The Rath Foundation - An Enduring Legacy at UW-Madison

UW Law changed my life by making it possible to pursue an extremely fulfilling career in public service. I was the first woman in my family to earn a postgraduate professional degree, and my enhanced earning power boosted us out of poverty. I was glad for the welcoming atmosphere of UW Law because law school was a big culture shock given that my family never had any interactions with lawyers, and I did not know any personally. I was able to thrive in law school and earn top grades by focusing more on my studies and less on paying the rent. I worked throughout law school to support my family, but because of the scholarship, I only worked part time, and I could fit in educational experiences such as Law Review and a judicial externship, which were integral and invaluable parts of my legal education. I served as a nonpartisan legislative attorney for six years, helping make Wisconsin laws and regulations. Since then I have followed my passion for education and practiced school law for over a decade, serving public school districts in the niche that suits me best. I'm so happy I found the career that lets me use my legal skills in service of the public education system. I strive to use every opportunity to mentor students considering law school, law students, and new lawyers. I especially encourage nontraditional students like me, and people interested in public service, to get a legal education. I have also made charity donations a central part of my financial plan. Many people who are public service oriented think that professional school is out of reach because the careers they are seeking are so low paying that they can't take on law school debt. It is essential to support these students in their journey, so they don't feel that they must spend the first 10 years of their legal career paying off debts. Scholarships relieve the pressure to take the highest-paying jobs to pay off these debts, despite not feeling those jobs are a fit. In my case, graduating without debt allowed me to take meaningful jobs that benefit the public despite the lower income compared with corporate law firms. I would not have felt I could leave paid work, go back to school and take on a legal career if it required multiplying the student debt I had from college. Thank you for making me a lawyer! I owe my legal education and legal career to this scholarship, and I am eternally grateful. Thank you for the opportunity to share what this generous award has meant for me.

Jessica Ozalp '02, MA'05, JD'10 Madison, Wisconsin English Teaching English as a Second Language Certificate Graduated with Distinction

Juris Doctor Cum Laude

Applied English Linguistics Lawyering Skills Course Wisconsin Journal of Law, Gender & Society

“I strive to use every opportunity to mentor students considering law school, law students, and new lawyers.”

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN LAW SCHOOL