- Law Student Profile
Andrew Romanoff: Speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives and Student at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law
by Mahsa Khalilifar
by Mahsa Khalilifar
Romanoff started out looking into a career in journalism. However, he switched to law after living in Central America for a year and seeing the hardships people faced in that area. Romanoff said his parents were the people who inspired him most to make a life that involved helping others. "My mom was a social worker, my dad was a prosecutor, and my grandpa was a physician," he explained. "So I grew up watching how you can make a difference in people's lives and why you should try to help them." And how did he decide law school, in particular, would be his next step? "There was nothing really good on T.V., so I thought I might as well," he joked. In all seriousness, his real drive to enter law school came from a need to gain more knowledge about the legal system. He also wanted to know what many of his colleagues already knew about the law. "I don't like other folks knowing stuff that I don't know," he said with a humorous tone but also a bit seriously. He added that he wanted to get a handle on aspects of the law and apply them while working on his committees. Romanoff has been in the Colorado House of Representatives since 2000. A typical workday for him as the Speaker, when the House is in session, starts at 7:30 a.m. and ends around 5:00 p.m. And that is only the first part of his day. At about 7:00 p.m., he heads to law school, where he attends class until 10:00 p.m. "School at night, reading/studying during the weekends, at the capitol most days—it has not been easy," Romanoff said. "It has been useful training, though, and you pick up good skills from it." Romanoff is hoping to finally graduate from law school in 2008, six years after he first started in 2002. Working on legislation and studying for law tests are his biggest priorities right now. He is confident that he made the right decision, though. "[The lessons] provide good knowledge when crafting legislation," he said. Romanoff has also had a laugh or two along the way to where he is now. He described a memorable experience he had in law school. One night, the students were going around the room introducing themselves, and it was Romanoff's turn. When asked what he did during the day, Romanoff did not have the typical answer. "I'm a legislator. I make laws," he told the class. A fellow student looked at him and responded, "Gosh, I thought legislators would be [more] impressive." What is Romanoff's next goal? Embarking on a trip with two dozen young political leaders to China and India in order to raise awareness regarding the Darfur conflict. "[We are going down there] to ask the Chinese to end the genocide in Darfur," he said. "It is a central moral crisis of our time and the worst crisis in the world right now...half a million people have been killed, and many are being tortured and raped."
Romanoff is currently going through finals, which usually take hours. When he is not studying, he spends most of his free time with his "high-maintenance" dog. He also plays tennis, reads, and likes to catch the latest movies. Although law school has been challenging even for this Yale grad, he has no regrets. But he advises students who are interested in law to really find out if it is for them. "I have no words of wisdom, but know why you are really going [to law school]," Romanoff said. When asked where he wanted to be in 10 years, Romanoff replied, "I hope to have finished law school by then." |
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