Q&A With Brandon Sylvia (’08)  

Hometown:  Orange County, CA

Undergraduate School:  San Diego State University

Undergraduate Major(s)/Minor(s):  Political Science (Major)

What was your best Chapman experience (academic, social, athletic, etc)?

Although not related at all to Chapman, I got married to the love of my life in October of my 1L year, on the due date of my first Legal Research and Writing assignment.  That was easily the best experience/memory of the past three years. I don’t know that I could pinpoint a single experience at Chapman as being my “best” experience. The entire law school experience was pretty life-changing, and I credit Chapman as a whole for the changes being for the better and not as painful as they otherwise might have been.

What was your greatest accomplishment at Chapman?

While I am proud of my academic achievements at Chapman, I think my greatest accomplishment is that I’ve been able to stay decently well-rounded, thanks in large part to my wife (who has a talent for keeping me balanced). I was able to structure things so that I could participate in both Chapman Law Review and Moot Court, and still maintain a healthy life outside of school without completely losing my sanity. 

List any clubs or societies you belonged to at Chapman. What was your most gratifying experience in a club?

I was the Editor-in-Chief of the Chapman Law Review for the past year (Volume 11).  The Law Review will publish four issues in Volume 11, which is more than we have ever done before. Our mission was to publish the most noteworthy authors and the most timely works as possible in an attempt to garner greater recognition for both the organization and the law school as a whole. I was also a member of the Moot Court Honor Board, and participated in two competitions.

As the Editor in Chief, I found it very gratifying to see the finished product of the countless hours of work on the law review.  My staff and I put a great deal of effort into the creation of these things, and it is a good feeling to see a freshly-bound book of articles that we had selected and edited.

Who were your mentors at Chapman? Explain how they helped/supported/inspired you.

Although she might not know it, my mentor was Dean Jayne Kacer.  Dean Kacer was my LRW professor for my first year, and I knew she was special when she found a way to keep me awake and engaged in an 8:00 a.m. class.  I was dedicated to improving my writing, and so I met with her on numerous occasions throughout the semester to discuss my drafts of assignments.  Dean Kacer’s candid advice greatly helped me to improve my writing skills, and, during our conferences, I found her to be a good bottomless source of advice for almost everything, whether it was school-related or not. I made sure to keep in touch with Dean Kacer throughout my 2L and 3L years; I stopped by her office about once a week.  Our conversations ranged from questions about my classes to things that were fairly personal, and I feel I gleaned volumes from her wisdom and experience.  It has been fantastic to always have someone to whom I could turn for support or with whom I could vent or celebrate.

What was the biggest risk/best payoff of your law school experience?

Honestly, coming to Chapman was probably the biggest risk I took.  I had offers from other, more established schools, but I chose Chapman.  It made sense from a fiscal standpoint, as it had a great location (so I wouldn’t need to relocate) and because of scholarship money, but I had also heard very positive things from local attorneys about the quality of the professors, and I found the prospect of being involved in the growth of a new school to be enticing.  So, I chose Chapman, and couldn’t have been more pleased with my decision.  I received a great education and have a job that I love – things could not have gone any better.

What was your favorite class at Chapman? Why?

I really enjoyed Professor Litwiller’s classes; she taught my Federal and California Civil Procedure courses. Her ruthless attention to detail and religious adherence to structure was juxtaposed with her incredibly insightful and provocative commentary, making for a truly memorable learning experience.  Her exams were very fair and straight-forward: to do well, you need to know everything. I really enjoyed the challenge her classes presented, and think I was at my best as a law student when responding to those challenges.  Also, because I was scared to death to "pass" if call on in her class, hers are the only classes for which I can say I was never unprepared.

What was the hardest thing about law school?

Balancing my time was the toughest thing to learn.  I can see how it is possible to spend every waking moment studying, but I don’t think that is a healthy or effective way to do it.  I had to learn how to use the finite hours of the day to both study intensely and also relax.

What advice would you give to someone considering Chapman University School of Law, or law school in general?

I’m a big supporter of self-determination and personal responsibility, so my advice to anyone considering Chapman Law (or law school in general) is that you can get out of it whatever you want, so long as you’re willing to work for it.  If you want a big firm job, or a prestigious clerkship, you can get it at Chapman, but to do so you’ll need to be one of the best, just like at a lot of other schools.

Also, I’d probably plug the quality of the education you can get at Chapman.  I think you can get a better education at Chapman than at most other law schools, including the “big name” schools. Other schools might open more doors with just their name, but if you can’t pull your weight once the door is open, there are going to be some disappointed folks.  Having come through Chapman, I can say from experience that you’ll be very prepared to enter practice once you graduate, and you’ll likely stand out, even among students from the bigger-name schools, because of how much you know about being a lawyer.

What advice would you give an incoming IL at Chapman?

Either grab the opportunity with both hands, or don’t come here.  Chapman is a great school with amazing and passionate professors, and everyone here—from Dean Eastman to the professors down to the members of the staff—is working to raise Chapman’s national prominence and notoriety. Being a part of that movement is fantastic, but it requires hard work from everyone, students included.  The good news is that it is easy to get involved, because the enthusiasm of the faculty is infectious.

How might you give back to Chapman after leaving?

I’d be interested in helping with the 1L moot court competition, or maybe one day teaching LRW as an adjunct.  I fully expect to remain close to Chapman as I transition into practice.

Do you already have a job or externship lined up? If so, please describe the position and how you got the job.

I will be working at Rutan & Tucker, LLP, in the Employment Law section. I first interviewed with Rutan through the on-campus interview program; it was one of the first interviews of the season. I received a call-back interview, and spent the day at the firm, interviewing with different attorneys. I received an offer for a summer associate position a couple days later, and accepted on the spot.  My LRW professor, Dean Kacer, had been a partner at Rutan for many years, and had spoken to me on numerous occasions about life at the firm, so it was an easy decision for me.  Apparently I was the only one to accept on the spot, but what can I say – I know what I want!  I spent the summer at Rutan, and enjoyed the work; being wined and dined wasn’t too bad either.  At the end of the summer, I received an offer for an associate position, which I also accepted immediately. 

What is your fantasy job?

As far as being an attorney, I think the job I’ve got at Rutan is exactly what I want. I will be practicing law that I like with great people, and making enough that my wife Amanda and I can start a family. Sometime in the (somewhat distant) future, I think I would enjoy life as a professor. Other than that, my “fantasy” job might be a highly-compensated position as an official Manchester United supporter.