Kathleen Kennedy

Kathleen is a rising 2L at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Before LCA, Kathleen interned for Theatre Royal Haymarket in London, the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and the University of Notre Dame’s Snite Museum of Art. She also currently volunteers with the Family Programs department at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago. Before law school, Kathleen received a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Education, Schooling, and Society from the University of Notre Dame and worked as an editor in Chicago. 

Q: Many of our interns come to us with unique backgrounds in the arts. Do you have any personal background in the arts?
A: I studied English in college and worked as an editor here in Chicago for a few years prior to attending law school. I have also worked and volunteered at several museums.

How did you hear about LCA?
I heard about LCA at a panel about intellectual property and the creative arts. Jan Feldman, LCA’s executive director, was one of the speakers.

What did you expect? Did anything here surprise you?
I wasn’t sure what to expect with the remote setup. I was surprised that I was still able to interact with clients so much, even working from home.

Do you have any favorite moments or projects from your time with us? 
My favorite part of working at LCA has been speaking with the clients. LCA’s clients come from a variety of backgrounds, work in all areas of the arts, and have a wide range of legal issues. They keep the work interesting.

How has your experience at LCA connected with what you have been learning in law school?
I have used what I learned in my first-year courses daily at LCA. Whether knowing what questions to ask when speaking with clients about their legal issues or figuring out where to start researching a legal question, my experience at LCA has allowed me to connect what I have learned in the classroom to real issues.

The opportunity to learn about arts law from such a practical perspective has been incredibly valuable. I went into law school hoping to combine my interests in the arts and law, and I am grateful to LCA that I was able to do that so early in my legal career.  While there are many classes that I can take in law school that would help me to understand some of the legal issues common to most industries, including the arts, my experience at LCA has given me a better understanding of some of the issues unique to the arts community and the nuanced ways the law applies to it.

Did you come into LCA hoping to get experience in a particular area of law? Have your interests changed at all?
I was hoping to get experience in intellectual property, particularly copyright law, and I was not disappointed. During my first year of law school, I also developed an interest in general business and contract matters, and my experience at LCA has reinforced that interest.

What’s next for you? Has your time at LCA helped you to narrow your options?
I have two years of law school ahead of me. I definitely plan to take more courses that are relevant to arts and entertainment law, like intellectual property courses and business law courses. I would love to eventually do work in arts and entertainment law, whether that be pro bono work or as a larger part of my practice.

Do you hope to volunteer with LCA once you have your degree?
If I am practicing in Illinois, I would love to volunteer with LCA.

What value does an organization like LCA add to the arts community?
An organization like LCA helps artists navigate all kinds of issues that otherwise might pose major legal and financial roadblocks to their work. By alleviating some of the legal and associated financial burdens that artists face, LCA allows artists to continue making their unique contributions to the world.

What’s a fun fact about you?
I brew my own kombucha. I let it go a bit during the school year, but I started again once quarantine began.

Which tv-show/movie/song/book have you recently finished that you would recommend?
I recently read the book The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead and watched the movie Knives Out on Amazon. I highly recommend both.

Thank you Kathleen for all of your hard work as an intern this semester! Check the website or follow us on social media for future intern profiles and other exciting content.