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Written by Enzo Knight | Photography by Julie Kahlbaugh
artist profiles
What made you decide on law as a profession? Nearing the end of my junior year at Allegheny College, I was a Psychology major with a double minor in Political Science and Communication Arts with no real sense of what I wanted to be “when I grew up.” One of my friends was studying for the LSATs (which are basically the SATs for law school), so I thought I’d give it a go. I subsequently visited Duquesne University School of Law and loved it. When I got the call that I was accepted, I was overjoyed. I have always loved reading, writing, deconstructing and reconstructing arguments, and presenting, and law is a wonderful because I get to do them all! There’s such a great divide between art and law, do you ever find it difficult to balance the intrinsic free spirited nature with the rigid uniformity of law? To play devil’s advocate a bit, perhaps there isn’t such a big divide. Consider some of the greatest legal decisions, advocates, and judges in America’s history. Didn’t they test the bounds of societal norms? Didn’t they compel us to feel something or challenge us in a new way? Although lawyers may get a bad rap (or at least some funny jokes), the true essence of a litigator is to help those in need navigate complex issues when they are lost or adrift. Doesn’t art do the same? Both challenge me intellectually and creatively. While painting allows me to decompress and express myself unrestrained, my legal background provides me with the platform to navigate networking and business opportunities that help me share what I love doing with others.
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arts | Issue 4