When it comes to the University of Illinois, Timmy Knudsen ’15 can find a lot of things to love – especially Papa Del’s pizza.
“Every year I ask my friends to send me some for my birthday, but this hasn’t yet happened… which is ridiculous!”
Fond memories of favorite campus haunts aside, Illinois is also the place where Knudsen was first bitten by the public service bug. The double Illini was selected for the prestigious Charles P. Wolff Internship as an undergraduate, where he served as the liaison between the University’s Institute of Governmental Affairs and the student body. He helped create a speaking series to bring back young alumni who were excelling in government and politics to speak to students who hoped to work in the field, but had no idea how to achieve those goals.
“Often, for a career in government or politics there’s no set path – and that intimidates students from pursuing the career long term. Illinois has an amazing alumni base and this speaking series helped students to effectively network it,” he said.
Knudsen was also involved in the Greek system, Illinois Student Senate and other community organizations, so law school felt like a logical next step.
“Many of my mentors have law degrees and made it apparent to me the power of such an education – and I wanted that skill set. Most days something comes up that reminds me how grateful I am to have a law degree,” he said.
Despite feeling the pull to pursue a legal education in D.C., where he could be in the thick of national politics while studying law, Knudsen ultimately decided to stay at Illinois.
“Part of the reason I went to Illinois for law school was to remain involved with student government, which has great power at a state’s flagship university. Therefore, as a law student I served as Student Body Vice President, Student Senator and Chairman to the Committee on Governmental Affairs,” he said.
Going into law school, Knudsen knew he wanted to work as counsel for a committee or elected official in the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives. During the summer after his 1L year, he had the opportunity to serve as Senator Dick Durbin’s law clerk to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee.
“It was an extraordinary experience, as we worked day in and day out to pass the last comprehensive immigration bill through the Judiciary Committee and then the House. My day to day was assisting Senator Durbin on the legality of amendments to the bill as we sat as a committee, which included Senators Feinstein, Schumer, Cruz, Graham, and more.
“When the bill passed out of the Senate, it was probably the greatest professional moment that I’ve felt to date. ‘Dreamers’ lined up outside of Senator Durbin’s office to thank him and everyone was crying,” he said.
During his 2L year, Knudsen joined a group of fellow students to volunteer pro bono at various legal aid/non-profit organizations in New Orleans.
“It was so much fun to bond with my classmates and very impacting to work at a public defender’s office in a city that is very much still in hurricane recovery mode.”
Given these experiences, Knudsen felt sure that he would go into public service, and preferably back to the Senate after law school. But then he started getting advice from his mentors within and outside of politics, and it seemed everyone recommended the same thing.
“Everyone suggested that I get big law experience when I had the opportunity because there was so much to learn in a big law firm, and it would make me marketable in whatever route my career would take.
“I took this advice and joined Katten Muchin Rosenman in Chicago, which I view as the most ‘Chicago’ (as an adjective) of all law firms. Katten is home to Mayor Richard Daley, counsel to the Chicago Bulls and White Sox and fully active around the city. It’s been hard work but I have learned a lot and it has opened a lot of doors for me, and I don’t regret my decision!” he said.
At Katten, Knudsen is an associate in the Corporate practice with an emphasis on private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate counseling and representation across a wide variety of industries. He is also committed to pro bono work.
“I was raised with the mindset that when you’re offered significant opportunities, it’s your duty to give back. I learned a lot about immigration throughout the process of passing immigration through the U.S. Senate with Senator Durbin. One of the first things I did upon arriving at Katten was to take on a couple of asylum applicants. Working with Chicagoans who are desperate for, and deserving of, U.S. citizenship has changed my outlook on my own citizenship and the person I want to be.”
Beyond his work at Katten, Knudsen is also working for J.B. Pritzker’s campaign for governor.
“The issues that energize me more than coffee ever could are related to gay rights, women’s rights, and immigrant rights in our country and individual states,” he said.
For now, Knudsen is happy right where he is, but don’t be surprised if you see him working in politics or public service someday.
“Every role you take on makes you better for the next one.”