National Jurist - January 2009 - (Page 25)

Peter Schoettler, with his wife Nina Evtuhov and two kids, Alexandra and Clara, will graduate from Southwestern Law School in 2011. PHOTO BY LIZ REINHARDT my more intellectual pursuits behind to focus on being a musician,” Schoettler said. “I always felt, though, that I needed both musical and intellectual stimulation in my career.” While freelancing in New York, he worked toward a Ph.D. in music performance at New York University, taking interesting classes in philosophy of music and aesthetics. Schoettler and his wife had their first daughter in December 2003, and soon after he began playing a two-year run of “Fiddler on the Roof ” on Broadway. It was during this time that he realized he was not entirely satisfied with his musical career. “I had worked as a musician for 15 years and was doing well, but I just couldn’t see myself doing that for another 20-plus years until I retired,” he said. “With a law degree, I could go in any number of directions after school.” Exploring possibilities As Schoettler sees it, the study of law has opened up a whole new world for him. “I’ve always been drawn to order and structure, and whether it is elements of crimes or torts, blue booking citations or procedural rules, studying law has meshed well with the way my mind works,” Schoettler said. “I have enjoyed every class I’ve taken so far.” Once he is done with law school, Schoettler said he wants to explore all his possibilities. And while he continues to learn about law and also work as a teaching and research assistant, balancing life has been extremely important to him — something the part-time law program has allowed him to do. “When I was diagnosed with a recurrence last February, I knew that I didn’t want to have to postpone school again for treatments,” he said. “My doctors worked with me to schedule my chemo treatment and stem cell transplant around my classes and exams.” Southwestern has also been accommodating and understanding of his situation. “I was able to continue the semester feeling I was a student fitting in my treat- ments rather than a cancer patient trying to fit in school,” he said. “All along, of course, the support of my family was key to getting through it all.” While he works on his law degree, Schoettler said that a key to the study of law is enjoying the process of law school, and, really, of life in general. “You never know what will happen in the future, so be sure to focus on being content today,” he said. “If you find, later in your career, you’re not happy with where you are, don’t be afraid to look around and find a better fit that will make you happy.” S U F F O L K U N I V E R S I T Y L AW S C H O O L experienc Sweden Program podcast available on iTunes U swe den e • Earn 4-ABA approved credits in a 4-week summer program • Interact inside and outside the classroom with international students and a prestigious law faculty • Enjoy small personalized classes • Live in comfortable housing and study in a historic Swedish town www.law.suf folk.edu/academic/sweden January 2009 THE NATIONAL JURIST 25 explor 11th Annual An Exciting Academic and Cultural Summer Law Program in Lund, Sweden Summer Law Program in Sweden June 16 – July 13, 2009 Select 2 of the following ABA-approved courses • Comparative Health Law Professor Renée M. Landers • International Banking Law Adjunct Professor Mitchel S. Ross • International Criminal Law Professor Jeffrey J. Pokorak • International Intellectual Property Law Professor Andrew Beckerman-Rodau • Public International Law Professor Valerie C. Epps Contact: Professor Bernard M. Ortwein at 617.573.8590 or bortwein@suffolk.edu for more information. For program overview and application form, visit: www.law.suffolk.edu/academic/sweden. http://www.law.suffolk.edu/academic/sweden http://www.law.suffolk.edu/academic/sweden http://www.law.suffolk.edu/academic/sweden

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of National Jurist - January 2009

National Jurist - January 2009 Contents Hot Button: Affirmative Action Entertainment: A Road Trip Through Law School News: American Justice, Kaplan Survey, Part-time Ranking The Firm Report: Diversity Law School Online No label No label Fordham Student Honored for Public Interest Work Former Law Student's Life Lives on After Her Death Most Influential People in Legal Education Most Innovative Law Schools Your Guide to Studying Abroad Career Hotline Texas Tech Law Grads Explore Dispute Resolution Evaluating First-Year Exams Disturbing the Peace

National Jurist - January 2009

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