Originally from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, Roni Kane, ’29, comes to UChicago Law with an international background spanning education, advocacy, and legal research. A University of Michigan graduate, Kane taught English and coached Model UN in Spain as a Fulbright grantee before working with the Clooney Foundation for Justice in Scotland. We spoke with her about her path to law school, her interest in litigation and international law, and what drew her to UChicago Law.

Tell us a little about your background and the path that led you to law school.

After finishing my undergraduate studies, I moved to Madrid to teach high school English and coach Model UN with the Fulbright Commission in Spain. Afterward, I flew a couple hours north to Edinburgh, Scotland, where I spent the past year doing a fellowship with the Clooney Foundation for Justice. At CFJ, I helped develop advocacy communications strategies and conducted legal research for the organization’s global free speech initiative.

What are one or two professional, academic, or personal experiences that have most shaped who you are, and why?

Competing in mock trial as an undergraduate helped me develop my individual voice and ability to tell a story through a legal lens. I gained a sense of confidence and adaptability that have supported me in developing meaningful personal and professional relationships in two different countries over as many years. Transitioning to “real” casework at the Clooney Foundation has shown me that I am capable of making substantive contributions to legal analysis, not only in domestic jurisdictions, but also across borders.

What inspired you to pursue a legal education?

In part, the Dobbs decision solidified my commitment to pursuing a legal career. At the time, I was doing a summer journalism internship, and I helped cover how women across Michigan were reacting to the news. Reporting on such a major legal development made me realize that I wanted to have a more proactive role in defending individual rights – and therefore that I was working in the wrong profession.

What areas of law or legal issues are you most interested in exploring?

I am generally interested in litigation, though my experience with Fulbright and the Clooney Foundation has inspired me to further explore foreign policy and international law. I want to better understand how disparate legal systems can work together to advance global justice and international cooperation in tandem.

Why did you choose the University of Chicago Law School?

While attending various admitted students' days, I kept waiting for that intuitive “when you know, you know” feeling. When I was talking to other prospective students and professors during the faculty reception in the D'Angelo Law Library, I knew. The curiosity, mutual respect, and passion I experienced in such brief conversations made me confident that UChicago Law was the school that would best challenge and inspire me to grow into the advocate I hope to be.

What impact do you hope to have with your legal education?

I remember when I read Robert Traver’s Anatomy of a Murder last summer, I was surprised by the protagonist’s argument that the prosecution’s duty should be to “bring out all… evidence bearing upon the guilt or innocence of the defendant – the bad, along with the good,” before the defense and court. Until that point, litigation, in my eyes, had always seemed adversarial by nature. I hope that my legal education at UChicago will challenge that assumption. I want to learn to wield the law in a way that advances not only justice, but also greater overall transparency and cooperation during a highly divisive moment in national and global politics.

What are you most excited to experience as a UChicago Law student?

Chicago winters! Just kidding – two years living in temperate Europe has blissfully helped me forget what “lake effect” means in sub-zero temperatures. On the other hand, I am ecstatic to experience another vibrant Midwest autumn and to visit the closest cider mill with new friends.

What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of school and work?

For better or worse, I am a former theatre kid who still loves singing and acting when the opportunity arises. Recently, I had fun playing Marmee in “Little Women” at a community theatre in Scotland! I also enjoy traveling, reading books and restaurant reviews, writing poetry, and trying to keep up with my Spanish. 

What are a few fun facts about you that your classmates might be surprised to learn?

As a kid, I wanted to be an astronaut, until I listened to Neil deGrasse Tyson talk about black holes on “Cosmos.” After that, I was far less keen on going to space.

Most recently, outside of my real job, I worked as an extra for an episode of the upcoming season of Dept. Q on Netflix.