Julie Tokar '24: Out of this World Ambition

Julie Tokar has always had a passion for justice and knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue a career in law. After graduating from college in three years, Julie studied for the LSAT during COVID and decided Haub Law was the place for her. Now, she is a rising 3L who is pursuing an Advanced Certificate in International Law and just completed an internship with NASA. Learn more about Julie and her law school experience in this Q&A.

Can you tell us a bit about your background?

My parents are from Eastern Europe and migrated to the US for a better life. My older sister and I were born in New York and raised in New Jersey. We are the only ones in our families to graduate from university and I am the only one in my family to attend law school.

What was it about Haub Law that interested you?

Haub Law really drew me in because I wanted to be close to home and have opportunities to practice law in New Jersey and New York. I also fell in love with the campus, it feels like a close community.

Which classes have stood out to you so far?

Professor Bennett Gershman’s Evidence course has been my favorite so far. His classroom experience is unlike anything else – even though cold-calling can be scary, it is an experience unique to law school, which all law students can bond over. Professor Gershman’s class in particular is a very interactive class and he makes what can be a difficult course, a fun and intense learning experience.

This past Spring you completed the Legal Honors Internship with NASA, what was that experience like?

It was wonderful. I assisted the Office of the General Counsel with various legal issues that occur within the Agency, which touched on intellectual property law, ethics, international law, and more. I spent a lot of time researching and analyzing international space law agreements, which was fascinating. During my internship, I was working on a research project, and it ended up connecting to a law review note that I was working on. I was able to reach out and connect directly with the international attorneys over at NASA's headquarters office and one of the space law agreements that I decided to write on happens to be one that those attorneys drafted themselves.

What do you hope to do after Law School?

I am pursuing my Advanced Certificate in International Law and I hope to continue my career path in international law. My opportunity with NASA was a step towards pursuing that goal as I worked with their international law attorneys at the Headquarters and Kennedy Space Center.

What advice would you give to future law students?

I think it is important to take the time away from studying and reading textbooks to spend quality time with family and friends. It's important to have a break from law school. The books can wait (sometimes.)! I would also tell new 1Ls to work and do law school at their own pace and not focus on what others are doing.