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Chance Berndt
Class of 2022
Home town: Herington, Kansas
JD Focus: Private Practice

I came to ASU Law with a fairly non-standard background for a prospective lawyer. I grew up in Herington, Kansas, a true “one-stoplight” town with less than 2,000 people. Law school wasn’t initially on my radar when I attended Kansas State University for a Marketing degree; I was more focused on being involved on campus, teaching leadership classes, performing in show choir, serving in student government, and spending time on the sidelines as a cheerleader. Unfortunately, I began to struggle with my mental health, and had to drop out before I could finish my degree.

After dropping out, I moved to Kansas City and began to try to put my life back together. I worked in several different jobs to get by, but my main gig was bartending and managing a bar for three years in downtown KCMO. Finally, in 2018, I decided that I had made enough personal progress to try out the whole “school-and-career” thing again. In the space of six months, I finished my degree, took the LSAT, and was (thankfully!) accepted into ASU Law.

Outside of attempting to keep up with the readings, I spend most of my time in law school working as a Law Aide within the Student Services office, interacting with prospective students as an Ambassador, advocating on issues affecting student mental health and wellness, and searching for the best happy hour within walking distance from campus.

Janessa Doyle
Class of 2022
Home town: Chicago, IL
JD Focus: Public Defense

I was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. I moved to Phoenix, Arizona the summer before my first year of high school. I attended ASU for undergrad and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Justice Studies. I am the youngest of six children, and I am also a first-generation college student.

My desire to attend the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law began my second year as an undergrad, when I attended Law Day and experienced my first tour of the school. Following the tour, I connected with some of the faculty and students and instantly knew this school would be a great fit for me.

Since attending ASU Law, I have found many ways to get involved. I am currently the Vice President of the Black Law Student Association, one of the 2L reps for the Student Bar Association, and an Associate Editor for Jurimetrics: The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology.

ASU Law has helped me to network with many attorneys in the greater Phoenix area. I have also had the opportunity to build towards my goal of one day becoming a judge through the connections I made during my summer externship at the Arizona Supreme Court.

Many people describe me as being an extrovert, which is likely due to my outgoing personality. I am very optimistic and love facing challenges and developing new ways to drive change and innovation. I enjoy meeting new people and have a passion for helping others. At ASU Law, I am able to be my unapologetic-self while obtaining a valuable legal education. Go, Devils!

Kaitlin Stanley
Class of 2022
Home town: Overland Park, KS
JD Focus: Criminal Law

I’m a second-year law student at ASU Law, originally from the greater Kansas City area. As an undergraduate, I attended Kansas State University where I earned my B.A. in Political Science and International Studies. Post-graduation, I went on to earn my M.A. in Security Studies (Terrorism and International Relations), also from Kansas State University. I spent a majority of my time in graduate school as a Graduate Research Assistant, working with my mentor on a project (funded by a $1.2M Minerva Grant from the U.S. government) in which we studied the effects of U.S. military presence abroad on international public opinion and foreign policy. I also taught a class on U.S. Foreign Policy as a Graduate Teaching Assistant.

My experiences so far within law school include serving as a board member of the OUTLaw LGBTQ+ student organization, as well as participating in the Women Law Students Association, the Zen Law Student Organization, The Liberty Project, and the ASU Law Student Ambassador Program. I am also certified as a limited practice student for the Civil Litigation Clinic, where I represent clients directly in a limited attorney capacity. In addition, this fall I concluded an internship with the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and became a new Associate Editor for Jurimetrics, The Journal of Law, Science, and Technology. I am particularly passionate about ending the stigma surrounding mental health issues both among law students and within the broader legal community, and about advocating for the LGBTQ+ community within the legal profession. Finally, in addition to my academic interests, I absolutely love to travel, and spent 6 months living in a tiny medieval town in central Italy while intensively studying the Italian language and Italian cuisine. Along with travel, culture, and languages, I absolutely love to sing and perform in musicals, and am classically trained in opera.

Attending ASU Law has been a truly rewarding and enriching experience, and I have been especially impressed by the strong empathy and willingness to help others that characterizes our law school. Participating in the ASU Law Ambassadors program has allowed me to interact and connect with admitted students, current students, alumni, and faculty in ways I never would have been able to otherwise, and I am excited to see what the future holds for me at ASU Law and beyond!

Roman Buss
Class of 2021, O’Connor Honors Fellow
Home Town: Prague, Czech Republic
JD Focus: Business Law

I was born and raised in Prague, Czech Republic. My twin brother and I grew up in a single-parent household with my mother often working more than one job. I came to the United States when I was a junior in high school through an exchange program; I wanted to learn English and experience a different culture. After I graduated, I took a year off to go back home before I returned to attend college in Wisconsin. I was a double major in Economics and Political Science. When I got accepted to various law schools around the country, I made sure to visit a few of the top contenders, but none of the other schools even came close to how I felt at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. Not only was everyone exceptionally nice, but they were all excited about this program and determined to get even better, bringing on board some of the brightest students from around the country. Now, an entire year later, I am grateful for all the opportunities that I have been given, they truly reflect the school’s strong connection with the local community. At school, I serve on the executive board for the Sports Law and Business Student Organization, I work as a teaching assistant for Torts, I volunteer as a Law Ambassador, and I recently became a Staff Writer for the Arizona State Law Journal. I also worked at the Arizona Supreme Court over the summer and this semester I am externing at the Arizona State University Office of General Counsel. Finally, in my free time, I absolutely love playing or watching sports (Go Pack Go!), traveling to new places (I have been to over 20 countries, sadly on a limited budget), spending time with friends and family, and also meeting new people!