James W. Gilliam, LLB [Hons]

"The life of the law has not been logic: it has been experience ." That famous line by Justice Holmes sparked my lifelong love of the law but in reality my career path began in medical research which appealed to my analytical mind. However, when my mother died of cancer I traded in my microscope for a stethoscope as a full scholarship physician assistant (PA) student at Baylor College of Medicine's second PA class. My PA education culminated in a Masters in PA Studies (Fam. Med.) with a 4.0 G.P.A. from UNMC Omaha. While working in Delaware I applied to Widener University School of Law's evening program - my only option if I was to continue supporting my family. In spite of this recommendation from Dean Karen Porter of Temple University Law School: "...he sent me two briefs to critique. ...and his work ... would rate an "A+" in many legal writing classes." I was not accepted - I was accepted at Case Western but family commitments precluded my acceptance. Now after retiring from medicine if you can imagine the feeling when I logged onto the University of London Student Portal and was immediately redirected to the Alumni Page to find that I had been awarded the LLB - it was awesome and I'll be setting for the New York State Bar Exam in February 2023.