart.
“I am still open to exploring opportunities in any of these areas, so I’m not wholly committed to one. Perhaps a position will present itself that combines all of them,” Condrey says. “The important thing is growing a career that would allow me to feel like I was helping people, the community, or the criminal justice system overall.”