Learning law and the Land
How three students found their paths in Cleveland
They arrived in Cleveland with different backgrounds, ambitions and expectations—drawn by the city’s opportunities and ready to test themselves. Today, on 216 Day (Feb. 16), learn about three students who took a chance on Cleveland and found a community they could call home.
Hailey Trimpey
Moving to Cleveland for law school was a big transition for self-described “small-town girl” Hailey Trimpey. But now—three years later—she’s glad she trusted her instincts that led her to APP.
“When I stepped onto campus,” she recalled, “I just felt comfortable.”
That came as a surprise to her, having just finished undergrad in Ada, Ohio—a village whose population tops out at about 3,000 people.
Now in her final semester of law school, Trimpey is preparing to graduate in May and sit for the Ohio Bar Exam in July. Reflecting on her time at CWRU, she points to her capstone experience as one of the most formative parts of her legal education.
This past fall, Trimpey completed a part-time externship with University Hospitals’ legal department, working about 20 hours a week while also taking three classes. The placement grew out of her developing interest in healthcare law, sparked during her second year through courses on HIPAA and healthcare controversies.
“There were so many more [legal] aspects to [healthcare] than I anticipated,” she said. “You can only get your feet wet in so many departments in one semester, but it was a really positive experience.”
Trips home to Bowling Green—and the addition of a dog to her life—have reminded her of the conveniences of smaller-town living. Still, she appreciates what Cleveland has offered during her time here.
“There’s basically a lawyer on every corner,” she laughed. “But there’s a real sense of community among [them]. Even in a bigger city, people are willing to help. CWRU alumni are everywhere, and they’re very willing to make connections for you.”
Li Yang (Eric) Low
Having grown up close to the equator in Brunei, Li Yang (Eric) Low is used to tropical weather—all year round. So winters in Cleveland have been a big adjustment for him.
“Oh, the cold!” he said. “It’s one thing to get used to.”
Low studied science as an undergraduate in Hong Kong before earning a master’s degree in biotechnology from New York University. While in New York, he worked at an intellectual property law firm, sparking his interest in the field. Drawn to APP School of Law for its strong experiential learning opportunities and generous financial aid, Low came to Cleveland to pursue his JD.
The second-year law student has made the most of his time in the city with externships at Cleveland Clinic Innovations and Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court.
“I think law school is a period for experimentation,” he explained, “to see if this line of work would be meaningful for me or what I would want to do in the future.”
In addition to his legal studies, Low is considering medical school, with long-term aspirations of working at the intersection of health law, medicine and rehabilitative justice. Having lived in major global cities, he has found Cleveland’s close-knit law school community and collaborative work culture to be a welcome change. Though still adjusting to Midwest winters, Low says the people and sense of community have made the city feel like home.
“What you need to live a good life is the same no matter where you are, right?” he said. “It's the people around you.”
Aimee Zynda
Aimee Zynda’s path to law school wasn’t traditional—but that’s exactly what makes her perspective unique.
A third-year student at APP School of Law, Zynda grew up in Buffalo, New York, and became the first person in her family to earn a four-year degree. She earned an associates at Jamestown Community College and a bachelor's from University at Buffalo but never initially planned on attending law school. But living with engineering students in college—and listening to their animated discussions about design, mechanics and innovation—sparked her curiosity about intellectual property (IP) law.
“I loved sitting around listening to them debate things like the timing of a yellow traffic light,” she said. “That’s when I started thinking, maybe intellectual property is something I should explore.”
Once she settled into life at CWRU, Zynda leaned fully into hands-on opportunities at Cleveland Clinic Innovations and the law school’s IP Venture Clinic. While students are required to complete 12 credits of experiential coursework to graduate, she will finish with 26—more than double the requirement.
Although Zynda graduates in May, she says her time in Cleveland won’t be up—at least not yet. She’s attended Guardians and Monsters games and hopes to check Browns and Cavaliers games off her list before graduation.
“I can’t leave yet,” she joked. “I still have games to go to!”
