From Caretaker to Legal Advocate
Azaan McCray 2L was thrilled when he was accepted to University of Wisconsin–Madison for his undergraduate studies. But when his grandmother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, he decided to stay home in Racine to help take care of her.
While commuting to University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee and juggling the swim and dive team and part-time jobs, he visited his grandmother twice daily to help her with eating and personal care. He also took her to medical appointments, where he got a close-up view of the flaws in the health system.
“Through those experiences, I saw the importance of having someone to advocate for you, especially when you’re in a position where you can’t advocate for yourself,” said McCray, who once fought to keep his grandmother’s life support from being turned off during a brief hospitalization.
“And so that really affirmed my interest in going to law school because I knew I wanted to be an advocate for people, whatever that realm may be.”
After touring law schools around the nation, he applied to only one: University of Wisconsin Law School.
“Madison was the one that really made me feel at home,” he said. “It made me feel welcomed and valued.”
His first year did not disappoint.
“It’s been very rewarding,” he said. “I’ve had so many opportunities to do a lot of fun and interesting things and really enrich myself academically.”
A highlight was presenting an oral argument in his Civil Procedure course with Professor Ion Meyn. McCray was initially nervous.
“However, preparing for and successfully delivering my argument solidified my interest in litigation and showed me that this is indeed the career I wanted to pursue,” he said.
During his first year, McCray joined the the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association and the Technology and Intellectual Property Student Organization. He spent this past summer working with the legal team at Molson Coors in Milwaukee. This fall, he is externing at a legal services company called New Era ADR through the Government and Legislative Clinic.
“I’ve learned so much,” he said. “I’ve really gotten my hands on all sorts of different legal work.”
This year, he is excited to learn even more through the Government and Legislative Clinic, as associate business editor for the Wisconsin International Law Journal and during an internship with Michael Best & Friedrich in Madison next summer. After graduation, he hopes to stay in Madison and continue to develop his litigation skills while serving clients.
McCray doesn’t regret that he waited to come to Madison because he values the quality time he got with his grandmother, whom he still visits when he goes home. And now he has family on campus: His younger sister, Inaara, followed in his footsteps and started at UW Law School this fall.
“Getting admitted to law school is really life-changing,” he said. “Being able to have the opportunity to have this career, these job opportunities and to help guide people in a time of need is something I’m very proud of and very grateful for.”
By Nicole Sweeney Etter