Major: Law
Years ago, a wide-eyed young girl and her family explored the Freedom Trail in Boston, Massachusetts—a 2.5-mile trail that weaves through the city to connect 16 historic sites, each significant to the history of the United States. She became so engrossed in learning about the past that she knew it had to be a part of her future.
That girl was Madeline Myers, who earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from Case Western Reserve University last year. Soon after, she entered the university’s School of Law to earn her juris doctorate degree.
In both her time as an undergraduate and so far in law school, she’s had professors who have helped foster her love for history—specifically history of the law with a focus on constitutional law.
“Constitutional law is the foundation of our legal system,” Myers noted, “and has been molded by both history and politics.”
Knowing she wanted to pursue a legal career before she even attended Case Western Reserve, she made sure to join the pre-law fraternity, Phi Alpha Delta, as she began her undergraduate studies.
“It was an incredible experience to network with attorneys practicing law, learning how they got to where they are today through the annual law gala,” Myers explained. “It also provided me with the opportunity to [help lead] a large-scale event at the university, such as the gala.”
So far in law school, Myers has been involved with the Sports and Entertainment Law Society and also coached the CWRU Law student baseball team over the summer as a part of the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s summer league. She’s been involved with Delta Theta Phi, the social law fraternity, as well, which has allowed her to participate in canned food drives to help the local community.
“Through my externships, I have become fascinated by the intersectionality of history, politics, sports, and athletes,” she said. “I think it is fascinating how the sports world is a microcosm of the world at large. Athletes as a group have been exploited and marginalized, and I am passionate about using the law to change that status quo.”
Myers has completed two externships with the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office; one with the 16th District of Ohio for U.S. Representative Anthony Gonzalzez and another with the Human Trafficking Clinic through the Milton and Charlotte Kramer Law Clinic. She hopes to pursue a career in sports law after she graduates with her JD in 2023.