Student Spotlight: Ian Leach ’25

Tell us what it's been like taking on a new role as editor-in chief of NYU Law Review.

It's been a very exciting whirlwind since I was elected last month. We've already kicked off our articles and online selection process, we're working directly with students on note publishing, and I hope we are beginning to create a real community for our new editorial board. It's a unique opportunity to help play a part in shaping the legal academy and it's a role our editorial board takes very seriously. There's a lot of work to do, and a lot of impressive work to review by both scholars, students, and practitioners, and I'm happy to play a role in helping us as we approach our 100th volume!  

Ian Leach
Ian Leach ’25

What inspired you to pursue a career in law? Any specific career aspirations?

I hope to work in impact litigation protecting the rights of the LGBTQ community. Before coming to law school, I spent a number of years working in project management at a healthcare software company. It was an amazing experience and I feel lucky to have learned a lot of skills that I've found are extremely transferable to law school. But, after spending many years in various volunteer roles working in LGBTQ advocacy, I realized that I wanted to create a career working with the queer community. Thankfully, NYU has given me a host of amazing opportunities to get me there. This semester, I'm externing with the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund, and—with the amazing help of the PILC office and guaranteed PILC funding—I've worked on asylum cases with LGBTQ immigrants last summer at Oasis Legal Services in Berkeley, California, and will be going to Lambda Legal to work on LGBTQ impact litigation this summer.

What has been your favorite law school class so far?

Legislation and the Regulatory State has absolutely been my favorite class. So much of the news has to deal with agency actions and the courts trying to make sense of statutes and what authority it provides to the executive branch. My professor, Sally Katzen, has been an amazing mentor to me and I feel lucky to be working on directed research with her this year.

What is your favorite part about being a NYU Law student?

Being a member of the AnBryce program has absolutely been the best part of NYU Law. As a first-generation college student, having a community of people that grew up with lives similar to mine has been immensely helpful at navigating the law school experience. We've had some peak experiences together, too—from celebrating AnBryce's 25th anniversary, to taking a trip to the Supreme Court, to many evening dinners and lunches together, I'm glad that I have made such amazing friends out of this group and that we get to enjoy these moments together.

Favorite podcast to listen to?

I am a bit of a podcast junkie, so it's hard to choose. My favorite weekly podcast has to be “The Run Up.”Astead Herndon, the host, is one of the most insightful journalists regarding what is happening on the ground in politics, and I think he does a fantastic job articulating a nuanced and unique perspective on what people are really thinking regarding the upcoming election. 

Published on February 22, 2024