Margaret Tippett, class of 2020, discovered professional writing here at Ithaca College. She graduated as a double major, studying both writing and sociology. And in May 2023, she’ll be completing her Juris Doctor (J.D.) at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law.
Law school is rewarding but tough, and Tippett says getting practical experience has helped her stay on track. She currently works at a plaintiff’s trial firm, but she finds appellate work to be similarly engaging. She hopes to explore it further someday.
In November 2023, Tippett was published in the Maryland Law Review. Her paper, “Implicitly Inconsistent: The Persistent and Fatal Lack of Second Amendment Rights for Black Americans in Self-Defense Claims and The Importance of Telling the Counter-Story,” covers the history of the 2nd Amendment and the racial influence of gun rights. Writing the piece was emotional and upsetting for Tippett, but she says it’s a story that demands to be heard.
“The best piece of advice I could give undergrad writers is to reach out to your professors and get to know them,” Tippett said. “Being away from home for the first time is not an easy experience –– and I found so much comfort in Smiddy. Make an appointment to meet with your professional mentors and just start talking. Who knows, these conversations might just lead you down paths you didn’t know existed.”