Reid Brost came to Nebraska Business from Rapid City, South Dakota, with an underlying goal to challenge himself and make his education matter by using his experiences to help others. As a finance major, he knew he could accomplish those objectives, but when a guest speaker in his Intermediate Microeconomics (ECON 312) class shared details of a new Law and Business Minor being launched at the college, a clearer picture of a future legal career formed in Brost’s mind.

“I can’t recall a single moment where I was convinced practicing law was the ideal career choice for me, but would say it was a multitude of moments,” said Brost, a junior also minoring in economics. “Watching prominent law-related films such as ‘A Few Good Men’ or ‘My Cousin Vinny’, meeting attorneys through the Pre-Law Club on campus or just speaking with my aunt about her career have all impacted my goal of becoming a lawyer.”

Brost’s aunt, Madeline Roebke, currently serves as a senior general attorney at Union Pacific, and previously worked as associate general counsel for the University of Nebraska for three years. He looks up to her as a role model and someone he aspires to emulate.

“Helping others and challenging myself are two fundamental values I have for anything I do in life. The career options a juris doctorate brings will allow me to have much-needed flexibility while looking for my future job. Having the opportunity to help others, intellectually challenge myself daily and having options to practice law in so many fields all contributed to my rationale behind wanting to have a career in law,” he said.

Brost believes the minor facilitates his career aspirations by also preparing him for passing the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). The Law and Business Minor launched in the fall of 2018, which came at an ideal time for him considering he hopes to graduate in December of 2020.

“The courses provide a strong background in law while also giving me confidence in my abilities to study and pass the LSAT and succeed in law school. They somewhat mirror law school courses but do not include the same amount of workload and material. They introduce students who are not very familiar with various types of law and the applications we see of law in everyday life,” he said.

He also points out many of his classmates in the Law and Business Minor do not intend to become attorneys. Some just wish to gain better insights into how businesses are affected by the legal system to better prepare them for their careers.
Eric Berger, J.D., associate dean for faculty and professor of law at the Nebraska College of Law, agreed with Brost that the minor curriculum forces students to think differently about many aspects of business.

“It helps undergraduates understand the architecture of our legal system and the many ways in which, they as leaders, need to know the law to think critically and strategically,” said Berger. “I am excited to be teaching Reid. He understands why it is important for everyone to know and understand law, and he is intellectually curious and engaged.”

Beyond his endeavors in the Law and Business Minor, Brost took another informed risk to invest in himself by participating in the Nebraska at Oxford program. He noted the importance of a well-rounded academic experience Nebraska provides.

“Through studying abroad for four weeks at the prestigious Oxford University in England, I fully broadened my educational and cultural knowledge by immersing myself in a foreign country. During my first tour of campus, I was made aware of the Oxford program and knew it was something I had to do,” he said.

Brost maintains coming to Nebraska was an easy choice. In addition to joining his older brother on campus, the atmosphere of his first visit sealed the deal.

“I noticed how incredibly helpful and friendly everyone was here at the university and in Lincoln. I realize it is somewhat of a stereotype, but I have found it to be very accurate during my time here. I also fell in love with the school and the city itself, and knew I could happily call Lincoln home for the next four years.”

To learn more about the Law and Business Minor, visit: https://business.unl.edu/lawminor. Published: March 7, 2019