Unfortunately, Gupta did not come out a winner in that claim, but she said the experience taught her "that legal success is not only based on who is right but also based on who better understands the law."
26-year-old Gupta, who is of Indian descent, did her undergraduate work at Michigan, studying economics, and she now attends the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, located in Central Islip, NY. The smaller school is predominately Jewish, but it opens its doors to a variety of students.
"The education at Touro is absolutely phenomenal. The teachers at my school are extremely knowledgeable in their fields, and the majority of them have been published nationally," she commented. "[Also, it] is the first school in the country to be located adjacent to and working with a federal courthouse and state courthouse."
Gupta, the former president of the Women's Bar Association (WBA) at Touro, said she has taken an interest in various aspects of the law.
Gupta was a property manager for almost two years before she entered law school, so she definitely feels more comfortable with the real estate area of law.
"I guess you can say that real estate is in my blood because my father has been in the real estate business for over 30 years," she said.
Gupta said that her most memorable law school moments came from when she was the president of the WBA. The WBA is an organization in place to "promote the advancement of the status of women in society and women in the legal profession, to promote the fair and equal administration of justice, and [to] act as a unified voice for its members with respect to issues of statewide, national, and international significance to women generally and to women attorneys in particular," according to Gupta.
Even though Gupta is no longer the WBA president, she is still an active member and participates in various events.
"I had a great year and an amazing executive board, and together we accomplished a lot," she elaborated. "However, I believe that someone else should have an opportunity to run WBA and have the same rewarding experiences as I had."
Gupta has also interned a bit during her summers off from school. She has interned at a real estate firm in the city for the past two years.
"Until these past two summers, my knowledge of the legal system was confined to what I had learned in the classroom," she said. "My first practical legal experience was the summer after my first year as a law clerk at a real estate firm in Manhattan, which I found to be very stimulating and challenging."
| Q. What do you do for fun? |
| A. I love to ski. |
| Q. What CD is in your CD player right now? |
| A. In my car stereo I have Black Eyed Peas. |
| Q. What is the last magazine you read? |
| A. The American Law Journal...no...just kidding...it was actually In Style. |
| Q. What is your favorite TV show? |
| A. No joke...ever since Evidence, I am totally into CSI. |
| Q. Who is your role model? |
| A. My parents. |
Gupta credits her parents, among others, for their encouragement throughout her years in law school.
"Law school can be very difficult, but my parents constantly supported me through any adversity. I have a very supportive social and academic network which has helped me succeed in law school thus far," she said. "I do everything 100%, and I like to finish anything that I start, and this is no different."
She also said that students should venture out and get involved in different groups around campus.
"The benefits are getting to work directly with directors and deans of the school," Gupta said. "Being involved also helps build contacts within the legal community."
Gupta advised future law students to "[stay] committed, be confident, and persevere" through it all. She plans to graduate in May 2008.
