Jacqueline Tubbs' success at Vanderbilt Law School is clear: She's the editor-in-chief of the esteemed Vanderbilt Law Review and has already secured a great job in Washington, D.C. What truly sets her apart, though, is a motivation that goes far deeper than her personal ambitions in law.
For this Alabama native, her accomplishments at Vanderbilt Law and her undergraduate years at Harvard University are, in part, a result of the profound influence of her late father, who died suddenly of a heart attack during her early teenage years.
"There was a kind of shift of motivation, of working for something much bigger. I'm not doing this for myself. I'm doing it for my family. I'm doing it for my dad, who would have loved this. I'm doing it for other people who are growing up without a father or mother. I'm doing it for all of them," she said.
Tubbs said her mom sat her and her two siblings down after their dad's death and encouraged them to persevere and excel despite the loss-to constantly work toward being better versions of themselves while supporting each other and improving the world.
CAREER GOALS
Tubbs is following her mom's heartfelt advice. After Commencement, she will focus on real estate law and affordable housing in Washington, D.C. And she plans to do pro bono work on civil rights-related issues.
"I feel like God has helped me find this perfect balance between helping others through the legal work and helping my family through the financial stability," she said.
DARING TO GROW
Tubbs credits Matthew Shaw, associate professor of law, for being such a dedicated and impassioned mentor to her.
"He has been such a blessing because he's not just there to teach us; he connects with us. If he sees you in the hallway, he's going to stop and talk to you, even if both you and he are really too busy to speak," she said, laughing. "He definitely inspires me as a young Black lawyer working against whatever other people's judgments of him might be."
Shaw also encouraged her to compete in the journal writing competition, which is how she earned a spot on the Vanderbilt Law Review. Later, Trey Ferguson, JD/MBA'24, inspired Tubbs to throw her hat in the ring for editor-in-chief of the law review, which Tubbs rates as one of the most pivotal moments of her Vanderbilt experience.
"Jac is a once-in-a-lifetime student, a once-in-a-lifetime human being. Jac is peerless at so many things, but I think it's because she is so well anchored in being a good person. She has a way of asking questions-a kind, unassuming, directness-that invites people into the problem-solving process. I've seen her do it in class; I've seen her do it for BLSA; I've seen her do it in Law Review; I've seen her do it in the hallways. That can't be taught; it's just who she is," said Shaw.
"Jac Tubbs will change the world just by being herself." - Matthew Shaw
"I am the first Black editor-in-chief of the law review," Tubbs said. "My mom laughs when I say this because I haven't had kids, but becoming editor-in-chief was what I'd imagine having a child is like, where all of a sudden there's this one huge responsibility and honor that completely changes your life and takes up so much of your time." Notwithstanding the hard work, she said, has enjoyed her tenure and is grateful to all who supported her through every stage of the process.
COLLABORATION IS KEY
Tubbs said the law review was a strong proving ground for Vanderbilt's values of working in collaboration.
"Vanderbilt has been the perfect combination of being excellent and prestigious, while at the same time, people are not all falling into this trap of competition and intensity," she said. "My Law Review executive board has been especially collaborative. We learn from one another and work well with each other. We help each other out a lot. I'm super thankful for my team."
FAMILY FIRST
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