Michael Miller
Class of 2009
Undergraduate: University of Michigan (B.A. in History with Honors)
Hometown: Worthington, OH
Summer 2007: Judicial Extern, the Honorable Michael Watson, U.S. District Court in the Southern District of Ohio; Summer Intern, Forsyth County District Attorney
Summer 2008: Summer Associate, Goodwin Procter, LLP in New York City, New York
“Do all your reading. Brief your cases. Make sure you do something that isn’t law-related each day.” During your first week of classes, your professors will all give you this type of advice, and you should heed it. Although I can’t help you with homework – it’s mostly the same wherever you go – I can tell you about some unique things to do “After Hours” in and around Wake Forest.
The NC School of the Arts is located downtown – amongst a few art galleries – and has top-notch musical and theatrical performances throughout the year. Another thing you’ll love about Winston – movies are CHEAP! There’s a $2 theater which shows second-run (read: not yet on DVD) movies and the 18-screen Grand (which is new) has $5.50 matinees and $6.50 student tickets anytime.
Taking a step back into a pre-movie era, Old Salem is a throwback area of town ripe for exploration, as its buildings date back to the 1770s. Museums, gardens, and restaurants occupy the town, and many of the workers maintain the traditional dress of earlier times.
If staying indoors isn’t your cup of tea, you’re in luck! Located in the piedmont of the Appalachian Mountains, there are numerous parks, lakes, and mountain sites inviting you to engage in a variety of outdoor activities. Pilot Mountain, which overlooks Winston-Salem, is only a twenty minute drive and offers hiking, mountain-biking, and camping (plus, it’s close enough to drive to class the morning after a camp-out).
For a smaller city, Winston-Salem has a lively restaurant and bar scene – something for everyone and enough to visit a new place every week. College hang-outs like “Freddie B’s” contrast with more refined places like “Sweet Potatoes”, a restaurant that boasts southern cooking served with southern charm. "The Village Tavern", located within walking distance from your seat in the library, is a great place to relax on the outdoor patio and enjoy an affordable meal after a long day with your nose in a book.
Finally, the law school's Student Bar Association (no, not that kind of bar – the bar you’re going to enter after you finish law school) plans and sponsors a variety of student-oriented events throughout the year. From the formal “Esquires Evening” dinner with faculty and staff to the “Law Revue” variety show and legendary Halloween Party, the SBA keeps its proverbial ears open to student interests and schedules programming accordingly. If you have ideas for new events “after hours”, then run for SBA and help plan them!
Your life “after hours” in law school is what you make it, but Wake Forest stands apart as it offers a wide variety of experiences and attractions with a mix of urban and country feel. Just because you don’t have much time “after hours” doesn’t mean you can’t do a lot with it!
