Get to Know: NSL 1L Jeri “Keneath” Galyon

with a double major in English and political science, she attended another law school close to home.

“I was going five days a week from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It was just go, go, go all the time. It was so much pressure. Even if you dropped down to part time, it was still six or seven classes. It was a lot,” said Galyon.

She eventually dropped out and second-guessed her decision to attend law school. It was her mom, Patricia, who encouraged her not to give up. In fact, when Galyon applied and was then accepted to Nashville School of Law, her mom decided to ride with her as she made the more than 200-mile trip, three and a half hours one way with a time change, to and from NSL.

“My mom usually comes with me when I come the day before an exam, and we will go out to a good dinner and then I study at night while she reads,” said Galyon. “Sometimes she helps me. She says she should get an honorary J.D. degree because she listens to the lectures and reads the work too.”

Starting NSL in August 2022 as a first-year law student, Galyon quickly felt at ease. “People know my name here, almost all my professors know how far I drive to get here, and they are all understanding of my circumstances,” said Galyon. “Everyone here seems so happy and willing to help each other.”

Interested in criminal law, Galyon appreciates the fact that many of her professors walk out of a courtroom from their workday and into the NSL classroom to teach at night.

“I have General Funk for Legal Skills and Values, and I like his writing style more than the book. He has something he calls the “Funk Treatment,” where he says you take the facts from this case, the facts from this one, and the rule from this one, and you will apply it. The information we read from our textbook makes more sense because he is sharing how it is used every day,” she said.

“Ms. Galyon is a dedicated student. I expect her to become an excellent attorney,” said Funk, professor of Legal Skills and Values I. “If she really wants to be a top criminal defense attorney, my advice would be for her to work in a district attorney’s office for a few years after graduation.

“Given her diligence, I hope she chooses to continue learning through some public service prior to entering private practice. The criminal justice system works best when lawyers humanize everyone who comes into the courthouse – victims and defendants alike.”

Galyon admits the set of rules that criminal defense lawyers must follow to help people is appealing. She enjoys learning about the law, and sometimes does more work than assigned.

“News stories are not always favorable to someone who has been arrested. That always makes me think, I need the whole picture. Just because you are arrested does not mean that you did the crime or that you should have been arrested,” said Galyon.

“I am always curious. I even read the additional information from the footnotes in class.”

For now, Galyon plans on moving back home to Sevierville to reopen her dad’s firm after she graduates from NSL. She will hang the “Galyon and Associates” sign once again, which she hopes will greet her future clients at the firm’s front door.