Walking through open doors: trained for journalism but now preparing for law

Kyle Ziemnick is a 2020 PHC graduate with a degree in Journalism, but today, he's studying law at the University of Virginia Law School and recently argued a case before the Ninth Circuit Appellate court. He shares more about the Journey from WORLD News Group to law school and illustrates Proverbs 16:9, The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD establishes his steps.

Like many freshmen, before coming to PHC, Kyle Ziemnick was unsure what he wanted to study. Being familiar with PHC through his father, Tom Ziemnick (VP for Advancement), Kyle felt that coming to PHC would mean he would receive a quality education.

After talking to the head of the Journalism Program (now Journalism & Digital Media), Dr. Sillars his sophomore year, Ziemnick dove headfirst into the major. After graduating with his Journalism degree in 2020, he worked for World News Organization, writing stories and doing podcasts. Though he enjoyed the work, he was unsure if this was what he wanted to do for the rest of his life. 

Near the end of his senior year, he began to reconsider his career trajectory. Having had success with Moot Court and Mock Trial all four years at PHC, many at school advised him to look into law school. Ziemnick said, “I just hadn’t listened or really thought about law school. And I don’t really have a good explanation for why that is, it just wasn’t what I imagined myself doing.” Kyle's wife, Marina (GOV: APP, 2020), a fellow PHC graduate, also played a key role in helping Kyle decide to go to law school.

Talking to the vast alumni network in the field post-graduation helped him realize his love for storytelling carried over into the law.

“I really loved learning about new things and talking about those things with other people. I guess I did not make that connection that that is what law really is. You are brought in to become an expert in a short time frame, and then you've got to communicate what you learned, make an argument, and do it in a compelling way,” Ziemnick said.

After taking the LSAT and being accepted to other top law schools, Kyle opted to stay closer to home by attending the University of Virginia School of Law. Being at law school has helped to further confirm that this was the correct path for him.

“There’s such an art in crafting and writing and thinking in a way that allows you to make the most compelling case.” Ziemnick explained, “More than that, you get to decide what you think about the state of law and the Constitution, and what the actual doctrine should be.” Ziemnick credits PHC’s History and Western Civilization courses for giving him a holistic foundation for interpretations.

In addition, looking back, Ziemnick realized how his time in forensics helped prepare him for the future. “It was just a phenomenal time to do forensics at PHC, and I think it set me up to come to law school super well, even if I did not know it at the time,” Ziemnick said.

He got to put these skills into practice when he argued before the Ninth Circuit Appellate court. This spring, Ziemnick was a part of the appellate litigation clinic, where he worked with a team on a case pro bono. Along with the team, he helped write the opening brief, a reply brief, and deliver oral argumentation.

“You’re not trying to be the best speaker. In moot court, it’s about winning points. In real life, it’s about giving the best answers that you can in the most compelling way you can to try and win your case,” Ziemnick said.

(Watch a video of Kyle arguing before the court here.)

Having gotten married a few months after graduating, Ziemnick cares for his family on top of being a student. While he acknowledged it can be challenging to balance raising two young children and attending law school, Ziemnick says he relies on his family to help him through rough times.

“A family is a real blessing, and at school, when times are really tough, I can go back and rely on them, which is really encouraging,” Ziemnick said. Though it is a team effort, being at school much of the time, Ziemnick credits his wife, Marina, for holding everything together. 

Even after all the changes in his life, Ziemnick encourages students not to be anxious about the future, "I don't think not knowing what you are going to do is a bad thing. It's leaving lots of doors open for God to take you. Our job is to walk through the next door that the Lord puts in front of us."

Ziemnick said, “Whatever that next stage is, as long as you are open to it being better, there’s a good chance that God’s got an even better stage ahead. And that’s been the story of my life so far. It’s just been a huge blessing after huge blessing.”

 Patrick Henry College exists to glorify God by challenging the status quo in higher education, lifting high both faith and reason within a rigorous academic environment; thereby preserving for posterity the ideals behind the "noble experiment in ordered liberty" that is the foundation of America.