Over the last few years, law student Obasi Ndukwe has learned the importance of staying open to opportunities—including, in his case, the possibility of becoming a lawyer. At the time he enrolled, the Cleveland native wasn’t quite sure where his career would lead.
“When I first became a law student, I didn’t know exactly what type of law I wanted to practice, or in what capacity, but law was always something that I was interested in,” he said.
Ndukwe was already familiar with Case Western Reserve University, having earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology in 2020 before entering the workforce as a cloud systems specialist for Hyland Software. Feeling unchallenged in that career, he remembered the words of one of his undergraduate professors and decided to switch paths.
“I had a professor in one of my undergraduate classes who said she thought I would be a good lawyer based on the way that I asked questions,” he recalled.
After enrolling at the School of Law, Ndukwe continued surprising himself. He engaged beyond the classroom, joining the Black Law Student Association Mock Trial team and becoming president of the Student Bar Association.
“It wasn’t something I planned, but previous student leaders reached out and encouraged me to go for it,” he said.
The mock trial team allowed Ndukwe to explore a new experience of trying cases, which he found to be surprisingly exciting. The opportunity also introduced him to his coach, Diane Russell from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office, who was integral in his securing a job in the office after graduation.
This experience and others have taught Ndukwe the power of effective communication, understanding and empathy.
“A lot of issues arise due to poor communication or a lack of communication,” he said. “I think people have multiple sides to them and the more you talk, the more you’re able to understand and see where others are coming from.”
Reflecting on his law school experience, Ndukwe hopes to encourage other students to be similarly flexible and to give themselves grace.
“Everyone who is here is here for a reason. They’re smart, they know what to do,” he said. “Be willing to take detours because you never know where your life will take you.”