Our Interview With Peter Tarantino, Attorney at Thornses Bartolotta McGuire

Peter earned his Bachelor of Arts in International Business with a minor in Chinese Studies from UC San Diego after spending time living and working in Munich, Germany. He later graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law, where he was actively involved with the Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot (VICAM) team, serving as competition director and vice president. Following his experience as a law clerk, Peter joined Thorsnes Bartolotta McGuire as an attorney after being admitted to the California bar.

1) What motivated you to pursue a career in law?

In the summer of 1925, two significant legal events occurred simultaneously and within 50 miles of each other. One of them was significant to the country at large and the other was significant to my family. The first was the Scopes Monkey Trial, which was largely inconsequential from a legal standpoint but served as a forum for the national debate on evolution and its relationship to religion. The second event was the murder trial against the men who murdered my great-great-grandfather. The summer after my senior year of high school, I read a book about the Scopes trial and took a trip to Tennessee to do research into my ancestor’s murder. Learning about the legal system through both lenses enthralled me and inspired me to pursue a career in the law.

2) What do you wish you had known about the law school application process before you applied?

I wish I knew how expensive it was going to be.

3) A lot of students struggle with the law school personal statement. What did your brainstorming, writing, and editing process look like, and what do you think made yours stand out from the crowd?

I started by listing my memories of my trip to Tennessee and by reviewing the research I had done about both of the Tennessee trials of 1925. I think my statement stood out because it walked the fine line between connecting my personal journey with the overarching journey of the law.

4) What was the biggest challenge that caught you off guard when you sat down to write the LSAT?

I took the LSAT from my room during COVID-19. I was not prepared for them to make me take my laptop camera and show the proctor every corner of my room to ensure I had nothing nefarious nearby.

5) How much work experience did you gain before applying to law school? What opportunities did you pursue, and what helped you the most during the application process?

I spent one summer in college working at an immigration law firm. After I graduated from college, I spent two years working at a fintech firm. I had several friends who had decided to go to law school before me and their experience significantly helped me overcome the initial law school hurdles.

6) Did you have any setbacks or rejections during the law school admissions process, and what did you learn from those experiences?

I certainly had some rejections from some schools, but thankfully the first school I was accepted to was the school I ended up attending. I learned to be content with rejections and not take them personally, which is a great experience to have when you are a lawyer and often have to deal with difficult situations without taking things personally.

7) What led you to specialize in Civil Litigation? What advice would you give to someone looking to pursue your specialty? What activities/events/opportunities would you recommend for students wanting to pursue Civil Litigation?

I began working at TBM and learning from the masters of plaintiff-side civil litigation. The primary piece of advice I would give is to network and gather a field of people who can help you find opportunities in the legal field. I’d also recommend activities where you can gain experience with oral arguments and writing, such as VICAM (international commercial arbitration moot court), Moot Court, Mock Trial, etc.

8) What are some emerging fields of law that you would recommend potential students to start thinking about if they want to future-proof themselves in the industry?

Privacy law and AI.

9) What are the biggest sacrifices you’ve had to make to pursue a career in law?

Time with friends and sleep.

10) Bonus question: How much would we have to pay you to take the LSAT again?

I wouldn’t mind taking it again, just so I can see if I could still do it. $238 (registration fee).

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