Haylee Henke
About Haylee: I grew up in the tiny town of Clare on my family’s grain farm, but I knew I wanted to pursue law school when I was 15 years old. I started off my first year of law school as a part-time student, so that I could continue to farm with my dad. I am now full-time, but it tacked on an extra semester. After graduation and the bar, I hope to continue to work within the agricultural sector, potentially as a lobbyist or a farm manager.
Previous Legal and/or Professional Experience: My first priority has always been helping my dad farm. I am hoping that after this harvest, I can finally delve into the legal employment world and build my resumé.
What activities are you involved in? I am a member of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau and Circle K-D Riders. I have been involved with the Future Farmers of America Alumni Association and also a therapeutic riding facility for children with disabilities. I also like to ride and train horses, and I enjoy doing woodwork.
What do you like most about being at NIU Law? My favorite part of NIU Law is most definitely the positive atmosphere: the people, the professors, and the small class sizes. As students, we may be competitive, but we all support each other. NIU Law offers everyone a venue in which to shine, so that no one gets lost in the crowd.
This interview was conducted in Fall 2011.