DUNMORE, Pa. – Marie LaRosa, a 2023 alumna of Penn State Scranton, has broken barriers as the first-ever student from the Scranton campus to enter into an accelerated law school program.
Penn State Dickinson Law’s 3 + 3 Program allows students to earn a bachelor’s degree and a juris doctorate from DSL in a six-year period.
Reflecting on her journey, LaRosa emphasized the pivotal role her undergraduate studies at Penn State Scranton played in shaping her path to success.
“Being an English major at Penn State Scranton was one of the best decisions I have made, and I look back on it as a pivotal time that set the course for my future. Penn State Scranton allowed me to take a challenging and aggressive course load.”
LaRosa also took advantage of the services that the campus’ Learning Center offers to students to help them achieve academic success.
“As cliche as it sounds, learning the skill of time management and the discipline to enact a rigid schedule was crucial to my success in law school so far. From the first semester of 1L, I created a routine that was sustainable and allowed me to adequately prepare for each class I was in. Although this skill improved through trial and error, its genesis occurred at Penn State Scranton,” she said.
LaRosa also highlighted the invaluable support she received from English faculty members who served as her guides and advocates.
Assistant Professor of English Kara Stone, who also served as LaRosa’s adviser at the Scranton campus, recognized her strong desire to succeed and knew she was bound to acheive her goals.
“I am not surprised that Marie has found so much success in the 3+3 program since she is one of the most driven individuals I have ever met,” Stone said. “Marie's story demonstrates that English majors can find success in many different areas outside of English literature. The analytical and research skills she acquired in the classroom prepared her to tackle the assignments in law school and in her internships. Other students should feel comfortable exploring options like this with their advisers since the major is so flexible.
Stone also highlighted the versatility that the English program offers students. “The English major provides our students with endless possibilities because critical thinking and analytical skills are necessary to succeed in any career after graduation. I have had more students recently interested in pursuing a law degree and have found success in the admission process.”
Maria LaRosa graduated from Penn State Scranton with a degree in English and is now in Penn State Dickinson Law's accelerated 3 + 3 law program.
LaRosa said she is grateful for professors like Stone, who were “patient and unwavering in their dedication to my goal,” she said. “Their support extended beyond Penn State Scranton, ensuring the smooth transition of my credits and finalization of my degree during law school. Each of these professors are more than just educators: they are architects for future leaders and catalysts for growth.”
“My enthusiasm for learning led me to take on a heavy course load. This dedication unexpectedly positioned me to advance into an accelerated program after just two years, rather than the original three,” LaRosa said. “My decision to attend Dickinson Law was solidified by its appealing small class sizes, accessible professors and robust alumni network.”
LaRosa had also been involved in an externship with Magistrate Judge Daryl F. Bloom of the United States District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania.
“I have had an engaging and enlightening experience so far in Judge Bloom’s chambers. He is a former prosecutor for the United States Attorneys’ Office, so I am fortunate to be able to learn a lot about the law from a strong role model in the field. I have always wanted to pursue a career as a trial attorney, and clerking for Judge Bloom is a way for me to develop my writing skills and learn more about litigation, which will be essential when I enter practice.”
LaRosa will also soon be interning with one of the country’s leading personal injury firms, Kline & Specter, PC, a law firm concentrating in catastrophic injury and medical malpractice litigation.
“As a trial firm focused on personal injury, this is my dream job,” she said. “Your first year of law school you take a class called torts, and that class catalyzed a new dream for me: practicing law as a trial attorney in personal injury. I could not be more excited to learn from these talented and passionate attorneys who are masters of the courtroom.”
LaRosa’s academic achievements, including currently standing in the top 5% of her law school class and receiving the CALI award – an award given to the highest scoring student in each law school class at many law schools – underscore her dedication and perseverance.
She credited her success to effective time management and strategic study techniques honed during her time at Penn State Scranton.
“An idea that I believe in strongly is that law school is all about strategy. For me, it has been more about simply reading the casebook: I often am evaluating a professor’s interpretation of the law during class, reworking my outline to ensure maximum utility on an exam, and discussing the law, so it becomes a comfortable part of my vernacular,” LaRosa said. “Additionally, every class is going to demand a different strategy, so the study techniques I had to develop to CALI Torts were different from the techniques to CALI Evidence.”
“Penn State Scranton showed me the importance of forming connections with your professors. The relationships I have with my law professors are one of my favorite parts of attending law school. The insight that professors have into both the course material and the legal world is invaluable.”
As the first person from the Scranton campus to undertake the 3+3 law program at Penn State Dickinson Law, LaRosa offered advice to current students considering a similar path.
"Trust yourself and find your support system early. When on an untraditional path, this trust and the support from those who have your best interest at heart will keep you grounded and remind you of your mission."
