Student Life

I've made friends who hail from New York, Massachusetts, Tennessee, New Jersey, the Bahamas, and Norway, to name a few.

Jace Vining

Class of 2009

Undergraduate: Baylor University (Psychology)

Hometown: Andrews, Texas

Summer 2007: Summer Associate, Kilpatrick Stockton LLP

Recent recipients of an undergraduate degree who wish to attend law school are presented with a wide array of possible institutions. The application process was daunting, but as the time to make a final decision approached Wake Forest clearly emerged as the strongest candidate, in large part because of its reputation of academic excellence and the close relationship between faculty, administration, and the student body.

I was born in Andrews, TX, a small community located in the oil fields of west Texas. Since I attended Baylor University in Waco, TX, for my undergraduate degree, I made an early decision to leave my home state for law school. I felt the need to experience life outside my area of comfort, if for no other reason than to gain a greater appreciation for life at home. Wake Forest fit the bill because the climate and culture of North Carolina compare in interesting ways to the climate and culture of Texas. I’m not used to all the trees and hills and grass and rain, but the people of North Carolina—as in Texas—are absolutely wonderful. Wake Forest’s location was definitely a positive factor in my decision-making process.

I’ve had some incredible opportunities since I’ve been at Wake. I had the opportunity to split the summer after my 1L year between the Washington D.C. and Winston-Salem offices of Kilpatrick Stockton, which was amazing. My family didn’t have much when I was growing up, so the chance to live and work in Washington D.C. was unprecedented for me. I had never seen a real, actual big city before, so it was overwhelming (in a good way). My parents live in Ft. Worth, which has a fairly large population, but D.C. was a much busier, active place.

My time at Wake has also given me the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. I’ve made friends who hail from New York, Tennessee, New Jersey, Massachusetts, the Bahamas, and Norway, to name a few. I remember wondering soon after I arrived in Winston Salem why no one liked the Dallas Cowboys, and why someone would put slaw on a barbecue sandwich. These and other topics make for some interesting and lively discussions amongst classmates.

It’s difficult to predict where I’ll ultimately end up practicing, but no matter the outcome I’ll be forever indebted to Wake Forest for the professional and social connections I’ve made during my time here.