Minnesota Law recently caught up with Class of 2024 commencement speaker and graduate Samuel Ferguson ’24, an associate at Jones Day in Chicago, where he practices labor & employment law. In addition to his work as an associate, Samuel is a passionate volunteer and mentors high school students with Minds Matter, an organization dedicated to equalizing educational opportunities for low-income students.
While at Minnesota Law, Samuel was actively engaged in many Law School activities, including serving on the executive board of the Minnesota Law Review, co-leading the admissions ambassadors, working as a legal research and writing instructor, and working as a teaching assistant to Professors June Carbone, Daniel Schwarcz, and Mitchell Zamoff.
You are a Minnesota Law Class of 2024 graduate. Can you share what you have been doing and where you have been working since graduation?
After graduating, I moved to Chicago, Illinois, and began my career as an associate at Jones Day. I have since become involved with an organization called Minds Matter, an education centered nonprofit that works with high school students. My students Kenia, Luca, and Edna are rockstars! I live in a neighborhood called Wicker Park. If you are ever in Chicago, check out the Sunday farmer’s market in the park!
What is something that surprised you in your first year of working at a law firm?
I have been surprised with how relationship driven our work is, whether that is working with my fellow associates, partners, or clients. It has made the practice of law both fun and rewarding. I am extremely grateful that I can both learn from and enjoy time with my colleagues.
What does a typical workday look like for you?
My day starts with a light breakfast and run with my best friend (and Minnesota Law Class of ’25 alum) Brian Gatter. I then get ready for my day, take the train into the office, and spend a little too long chatting with my colleagues over coffee. As a Labor & Employment lawyer – I am a content specialist (rather than a skills specialist). Thus, my typical day involves work on a wide variety of matters. Often in one day I am advising clients on state law compliance issues, conducting due diligence on private equity transactions, and drafting motions on various litigation matters. My favorite lunch is a salmon bowl from Sweetgreen. After working a bit more, I will take the train home and enjoy my evening, whether that is tv time, plans with friends, or a walk by the lake.
How do you like to spend your free time away from work?
When I am not working, I love spending time with the students that I mentor. Teaching and learning with them is a great way to enter a different world and explore parts of my passions that lie outside of my career. I also, of course, enjoy spending time with my friends and family. Lately, I have been playing a lot of pickleball, spending time by the lake, and facetiming my mom, who is down in Georgia.
What is one piece of advice you would give to someone interested in attending Minnesota Law?
Take full ownership of your defining qualities and recognize those qualities as your greatest assets. Based on my experience, there is a tendency among young law students to attempt to fit yourself into the confines of the profession (or at least the perceived confines of the profession). My advice is to own those idiosyncrasies about yourself and to use them as guideposts for your career moving forward – not to fold them into what being a “lawyer” means. Many of my proudest accomplishments came from not shying away from who I am or what makes me different.
What is one of your favorite memories about your time as a student at Minnesota Law?
One of my many favorite memories from Minnesota Law was being a part of Minnesota Law’s Admitted Student Days. The admissions office hosts admitted students for in-depth visits to Mondale Hall and learn more about the Law School. These days were a ton of fun for my fellow ambassadors and me. Students, professors, staff, and alumni come together to show admitted students how much we genuinely enjoy our experience at the Law School. I enjoyed the camaraderie, the reflection on our student experiences, and the joy of meeting so many new people. These days were exhausting in the best way possible.
What is something about yourself that we would NOT find on your resume or CV?
I am obsessed with women’s college volleyball and am best friends with my mom!