Alum Spotlight - Julianne Brown, Esq. ’16
Julianne Brown, Esq. ’16 has carried her Westover experience into both her education and legal career. Earlier this year, she shared her expertise as a practicing attorney with current students by teaching a course during the second session of the Westover Institute.
In “It’s Totally Legal, but Should It Be?” students explored how large-scale art theft in Europe during World War II continues to impact those seeking justice for themselves and their families. Through the lens of Nazi-looted art restitution, Julianne guided students in examining a broad range of legal fields—including international, constitutional, and property law, among others—while challenging them to think critically about whom the law serves, whom it fails, and what it truly means for something to be legal.
Get to Know Julianne in Her Own Words
West or Over? Over!
Favorite Westover Tradition? Candlelight
What’s the first thing you think of when Westover comes to mind? The smell of the darkroom
What inspired you to come back and teach for the Westover Institute?
Photography teacher Caleb Portfolio will be the first person to tell you that I have been talking about teaching at Westover since I was a student at Westover. Whenever I imagined teaching, it was always in an adjunct capacity. I am so grateful Polly created the Westover Institute, a program that aligns with what my vision has always been for teaching at Westover. I really manifested this for myself, and luckily all the right people put this program into action at exactly the right time. I emailed Polly about teaching for the Westover Institute within hours of the announcement of the program.
I love Westover and feel so indebted to the community for the ways in which I was set up for my dream life. Now that I am in a position to be part of Westover in a greater capacity as an alumna, I am grateful for any opportunity––especially the Westover Institute––to guide the next classes of students toward success.
You chose to teach “It’s Totally Legal, but Should It Be?” in Ali Hildebrand’s classroom. What made you choose this room on campus?
I based my class on the note I wrote while I was in a journal during law school. My note discussed the restitution of Nazi-looted art from a legal, art historical, and geopolitical perspective. Everything that went into that note began in Ali's classroom. Not only did I discover and foster my love of art history through Ali's classes, but Ali is the teacher who taught me how to write an academic paper. She helped me refine my writing style through my SOMSI experience, and everything she taught me directly impacted my success in college and law school.
My note was written because Ali taught me how to write it. A class based on my note that heavily features my passion for art history could only be taught in Ali's classroom––it was the most amazing full circle moment.
How has Westover influenced your studies and career?
I was never going to go to law school. I did not dream of being a lawyer, and I had no desire to enter a post-graduate program. But here I am with my doctorate as a practicing attorney in what I know is the best career for me. At Westover, I learned how to question the world and have the courage to find myself in it, even when it meant checking my ego and redirecting my entire life. And Westover taught me to not take school so seriously and to learn simply for the love of learning. Law school was so chill for me because I wanted to be there and I took classes I actually cared about. As a practicing attorney, I have found myself working for a national firm where I have the opportunity to practice in multiple states and continue to explore any niches in my practice area that excite me.
I was never going to go to law school. I did not dream of being a lawyer, and I had no desire to enter a post-graduate program. But here I am with my doctorate as a practicing attorney in what I know is the best career for me. At Westover, I learned how to question the world and have the courage to find myself in it, even when it meant checking my ego and redirecting my entire life. And Westover taught me to not take school so seriously and to learn simply for the love of learning. Law school was so chill for me because I wanted to be there and I took classes I actually cared about. As a practicing attorney, I have found myself working for a national firm where I have the opportunity to practice in multiple states and continue to explore any niches in my practice area that excite me.
Be Boldly You
Westover School admits students of any race, color, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin, or disability to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. As a gender-diverse girls school, Westover welcomes applicants and students who are assigned female at birth and/or identify as girls. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational policies, admissions and financial aid policies, and athletic or other school-administered programs.