Fueled by a fascination with the intricacies of the legal system, which was sparked by influential mentors and hands-on experience as a litigation paralegal, Kyndall Smith set her sights on law school.
The goal was well set, according to Kamina Pinder, director of academic excellence. “Kyndall embodies the spirit of Emory Law,” Pinder says. “She is bright, engaging and selfless to a fault. Kyndall has spent countless hours mentoring and tutoring many law students, always with a smile and a listening ear.”
Now, after becoming deeply embedded as a leader and mentor during her time with the Emory Law community, Smith shares insights into her path, her experiences and her aspirations for a future in “Big Law,” the legal field’s term for the nation’s largest law firms.
Where’s your hometown, and where did you attend college?
I grew up in Dayton, Ohio. When I was 13, after a horrible winter, my parents moved us to Jacksonville, Florida. That’s where I went to high school. Later, I attended Florida State University (FSU), where I studied criminology. Classes covered topics such as how social factors contribute to crime levels. FSU has one of the best criminology departments in the world; I had professors who were involved in restructuring the Florida juvenile justice system while also teaching classes.
What inspired you to attend law school?
FSU’s criminology program was partly why I decided on law school. One of my professors connected me with his friend who earned his PhD in criminology and then went to law school. I also did mock trial at FSU. I was definitely interested in the material — I loved the preparation, writing opening statements and the technical elements — but I didn’t want to be a litigator. While I was working on my master’s degree, I joined the law firm Morgan & Morgan as a litigation paralegal. There, I learned about transactional attorneys and how I could focus on client service and the aspects of law that I enjoyed. I bought an LSAT book the next week.
Did you feel prepared for law school?
My older brother graduated from law school two years before me. He gave me advice about what classes were like and the time commitments. He also connected me with a mentor at Emory Law. It definitely helped; I knew exactly what I needed to be successful. My favorite classes have been [Associate Dean of Students and Academic Programs John Acevedo’s] jurisprudence class and the transactional law classes that I took with adjunct professors who are also practicing attorneys.
How have you been involved with the Emory Law community?
I’m the co-director of academic and professional success for the Emory Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and a Dean’s Teaching Fellow. With both roles, I serve as a resource for students who need academic, professional or even social support. I try to be an open forum for people to come and ask questions. I email helpful resources. Students can also call or text me if they’re more comfortable with that. I’ve made every mistake under the sun, and I don’t want people to do the same things if they’re avoidable. So, I’m happy to answer any question or help however I can.
Outside of Emory Law, I try to engage with the legal community as much as possible. Emory provides amazing access to its alumni network. I really admire those legal professionals, and I’m constantly reaching out and asking for advice.
What are your plans after graduation?
I’ll be going to McGuireWoods as a corporate associate, working on matters related to debt finance and real estate finance. Working at McGuireWoods is my perfect scenario. The Midtown Atlanta office and my colleagues are great, and you get the small-office feel with the Big Law connections and support network. I hope that I grow as a lawyer, I will continue to be an open door and a resource for newer attorneys.
What would you tell someone interested in Emory Law?
Emory Law has done wonders for me. I’ve developed confidence, people skills and critical thinking skills. This has a lot to do with the Emory model and how they really believe in pouring into students. Our faculty is so talented. The transactional certificate is unlike anything else. As a student, you also have this crosspollination of people at the business or theology school.
When I started law school, I knew exactly how to be successful in the program, but I didn’t know what that would look like in practice. I didn’t know what skills were necessary to succeed in the profession. Emory Law has given me those tools. You can chart an entire path and learn real, practical skills that you can take to work on day one. Emory Law is so special; I’ve absolutely loved it.