By Cam Moultrie, Esq. LLM in Employee Benefits candidate
I like to think of myself as a runner. As often as possible, I start off my day with a run up Lake Shore Drive. The glamorous Chicago skyline and soothing waves lapping
the sandy beaches make it the ultimate escape. I like to feel the air blow past my ears as I pound one foot after the other, as I compete against myself and the wind. Usually I run short distances, but last year I challenged myself to run the Chicago Marathon.
The prospect of running, let alone training for, a 26.2 mile race was intimidating. I read about endurance running, shopping for comfortable running gear, and searching for training groups. After much deliberation, I selected a training program that I thought would best prepare me for the feat. The program consisted of four months of marathon training, coaching, and weekly group endurance runs. Every week, pacing coaches lead long runs, and provided tips on technique, training schedules, stretching, and eating. A team of volunteers met the runners each week out on the course to cheer us along and pass out much needed refreshments. The training was rigorous. I often ran before dawn to beat the summer heat, and took regular ice baths to ease my aching muscles.
Cam Moultrie, center, was selected as the 2010 Sweetnam Scholar, receiving a monetary award and a summer externship at the Office of Benefits Tax Counsel at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Tax Policy. The $5,000 scholarship helped Moultrie cover some of her travel, lodging, and living expenses in Washington, DC. William Sweetnam, left, principal at Groom Law Group, is the scholarship underwriter. George Bostick, right, is the current benefits tax counsel.
The longest and most daunting training run was a 20-mile race that began at the North Avenue Beach on the north side of the city and ended at the South Shore Country Club near the southern tip of Lake Shore Drive. As I walked up to the starting line early that morning, I only had a few moments to calm my nerves before the horn shocked me into motion. But I settled into a comfortable stride, with my shoulders down and eyes forward. I controlled my breathing, and took periodic breaks to drink water passed out by the volunteers. The last couple miles were the toughest. With the blinding sun bearing down and my joints aching, I focused on taking one step at a time. Finally, the finish line was in sight, and I sprinted the last half mile. I ended the training run at a pace 30 seconds per mile faster than I had set out to run. I was exhausted, but confident that marathon day would be a success (and it was).
Looking back, that 20-mile training race was an important milestone. The race allowed me to practice everything that I had learned. It tested my physical and mental preparedness and my ability to compete in a race situation. My achievement was not only the result of my dedication to maintain the running schedule, but a reflection of the effectiveness of the training program.
“Transitioning into a specialty such as employee benefits required many hours of studying and reviewing technical rules, but access to the rules alone was not enough. Studying in a supportive environment gave me a significant advantage.”
I have found that educational opportunities have played a comparatively important role in my legal career. Transitioning into a specialty such as employee benefits required many hours of studying and reviewing technical rules, but access to the rules alone was not enough. Studying in a supportive environment gave me a significant advantage. Just as the race volunteers provided resources to fuel our runs, the Center for Tax Law and Employee Benefits continually exposed me to the local employee benefits community and current issues facing practitioners. And just as the coaches advised us on running techniques, my professors in the LLM in Employee Benefits program instilled in me the fundamental concepts. The professors pushed students to think critically about the development of the statutory framework, and encouraged discussion about policy issues. And just as the 20-mile race simulated what I would face on the day of the marathon, my practicum and externship opportunities provided invaluable training experiences.
I was able to work closely with leading employee benefits practitioners and analyze real client legal issues.
The LLM in Employee Benefits is just the first step in attaining comprehension and building expertise in employee benefits. Yet, like that 20-mile training run, when I graduate from The John Marshall Law School, I am confident that I will have the necessary foundation to create a successful career.