Sean Onwualu
Who I was then: I graduated from Syracuse University in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in sports management and a minor in psychology. I had no plans of going to law school until my last semester of college when I got to meet a bunch of attorneys as an extern at a sports agency. I spent a couple of years after college working and studying for law school in New York City. My first job was in advertising, where I helped manage the Reebok account for Deutsch NY. During the pandemic, I transitioned to a public relations job, where I worked on strategic campaigns for the BerlinRosen firm. During my time there, I helped labor unions with strategic campaigns, such as the Service Employees International Union and The Fight For 15. I worked in that position until two weeks before law school.
Amazing law school class: There are a lot of great professors and interesting classes listed here at UVA Law every semester and I’m thankful to go to a school that provides such unique class opportunities. That being said, my favorite class in law school was Sports & Games taught by Professor Richard Re. The class focused on comparing adjudicative systems and rulemaking in the law and sports. As someone who played sports a lot growing up, it helped me better conceptualize and understand the role judges and courts have in interpreting and applying rules to cases in front of them. I also have to give some love to Privacy with Professor Danielle Citron for getting me interested in a subject matter I was not exposed to prior to law school.
Outside class: I engaged in a lot of extracurriculars during my time at UVA. During my 1L year, I was a part of the 2024 Community Fellows class that helps foster community in the Law School. I was secretary for the Black Law Students Association for the 2022-23 school year, as well as a Peer Advisor. I was also involved in the Libel Show all three years, even becoming one of the head writers for the 116th Libel Show.
Favorite outing/activity to unwind: Being outdoors in Charlottesville is great. Playing softball and other rec sports on sunny days and going to wineries is hard to beat. Charlottesville gets all the seasons, so if you are someone who enjoys being outside, this is the place for you.
Noteworthy summer job: As a 1L, I got to work on privacy matters and global privacy policy at Apple as a part of their legal and global security team. It was so cool being in Cupertino and experiencing how a company like Apple operates from the inside.
What’s next (job/location): I will be a Legal Fellow in Denver at the Colorado Attorney General’s Office. I’ll be working in the consumer protection division, specifically on enforcement of Colorado’s data, privacy and cybersecurity laws.
Who I am now: Law school has taught me a lot and has changed how I think for the better. Law school has taught me how to be more analytical and objective while being able to understand the nuances within the law. UVA Law has also taught me the value in being an empathetic lawyer in understanding how impactful lawyers can be as stewards of the law. People go to lawyers oftentimes with some of the most important issues that arise in their life and it is important to be a lawyer that understands that and moves with the grace that duty carries.
What you should know about Virginia Law: That the community here is truly special. Your time at UVA will be what you make of it, but you will find no shortage of people willing to at least hear you out. Also, this is a place where people care about being a graduate of UVA Law and that means a lot to me and really comes across when speaking to alumni.