John  Koo

Home State

Alabama

Undergraduate Institution & Grad Year

Auburn University, 2021

Legal Interests

Corporate, Mergers & Acquisitions, International Business

Hobbies

Any sports ranging from college football and basketball to Formula 1 and UFC. Politics and current events. I love reading or listening to podcasts about interesting things, no matter what it is.

What do you think is the BEST thing about Cumberland School of Law?

The people and their willingness to make meaningful relationships beyond just the classroom. We are all willing to help each other out and also have a good time.

Why did you choose Cumberland School of Law?

I wanted to be in a city that had a tight knit legal market with a thriving business community and great quality of life. Birmingham fit those categories for me. Cumberland, I believed, gave me the best opportunity to connect and build relationships with firms and attorneys in the city, and it has done just that.

What do you most enjoy about studying law in Birmingham? What do you like to do in Birmingham?

Birmingham is a bigger city with a smaller feel. I’ve grown to love it more than I ever thought I would. This city really gives countless opportunities for younger crowds to have fun. I love spending a Thursday night at a Barons game or hanging out with friends at the various breweries around town.

Student Organizations/Extracurricular Activities

Student Bar Association Treasurer, Ambassador, Alabama Student Bar Association, First Gen Legal Society, Williams Competition, Sports and Entertainment Law Society, Admission Ambassadors, National Moot Court Team

If you could give any advice to your Pre-Law school self, what would you say?

Law school, more than most things in your life so far, will test your ability to be proud of who you are. Countless people will do things differently and act in certain ways that you won’t truly understand. Learning to be comfortable with yourself as a person and as a student and trusting your own instincts and plans for success are crucial. When you inevitably find yourself comparing yourself to others, remind yourself that every journey is different and to keep focused on your own “whys.”

What do you plan to do after graduation?

I hope I get a chance to stay and work in Birmingham doing corporate-related work. I truly do see a future for me in this city that I am falling in love with each and every day.