Jack Tousley

Hometown: Kooskia/Kamiah, Idaho
Location: Moscow

What advice would you offer to incoming 1L Law Students?

Focus on what you can control. There are mixed messages in law school about the importance of grades. Sometimes it seems like the only thing that matters, other times professors and advisors will assure you they aren’t all that important. My experience is that the people who focused more on their own self-improvement—independent of grades—were the highest performers in class and felt the most fulfilled by their experience. To make the most of your time in law school, focus on what you can do to get better every day, and the rest will take care of itself! And don’t be afraid to ask for help from your professors, classmates, ambassadors, or anyone else. The U of I community mentality is helping others makes us all stronger. Our legal community thrives when we work together to learn and grow.

Bio

I grew up in Kooskia/Kamiah Idaho, and did my undergrad at the University of Idaho. I worked summers as a river guide and commercial diver to put myself through school. After graduation in 2011, I moved to Lewiston and worked as my wife finished her degree. The death of a close friend made me reevaluate my life goals and make sure I was working to achieve them. I knew at that point I would return to law school, and Moscow was my first choice. The campus, staying close to home, and getting a high quality, affordable education without loading up mountains of debt made the U of I Moscow a clear favorite for me. The law building is close to everything, especially if you are used to big-city traffic. For a small town, Moscow sure has a lot to offer.