The brands we love, driven by your classmates

As one of the most recognizable logos of today, Apple needs a strong legal team behind it. And our very own Greg Holger is part of the team. Holger spends his days maintaining compliance with lobbying, campaign finance, gift, conflict of interest, and ethics laws in the United states and Canada. His path to work at one of the most successful technology companies in the world began in little Cincinnati, Ohio. 

Even though he is now working for one of the largest tech companies, the small-town feel of UC is what gave him the leg-up. The close connection to the community as well as the strong reputation and vast alumni network provided him with the opportunities he needed to get to where he is today. Holger came to the UC College of Law with an interest in the intersection of the public and private sectors. 

“The Center for Professional Development helped me make several important connections during my three years to great people in Cincinnati serving in public office or having done so in the past,” he says. “Learning from them and about their work helped lay the foundation for my first role after law school as a law clerk in the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions in the office of then Chairman Senator Harkin.” 

When looking back on his experience ever since, he wholeheartedly recommends UC to those interested in pursuing a legal career.  

Democracy for America is a national progressive political action committee with a grassroots mission of inclusive populism across all 50 states. Yvette Simpson brings her passion for diversity and inclusion and expertise in law to her role as CEO, which began back at UC.

“I was a member of Human Rights Fellowship program and member of the Moot Court Board. The work I do now started with the human rights work I started in law school,” she says.

Her law studies helped her hone her critical thinking, problem-solving, writing, and public speaking skills. For UC Law students, including Simpson, earning a degree is more than just obtaining book knowledge.

“It was all about the skills that we were learning and applying it to real life.”

That real-world application prepared her for the many hats she wears on a daily basis. Simpson is also a Political Contributor on This Week with George Stephanopoulos (ABC News) and a former member of Cincinnati City Council. She’s able to balance so many responsibilities throughout her career, thanks in part to the support that she’s had since attending UC College of Law. To this day, she still calls on her mentors for support.

“There were mentors of mine when I was in law school who I still call to this day when I need advice,” she says. “I think having people who were instrumental in helping me get through law school and who still have an active role in my development is really unique to UC law.”

Another top information technology company has a successful UC College of Law graduate on its team. Phyllis Turner-Brim says her success is the result of what she has experienced and what she brings to the table. And, it all began with her strong legal education.

“Having the opportunity to get a solid and robust legal education at UC taught by a good mix of full-time and adjunct faculty made me an attractive candidate and associate,” she says. “Every step begets the next step.”

Her path at UC was forged by an eclectic group of professors, who taught and delivered the content in a memorable, relatable way.

Not only did her UC Law experience give her the real-world experience she needed, she also was able to explore her passion for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility of the legal profession to underrepresented groups, particularly African American women.

“I appreciate that UC has demonstrated commitment in that area and look forward to further driving that.”

With that strong support system, she was able to land a job right away. And, the rest is history.

“My education has been a part of my total package that I bring to my role at HP and to every role since I left law school,” she says. “People shouldn’t think that just because you don’t have a big-name law school that your opportunities for success will be limited. I was able to leverage the great value to be successful.”