My first encounter with the Murphy Scholar program was the dedication of an icon of St. Josephine Bakhita hosted by the Murphy Institute during my first semester of law school. The dedication began with a beautiful Mass where the priest gave a homily on how we can strive to be more like the saints. A presentation followed featuring a criminal law professor who spoke on her experience in human trafficking cases, providing valuable insight to the life of St. Bakhita, the patron saint of human trafficking victims. On an elevator ride down with Professor Gregory Sisk after the event, he asked if I would be interested in deepening my Catholic faith along with my legal education as a Murphy Scholar fellow with the Murphy Institute. I knew I could not pass up on that opportunity. Soon after, I had an interview with the Institute co-directors Professor Sisk and Dr. David Deavel, and the program manager Michelle Rash, and I found myself in the unique position of becoming a Murphy Scholar. That same semester, I attended a Mass and shared a meal with peers that shared the same values and ideals about how our Catholic faith can be a part of our work as future lawyers.  I knew it would be the start of my journey to become a Catholic lawyer.

In my nearly three years of being a Murphy Scholar, I have been privileged to attend events pertaining to wide range of topics, including embryos, abortion, freedom of religion, religious liberty, and healthcare.  I’ve had the opportunity to partake in events like the dedication of an icon of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, the Catholic Studies 30th Anniversary Gala and engaging in lively debate and discussion with my peers at formation nights. Perhaps the most memorable of the events that I have participated in during my time as a Murphy Scholar are the “Hot Topics: Cool Talk” programs that the Institute hosts every year. The “Hot Topics: Cool Talk” series features two legal scholars engaging in a spirited, yet civil discussion about a legal topic. Many of the topics that have been featured in the past included gun ownership and qualified immunity, which have opened my perspective on these hot button issues.

During my second year, I was able to attend a dinner with the two speakers for the “Hot Topics: Cool Talk” program, “Qualified Immunity: What is It? And is It Good or Bad Policy?” featuring Professor Sisk and Professor Christopher Walker from the University of Michigan. During our conversation, we discovered that both Professor Sisk and Professor Walker shared a similar background even with their differing viewpoints – both men worked for the Civil Appellate Staff at the Department of Justice, and both were clerks for judges in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The idea of bringing different viewpoints together in the same place speaks to the delicate balance that comes from being a Catholic lawyer.

As a future lawyer, I am called to be a zealous, competent advocate for my clients with the sole focus of “being a lawyer,” which can mean either prosecuting someone for committing a crime or keeping someone out of jail. As a Catholic, I am called to walk the path of Jesus, to act in way that is compassionate and respects the dignity of all human beings, no matter what walk of life they come from. As a Catholic lawyer, my responsibility is to be a knowledgeable practitioner that can look at a defendant or client and understand that they are created in the image and likeness of God. I have a moral obligation to respect the dignity of every person in the courtroom – from the defendant to the judge, from opposing counsel to the law clerk, and anyone else who is part of the administration of the justice system. Being a Catholic lawyer means that I see the humanity in the client, opposing counsel, and the judge, which allows me to find solutions that work to bring someone into the image and likeliness of God that we are all called to be.

As I prepare to take the bar exam and look towards the future of a legal career here in Minnesota, I am eternally grateful that Professor Sisk took a chance on me and asked me to join the Murphy Scholars program. I am grateful for all the experiences and knowledge that I have received during my time as a fellow, and I look forward to being engaged as a proud alumnus of the University of St. Thomas School of Law and the Murphy Institute.

Tomy Vettukallel is a 2024 graduate of the University St. Thomas School of Law and alum of the Murphy Scholars program.

“Student Perspective” is a recurring blog series which highlights the various activities of the Murphy Scholar graduate students during their fellowship.