Kyra Harkins graduated from Penn State with a degree in Public Relations and a minor in Business and International Studies. After considering her undergrad and work experiences, she has taken the law school path and is now at the University of Miami School of Law.
As an undergraduate at Penn State, she was involved with Alpha Kappa Psi, a business fraternity, served as marketing captain for Homecoming, and was a dancer relations member for Penn State's Panhellenic Dance Marathon. She also took advantage of Penn State’s study abroad program and studied for one semester in Barcelona, Spain.
During her time at Penn State, Harkins realized she wanted to attend law school because of her love of problem-solving but decided to take some time off after graduating to work. In her first gap year, she worked in event technology sales and then as a paralegal at a criminal defense firm the next year.
"I chose to attend law school because I enjoy learning about the complexities of the law and how they apply in the world," said Harkins.
Choosing Law School in Miami
The current third-year law student decided on Miami Law because of the "plethora of courses, professors, and experiences available. Miami Law also offers a variety of scholarships and programs to assist with the cost of law school."
Harkins has taken advantage of the myriad opportunities that Miami Law offers by serving on the executive board of the Race and Social Justice Law Review, where she is a writing competition editor,and as a member of the student organization First-Generation Law Association. After her first year, Harkins interned for Luks, Santaniello, Petrillo, Cohen, & Peterfriend, where she worked on insurance defense. Since her 2L year, she has been interning at the Feldman Firm, focusing on white-collar defense.
“I have deeply enjoyed criminal procedure and evidence classes with Professor Tamara Lave, who brings her prior experience as a public defender to detail real life examples in class,” said Harkins. “I have also had the opportunity to take classes such as Digital Asset and Blockchain Regulation, which was a fantastic experience to learn about a new industry.”
Harkins also feels her experience with the Race and Social Justice Law Review has been valuable. “It has given me the opportunity to improve my writing skills as well as work with other students who are passionate about improving the world around them.”
After graduating in May, the Philadelphia Eagles football fan looks forward to living in Miami and working in the white-collar defense arena.
"I love that Miami is a fast-growing market to find a career in," she said.
