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Welcome to the second season of �鶹���� Law’s “Got a Minute?” series. Like last year, we’ll find students throughout William H. Gates Hall and ask them 20 questions about their law school experience, a bit about themselves and occasionally drop in a pop quiz or two.

This week, we’re featuring Sean Dong, an LL.M. student.

�鶹���� Law: Which LL.M. program are you in?

Sean Dong (SD): I'm in the Taxation LL.M.

�鶹���� Law: Are you originally from Seattle, and if not, where?

SD: No, I moved here from China about 12 years ago. I went to �鶹���� for undergrad, to Seattle University for law school, and now I’m here.

�鶹���� Law: What's one interesting fact about where you're from?

SD: My hometown — Zhengzhou — is right next to the Shaolin Temple, which is known for kung fu.

�鶹���� Law: Without looking, how many glass structures are in the courtyard?

SD: Three? [Looks outside to courtyard] Oh, four. [Laughs]

�鶹���� Law: If you weren’t pursuing a law degree, what would you be doing instead?

SD: That's a hard question. I always tell people in my next life I either want to be a dancer or a singer because I can't do either of those things in this lifetime. But if I weren’t a lawyer, I’d probably be a travel blogger. I love traveling.

�鶹���� Law: What's one interesting thing you've covered so far in your classes this quarter?

SD: Our first task was to imagine a scenario where you run into a senior colleague in the elevator who randomly tells you about this fact pattern concerning a client they just met, and without giving you any additional context, they ask, “Are there any tax issues for this client?” And the task was to write up a follow-up email to the senior colleague to ask more questions. I was like, this is exactly what would happen in day-to-day life.

�鶹���� Law: What was the first type of law that you practiced?

SD: I’ve been doing corporate law from the beginning. I think my first ever deal was an equity financing with Guayaki Yerba Mate where I helped them get a $70 million investment.

�鶹���� Law: Where's your favorite spot on the �鶹���� campus, excluding William H. Gates Hall?

SD: One of my favorite spots is this little garden across from the Jackson School of International Studies — the Grieg Garden. When I was a psychology and international studies major, I would be there all the time.

�鶹���� Law: If you were arguing in front of a jury made up of TV characters or TV personalities, who would be the most difficult juror to convince?

SD: There are two. Kerry Washington's character in “Scandal,” Olivia Pope, and then Viola Davis’s character from “How to Get Away with Murder,” Annalise Keating.

�鶹���� Law: If you could add a new class to the curriculum, what would it be called?

SD: I’d love to look into the writing style of opinions that make you laugh. I’d call it, “Legal Writing: The One with the Judges Being Silly or Funny.”

�鶹���� Law: If Harry the Husky was a lawyer, what type of law would he practice?

SD: Entertainment law.

�鶹���� Law: What's one thing that every visitor to Seattle should go see or do?

SD: Take a walk at the new waterfront park. It's really nice.

�鶹���� Law: What's one thing that surprised you about Seattle when you moved here?

SD: Leaning that more sunglasses are sold here than umbrellas.

�鶹���� Law: What's a fun thing you like to do on the weekends?

SD: I love to go to the gym to relax and have a good americano in the morning. And then go to the farmers market and run some errands.

�鶹���� law: What’s one class you're hoping to take while you're here?

SD: Partnership tax, which I will take next quarter. A lot of law firms are partnerships, so it will be cool to understand that type of tax structure.

�鶹���� Law: What's more peculiar, the fact that “Law” starts with an “L” and the building is shaped like an “L”, or that our dean has the word “Law” in her last name?

SD: Oh, the dean, obviously.

�鶹���� Law: Which professor would have the most interesting second career?

SD: Professor Hatfield. He's very funny. I feel like he could be a comedian.

�鶹���� Law: Name one lawyer who inspires you and why.

SD: When I was externing at the Washington Supreme Court my 2L summer, I had a chance to meet with all the justices, and I connected the most with Justice Mary Yu. She told me stories about how if you want to make changes, you got to be part of the conversation. You got to be sitting at the table.

�鶹���� Law: If you could work in-house at any corporation or organization, which would you choose?

SD: The Gates Foundation — I really admire that organization.

�鶹���� Law: What's one interesting thing about you that people may not know?

SD: I have two cats, Batman and Selena Kyle.