Hilary L. Vigil

Associate Attorney at Dykema Gossett PLLC

2017 | Lansing, MI

University of Notre Dame | Program of Liberal Studies

"The presentations given by the Career Services Office and the Academic Success Program also left lasting impressions on me. The goal of both departments is to support and guide students."

Hilary Vigil has a liberal arts academic background and work experience in the publishing industry. “For the last two years, I worked at the University of Chicago Press in the contracts and subsidiary rights department as the rights associate,” she said.

Hilary is interested in intellectual property law due to her experiences in book publishing. “I enrolled in the intellectual property section of my 1L Research, Writing, and Analysis course at the MSU College of Law in order to learn more about patent, trademark, and copyright law, and about what an intellectual property lawyer does on a daily basis,” she said. “I'd also like to find out more about real property, probate, and trust law, as I am also considering that as field of practice.”

She chose MSU College of Law after she attended an admitted candidate visit program. “The accessibility of the professors and staff impressed me greatly,” Hilary said. “Every member of the administration welcomed me and the other candidates, and assured us that they would be our partners in success.”

“MSU Law professors are always available to talk with students. When a professor is in his or her office, students feel comfortable dropping by,” Hilary said. “The presentations given by the Career Services Office and the Academic Success Program also left lasting impressions on me. The goal of both departments is to support and guide students. After leaving the visit program, I felt sure that MSU Law and the people who comprise it would provide a rigorous legal education, as well as the encouragement and direction I need to succeed.”  

Hilary also attended MSU College of Law’s financial aid webinar. “It was very helpful,” she said. “Since I did not have any previous experience with federal loans, it was a good overview, as well as sufficiently in-depth.”          

Hilary’s experiences with members of the MSU Law community have been extremely positive. “I was especially impressed by the 2L and 3L student ambassadors I met during the Admitted Candidate Visit Program; every student with whom I spoke was friendly and engaging,” she said. “Even more than that, the students conducted themselves professionally, and I attribute that to the respect they have for MSU Law and the pride they felt in representing it.”