Emmanuel Agge (LLM '10 | Nigeria)
When Emmanuel Agge arrived at UC Davis School of Law to begin his Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree, two things stood out to him: “The people, culture and environment were welcoming and all inclusive. Also, it was quite a surprise to see students and professors riding on bicycles on campus.” Those early impressions marked the start of an academic journey that, fifteen years later, he still remembers as the foundation for his career as a Managing Attorney in Los Angeles.
Emmanuel’s “burning passion in understanding the corporate world and, by extension, corporate practice,” is what lead him to attending the LL.M. program. Using his litigation background, Emmanuel focused his coursework on Corporate Governance, International Finance, and Taxation.
Coming from Nigeria, Emmanuel was already familiar with common law procedures, but he still found his LL.M. studies at UC Davis School of Law to be “very interesting, challenging, and incisive.” What stood out most was the accessibility of the people around him — “the unlimited access to the professors and international office personnel was one of the most helpful parts of the program,” he says.
After graduation, Emmanuel found an opportunity to work for a Los Angeles law firm through Optional Practical Training (OPT). “It was my first major experience in understanding the intricacies, complexities, and nature of the justice system and its practices,” he says. The insight he gained during OPT laid the foundation for his current leadership role at Knight Temple Attorneys.
While Emmanuel focused his professional efforts in Los Angeles, he credits his time at King Hall as giving him the tools he needed to adapt quickly to the U.S. legal environment. “Once you’re able to speak effectively and understand what people mean about certain things, you are able to assimilate quickly,” he says.
In his closing remarks, he offered simple yet clear advice to future LL.M. students, reflecting on the foundation of his impressive career: “Study from day one of class.”