Peer Advisors
The Law School's Peer Advisor Program aims to alleviate the anxiety associated with the law school experience and help every student achieve success at the Law School. Six third-year law students serve as Peer Advisors under the direction of the Sr. Associate Director of Advising and Wellness Programs to help first-year students navigate life at the Law School. Peer Advisors are available during office hours to consult on class preparation, time management, life at the Law School and general support. They also coordinate several programs throughout the year for first-year students, offering tips on preparing for class discussions, exam preparation, events during each quarter, course selection, and other related topics.
The Peer Advisor Program has three main features—group workshops, individual meetings, and informal mentoring.
Group Workshops: The Peer Advisors offer a series of workshops to first-year students designed to assist them in adjusting to law school. Typical workshops include the following:
- a presentation on preparing for class
- a faculty panel discussion on preparing for and taking law school exams
- a panel presentation on what to expect each quarter
- a panel presentation on learning from grades
- a presentation on 1L elective course selection
Individual meetings: Students can use office hours discuss concerns related to preparing for classes, understanding their grades, and preparing for exams, as well as general questions about the Law School.
Informal mentoring: The Peer Advisors attend Law School and 1L community events to make themselves available for informal conversations and mentoring.
Office Hours: Peer Advisors will be available to meet in room 435 during office hours.
Autumn Quarter office hours will begin on Tuesday, September 26, and go through Monday, December 4.
Please make sure to check this page, as Peer Advisor office hours may change during the quarter.
Questions: Contact Jesse Landstrom with any questions about the Peer Advisor program: jlandstrom@uchicago.edu
Anna Dincher
Anna grew up in and around Gainesville, FL, with an identical twin sister and an older brother. She attended the University of Florida as an economics major with a minor in sociology, graduating summa cum laude in 2021. She joined the class of 2024 that fall and quickly became very involved in the law school community. Anna has led multiple LSSOs, been a research assistant, participated in the Prosecution and Defense clinic, and is currently Managing Editor of The Business Law Review.
Anna has held internships with the Travis County District Attorney's Office, the Cook County Public Defender's Office, and the Federal Defender Program for the Northern District of Illinois. This past summer, she joined Jenner & Block LLP as a summer associate in their Chicago office, focusing on white collar and antitrust litigation projects. Following graduation, Anna will be clerking in Kansas City for Judge Brian Wimes of the Western District of Missouri.
Outside of work, Anna enjoys cooking and spending time outside. If you're looking for nice walking spots near the law school, she would be happy to show you!
Autumn Quarter Office Hours: Thursdays 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Lea Haddad
Lea Haddad is a 3L from Los Angeles, California. Lea graduated from UCLA in 2021, where she majored in Political Science and minored in professional writing.
Lea spent her 1L summer working in Copenhagen, at iCourts through the University of Copenhagen. Her 2L summer was split between Covington & Burling and Susman Godfrey— both in Century City, California. At the law school, Lea served as President of the International Law Society, IRAP, and SWANA, and Vice President of CALSA.
In her free time, Lea loves to cook (and eat!), travel, and binge TV shows.
Autumn Quarter Office Hours: Tuesdays 12 -2 p.m.
Sophia Houdaigui
Sophia Houdaigui is a 3L from Mclean, Virginia. She studied history at Barnard College of Columbia University. Sophia spent her 1L summer at the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Policy in Washington, DC. For her 2L summer, she was a summer associate in Sidley Austin's New York office.
At the law school, Sophia serves as the Managing Editor of the University of Chicago Legal Forum, is an active member of the Immigrants' Rights Clinic, and is a Co-Director of the Law School Musical. She previously served as the Co-President of the American Constitution Society, Vice President of the Southwest Asian and North Afrikan Law Students Association and is on the Faculty Interview Committee and Student Admissions Committee.
Outside of school, Sophia enjoys seeing theatre, going to comedy shows, and hot yoga.
Autumn Quarter Office Hours: Tuesdays 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Jason Shain
Jason Shain is in the third year of the three-year JD/MBA. He is originally from Santa Fe, New Mexico though did his undergrad at UChicago where he majored in Theater and Performance Studies. Between his times in Hyde Park, Jason served in the United States Air Force as an Air Battle Manager stationed primarily at Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City.
Jason spent his 1L summer as a Mayoral Fellow with the City of Chicago. His second summer was at BCG Chicago as a summer consultant. He also served as a research assistant to Professor Bridget Fahey. At the Law School, Jason is active in Law School Veterans and the Law School Musical. He served on Law Review and as Law Student Association President his second year. At Booth, Jason is an Admissions Fellow, a Lead Facilitator, is an active member of the Armed Forces Group, and served as a research assistant to Professor Karl Muth.
Jason enjoys hiking, baking, cooking, aerial circus, and exploring Chicago. He has a lot of experience in the City and is glad to discuss places to go! Welcome!
Autumn Quarter Office Hours: Fridays 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Erica Tietz
Erica Tietz is a 3L from Fremont, California. Erica graduated from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles in 2017, where she double majored in Sociology and Women’s & Gender Studies and completed a Jewish Studies Minor. After college, Erica joined Teach For America and taught high school special education for four years first in Denver, Colorado and then in San José, California.
Erica spent her 1L summer working in the Exoneration Project Clinic here, and continued as a student in the clinic throughout her 2L year. Her 2L summer was split between the San Diego County Public Defender’s Office and Ascend Justice’s Order Protection division back in Chicago. Erica also interned for Ascend Justice’s Incarcerated Survivors Project during 2L. She would love to talk to anyone interested in public interest law! At the law school, Erica also served as the Vice President of Disability Rights, Advocacy, and Community, and on the executive boards of Law Women’s Caucus and If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice.
Outside of school, Erica loves trying out different restaurants, coffee shops, and workout studios in Chicago, walking and biking along the Lakefront Trail, and hanging out at home with her perfect cat, Koufax.
Autumn Quarter Office Hours: Mondays 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Maggie Wells
Maggie is a 3L from Minneapolis. She graduated from Emory University in 2021 with a BA in English and Political Science. She spent her 1L summer at Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton in Atlanta and her 2L summer at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York.
Maggie is very involved in clinics at the law school, where she works on compassionate release. She is also a co-director of the law school musical, an Articles Editor for CJIL, and a former board member of ACS and CLF. In her free time, Maggie enjoys taking workout classes, trying new restaurants in Chicago, and watching reality TV shows.
Autumn Quarter Office Hours: Wednesdays 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.