At the ACS, Lena Zwarensteyn creates opportunities to engage with policy makers, organizations, judges, lawyers, scholars, and others to promote the belief that law should be a force to improve the lives of all people. The most rewarding aspect of her position is that it “weaves together all of the constitutional and legal issues I care deeply about – from issues of reproductive justice to voting rights,” she said. “I’m also responsible for leading the organization’s work on judicial nominations.”

Zwarensteyn also said that a wide variety of activities at MSU Law helped shape her legal career, but she placed the most emphasis on the Law Colleges’s Chapter of the American Constitution Society. “We regularly hosted rich discussions on timely constitutional law questions,” she said. “This also opened up my legal community beyond MSU as I engaged with the national network of lawyers and scholars.”  

The Geoffrey Fieger Trial Practice Institute (TPI) and Moot Court also played key roles in her career. Even though she did not have more opportunity to practice in the classroom, she remains grateful for the opportunity to learn about constructing solid and persuasive arguments and respecting the processes trial and appellate lawyers must navigate. MSU Law’s greatest strength is the ability to diversity the learning experience through TPI, Moot Court, and clinical experience.