Leslie Siegel '06: Making a Difference in a New Way
Leslie Siegel ’06 has always enjoyed helping people in one way or another. While working as a broadcast journalist for years, she delivered news stories that informed and educated viewers. But she wanted something more. Since graduating from the Moritz College of Law, Leslie now feels like she has the ability to make even a greater impact on the lives of others. “I want to feel like I am doing something that matters in peoples’ lives,” said Leslie.
Immediately after graduating from Moritz, Leslie clerked for Judge Jeffrey S. Sutton, United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit. She currently practices general litigation law at Jones Day in Columbus. She is working on a racial discrimination case centered in Muskingum County, Ohio, that involves residents’ access to clean public drinking water. “Working on this case and with our 67 plaintiffs has been an amazing experience and I hope that we are able to correct the injustice that they have suffered for so many years,” she said.
Developing her skills as a litigator and learning from the court, her clients, and her colleagues at Jones Day are Leslie’s immediate goals. But she admits that she still has a passion for journalism, especially when big news stories break. As a reporter, she learned that lawyers play an important role in the media, and someday she would like to find a way to combine journalism and law. “I used to consult NBC’s lawyers on what we could say in our stories. First amendment rights, as well as any part of the law that touches the media, is particularly interesting to me.”
Leslie received her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. After graduating from Columbia, she returned to her native Ohio to work as a general assignment reporter at a Lima, Ohio, television station. Leslie eventually landed a job as a reporter in Columbus at the local NBC station, and at times was required to wake up as early as 2 a.m. for work. Leslie said she covered a wide variety of stories, and even got to report from Ohio Stadium during some Buckeye football games. She always had an interest in law, but her interest in law was heightened while covering court and criminal law cases as a reporter. By the time she was promoted to report on the 11 p.m. news, she decided to apply to Moritz.
Leslie describes her experience at Moritz as unique and rewarding. As editor-in-chief of the Ohio State Law Journal, she had the opportunity to interact with students in their first, second, and third year of law school, and make great friendships. Leslie currently serves as a member of the Alumnae Board of the Columbus School for Girls, and she also enjoys volunteering her time to serve meals at the local YWCA. She is also expected this month to marry Rob McCarthy ’08, who will soon begin work at Bricker & Eckler.
“It was amazing how much Columbus has changed since I left,” Leslie said. “I came back and realized how fun and interesting the city and its people were, and decided I wanted to stay.”
