Emily Philbrook '27: Advocating for others

Before coming to the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth's School of Law (UMass Law), Emily Philbrook '27 saw how challenges outside the classroom could shape a student's education. After graduating from Plymouth State University with a degree in English education in 2023, she taught sixth grade, working with students whose circumstances at home affected their ability to attend school.

That experience led Philbrook to consider law school as a way to advocate for people and communities beyond the classroom.

She found a fit at UMass Law, the Commonwealth's only public law school, where the emphasis on public service aligned with her belief in making education affordable and accessible.

"Through the immigration clinic, I had the opportunity to appear in court and gain hands-on experience that many law students don’t get until they begin practicing."

Learning through practice

For Philbrook, some of the most meaningful parts of law school have come from opportunities to put classroom learning into practice. Through UMass Law's Immigration Law Clinic, she has worked with clients in need of legal representation and gained experience in court under attorney supervision.

"The immigration clinic at UMass Law is amazing," she said. "Through the clinic, I had the opportunity to appear in court and gain hands-on experience that many law students don't get until they begin practicing."

Her interest in education and advocacy also came together through the 2025 Rappaport Fellowship in Law and Public Policy. One of 12 law students selected for the fellowship that year, Philbrook worked in the Office of the Legal Advisor for Boston Public Schools during the summer after her first year. She was the 11th UMass Law student to earn the fellowship, which supports summer internships in state and municipal government.

She has also gained experience at Cohen and Cleary, a law firm in Taunton, MA, adding a private practice perspective to her work in education and immigration law.

Those experiences have helped Philbrook explore criminal defense and immigration law, as well as her interests in policy and politics. She wants to represent people who might otherwise struggle to access legal support.

"You can't get that experience anywhere else," she said. "Through my internships, I've had the opportunity to work directly with people on important issues. That's what gets me up in the morning."

A community committed to service

As a first-generation college student and first-generation law student, Philbrook has found support from professors who know her interests and professional goals. Those relationships have led to guidance, recommendations, and opportunities connected to the work she hopes to pursue.

Since arriving in 2024, Philbrook has also taken on opportunities to support her classmates. She is a member of the First-Generation Law Students Association and If/When/How: Lawyering for Reproductive Justice. She has also taken on leadership and academic responsibilities, including serving as lead editor of the UMass Law Review, a peer mentor through the Academic Fellows program, and a teaching assistant for Civil Procedure, a first-year law class.

She also points to the school's emphasis on public service as an important part of her experience.

"At UMass Law, the goal of practicing law isn't about how much money your law firm can bring in," Philbrook said. "It's about pursuing justice and giving back to the community."

Finding balance through running

After competing in cross-country and track and field in her undergraduate years at Plymouth State University, she arrived at UMass Law with remaining athletic eligibility, allowing her to continue competing with the Corsairs while pursuing her Juris Doctor. She served as a team captain from 2024 to 2026 and credits her teammates, coaches, and the athletic department with helping her balance competition and legal studies. 

Her experience reflects another benefit of attending UMass Law: being part of the broader UMass Dartmouth community, where law students have access to housing, dining, recreation, student life, and Division III athletics on the main campus.

"It takes a village," she said when discussing how she balances law school with athletics. "Your whole life can't just be school and sleep. You have to have something else you enjoy."

For Philbrook, running is her "me time," a chance to step away from academic responsibilities and focus on something she enjoys. It gives her a break from the pressure to dedicate every moment to law school.

In May 2026, Philbrook won the 10,000-meter race at the New England Division III Championships, becoming the first Corsair to win the event at the meet. For her, the achievement reflected years of consistency and hard work.

"There is no magic trick to success. You have to show up every day and do the work," Philbrook said. "Running has really taught me that. You have to put in the work to get the results you want."

As she prepares to graduate in spring 2027, Philbrook is considering job offers in different states but hopes to remain in Massachusetts. Her goal is to build a career in advocacy and public defense, serving people who need legal representation.

This story was co-written by Mariana Peñafiel Ide '29, a communication major and University Marketing intern.

Emily Philbrook '27: Advocating for others

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