Natalie Lange: 2L at Northern Illinois University College of Law
By Douglas May
Having grown up in the town of Belvidere, Illinois, 26-year-old Natalie Lange has many good things to say about her upbringing. Belvidere is located in north central Illinois and is roughly 75 miles from downtown Chicago. The Kishwaukee River divides the small town, which is an amalgam of industrial communities surrounded by prosperous farms. It is the county seat of Boone County, which had an estimated 2006 population of over 52,000. Lange says, ''The name, Belvidere, means 'beautiful to view,' and Belvidere is truly a beautiful, warm community of great Midwestern families. Also known as the 'City of Murals' because of the tastefully done artistic murals of historical scenes on the sides of historical landmarks, Belvidere has great schools and is home of the locally famous Boone County Fair.'' Lange says she was inspired by sports coaches, pastors, parents, and extended family members when she was young. Although charming, Belvidere couldn't keep Lange from pursuing future endeavors elsewhere. As she puts it, ''When I was young, I dreamed of living in a larger city and meeting people from diverse backgrounds.''
Lange indicates that her time at law school is extremely valuable, and says that she has found inspiration from professors and colleagues through their wisdom and support.
After gaining acceptance at Arizona State University, Lange graduated with a B.S. in Economics and a B.S. in Justice Studies. She decided to become a lawyer during her experience as an 8th grade teacher in Charlotte, North Carolina, through the Teach for America program. She was also a legal assistant at Mauck & Baker, LLC, thereby contributing to her legal knowledge and her desire to attend law school.
Lange chose to go to Northern Illinois University College of Law to get a law degree because, as she says, ''[It] is a vibrant school that offers a variety of theoretical and practical courses taught by a prestigious faculty. Also, NIU is cost-friendly and is near Chicago. NIU has a tradition of students graduating with practical legal skills and a strong dedication to community service. Finally, NIU is a smaller community which provides a unique opportunity to form excellent bonds with students, administration, and faculty.''
Lange indicates that her time at law school is extremely valuable, and says that she has found inspiration from professors and colleagues through their wisdom and support. She says that what she most enjoys about the study of law is ''Thinking, writing, solving problems, negotiating, and advocating on behalf of people and causes.'' A favorite course of hers is Legal Research, because it offers practical knowledge that spans many subject areas. Lange says that she'd like to pursue family law.
Lange studied abroad in Agen, France, at the Universite Montesquieu Bordeaux IV. The exchange program was offered by Northern Illinois University, and the topics of study included European Union law and the French civil law system. Lange says that studying these areas gave her a more informed perspective on current issues. ''Also, by studying the civil code, I was able to renew my appreciation for the common law system in America. However, I am still impressed at legal benefits of the civil code as well.''
Lange is involved in numerous student associations including Phi Alpha Delta, the Christian Legal Society, the Public Interest Law Society, the Student Bar Association, the Women's Law Caucus, the Federalist Society, and the International Law Society. She says that at Phi Alpha Delta she was impressed by the strong bond between the students and the tradition of service to the school and community. Asked about the main goal of the association, Lange sends along the text of the group's declaration of purpose: ''The purpose of this Fraternity shall be to form a strong bond uniting students and teachers of the law with members of the Bench and Bar in a fraternal fellowship designed to advance the ideals of liberty and equal justice under law; to stimulate excellence in scholarship; to inspire the virtues of compassion and courage; to foster integrity and professional competence; to promote the welfare of its members; and to encourage their moral, intellectual, and cultural advancement; so that each member may enjoy a lifetime of honorable professional and public service.''
Lange says that her principle responsibility, as the Fundraising Chair of Phi Alpha Delta, is ''to develop and oversee fundraising activities which will benefit the chapter, the individual members, the law school, the profession, and the community. Also, I have developed programs in coordination with other student organizations in order to increase our ability to fulfill our fraternal purpose.'' Lange believes that the benefits of getting involved in student associations while in law school are twofold: ''The community is benefited through community service projects, and the student is benefited through exposure to others with shared beliefs and interests.''
Personally and professionally, Lange's goals are to be ''the best attorney possible while remaining balanced and walking with Jesus.'' She says that she was inspired early on by the attorneys she worked for at Mauck & Baker, LLC, before she attended law school. One favorite law school memory so far is ''late nights in the library and that sense of comradeship because we were all 'in it' together.'' Lange's other interests and activities are hiking, scrap-booking, and traveling. Her advice for her law school peers: ''Remember why you applied to law school and remind yourself daily.''
Q. What do you do for fun? A. Spend time with family.
Q. What CD is in your CD player right now, or what was the last song you listened to? A. Constitutional Law Bar Review CD.
Q. What's the last magazine you read? A. The Economist.
Q. What is your favorite T.V. show/movie? A. Boston Legal.
Q. Who is your role model? A. Mom.
Q. Why? A. Beautiful example of a smart businesswoman and loving mother.
Q. What do you think about the current job industry? A. I am hopeful that my credentials and character will set me apart in my job search. If I work hard and remain optimistic, I will find a job.
Q. Are you hopeful about finding a good law job? A. Yes, it is important to have hope because anything is made possible within a hopeful framework.
Q. Will you stay in the state you're in for a law job, or is another state more appealing at this point? A. Stay in Illinois, but I am open to new opportunities in America and internationally.
Q. What is something that most people don't know about you? A. If I tell you, then all people will know about it. Professionalism is important.
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