Harold S. “Hal” Barron, AB ‘58, JD ‘61, has served as general counsel at two Fortune 500 companies, Bendix and Unisys, as well as at national law firms in New York and Chicago. He held leadership positions in the American Bar Association, including chairman of the Section of Business Law and Seventh Circuit representative to the Federal Judiciary Committee. He is retired and resides in Chicago. Angela (An Qi) Ni is a 3L from New York City. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Barnard College, Columbia University, and she wants to pursue a career in international human rights law. She has interned at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of General Counsel and was a student-attorney in the Human Trafficking Clinic. She is the managing note editor for the Michigan Journal of International Law.
Harold S. “Hal” Barron, AB ‘58, JD ‘61, has served as general counsel at two Fortune 500 companies, Bendix and Unisys, as well as at national law firms in New York and Chicago. He held leadership positions in the American Bar Association, including chairman of the Section of Business Law and Seventh Circuit representative to the Federal Judiciary Committee. He is retired and resides in Chicago.
Angela (An Qi) Ni is a 3L from New York City. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Barnard College, Columbia University, and she wants to pursue a career in international human rights law. She has interned at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Office of General Counsel and was a student-attorney in the Human Trafficking Clinic. She is the managing note editor for the Michigan Journal of International Law.
Why did you want to go to law school, and why did you choose Michigan?
Hal: My father was a lawyer who put himself through law school. I admired him greatly and wanted to follow the same career path. I was predestined to go to U-M. Growing up in Detroit and knowing the reputation of the University, it was always my only pick. My family was middle class, and a Michigan resident could attend at a reasonable cost. After a great undergraduate experience, it was a natural transition to also go to the Law School.
Angela: I have always wanted to attend law school because I truly admire the way that lawyers think. As someone who values logical reasoning, I saw my legal education as something that will allow me to channel that particular way of thinking into helping those who are legally underrepresented in society. For me, there is truly no better place to do that than Michigan. It is humbling and gratifying to go to a school where I know I am receiving the best legal education.
What class/professor has impacted you the most, and why?
Hal: The class I enjoyed most was Professor L. Hart Wright’s tax course. He always had a twinkle in his eye, and he was the master of using the Socratic method to unmask the mysteries of tax law for us. I also remember Professor Alan Polasky, who taught Evidence. He loved turning to a student and saying, “You don’t believe that for a minute, do you?”
Angela: I enjoyed Constitutional Law with Professor Richard Primus immensely. It was the most intellectually challenging and thought-provoking class I have taken in my entire academic career.
Favorite place to study and/or socialize?
Hal: I generally studied in my room. I recall one late evening hearing a ruckus outside my window in the B Section of the Lawyers Club. It was then Senator John F. Kennedy making some remarks on the steps of the Michigan Union. Occasionally, I would go to the Law Library to get a change of scene and check out the female undergrads who hung out there. As for socializing, some of us went bowling in the basement of the Michigan Union now and then. And of course everyone went to the Pretzel Bell.
Angela: The Reading Room. It is incredibly picturesque and the best place to be for a long day of studying. Also, Ashley’s is pretty great for a few beers with friends after class and exams.
Craziest thing you’ve done in law school?
Hal: I was never a wild guy. I tend to be a more decorous individual.
Angela: Well, I moved outside of New York for the first time to attend Michigan. For me, it’s pretty crazy considering that I’m a city person.
Why do you give in support of scholarships?
Hal: During my second year, my family had some financial difficulties. I went to Dean Roy Proffitt, JD ’48, LLM ’56, to inquire if any financial aid was available. Without fanfare or embarrassment, he provided some needed assistance. Having experienced how helpful financial aid can be in easing the burden of completing one’s studies, I vowed that, when I was able, I would try to give others help similar to that which I had received. It is a great satisfaction to know that I am helping qualified individuals realize their goals.
What does receiving the Barron Scholarship mean to you?
Angela: The Barron Scholarship means being able to attend a law school where I feel truly inspired and challenged every day. On a more personal level, it means being able to become the first person to hold a graduate degree in my family.
