The Power of Partnership
How UB Law’s Community Builds Success
Published July 29, 2026
Law school is full of firsts: your first cold call, your first clinic client, your first summer internship. But it’s extra special when you get to co-author your first article with your former professor!
When Deja Graham ’24 signed up for an independent study with Professor Christine Pedigo Bartholomew, their semester‑long research project quickly evolved into something much bigger: a scholarly partnership, a major conference presentation and a forthcoming co‑authored article in the Villanova Law Review.
It’s the type of story that reflects the heart of UB Law’s community and shows that students aren’t just taught by professors, but invited into the world of legal scholarship as true collaborators.
From Independent Study to Intellectual Spark
When Graham first began working with Professor Bartholomew, she started digging into airline deregulation and antitrust enforcement. And then something clicked.
“Deja’s project was deeply researched,” Bartholomew recalls. “As we discussed various mergers, we quickly realized merger oversight in the airline industry had strayed far afield from the goals of antitrust.”
That realization was the spark. Their conversations grew longer, their research deeper and soon the project had outgrown the boundaries of a typical independent study.
A True Scholarly Partnership
As the project expanded, so did the collaboration. Their partnership became a steady rhythm of in‑person meetings, phone calls, hundreds of text messages and what Bartholomew affectionately describes as “crazy long emails.”
“It was a very lovely writing experience,” Bartholomew says. “Deja is so responsive and insightful. She was always willing to volley ideas. A past student becoming interested enough in a topic you teach to spend this amount of time on a project? For professors, this is what we live for.”
They refined their arguments, rewrote sections and incorporated feedback from antitrust scholars, state attorneys general and experts across the country. By the time they finished, every section had been rewritten at least twice. The result: “Grounded: How DOJ Merger Analysis Left Consumers Stranded,” a co‑authored article that will be published in the Villanova Law Review in fall 2026.
Taking Their Work Global
Their collaboration didn’t stay within the walls of O’Brian Hall. Graham and Bartholomew presented their research at Loyola University’s 26th Annual Antitrust Colloquium in Chicago, one of the field’s major scholarly gatherings. Bartholomew also shared the work at the USC/Cambridge Antitrust Workshop, bringing UB Law’s scholarship to a global audience.
For Graham, who works as a law clerk for the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, the experience was both validating and energizing. “I’m sort of a junior scholar compared to the other people in the room,” she says. “It was good to get feedback and realize my research is on the right path.”
A Community That Lifts Up Everyone
It’s worth noting that stories like Graham and Bartholomew’s aren’t rare at UB School of Law. With such a tight-knit legal community, students and former students alike are encouraged to explore big ideas, take intellectual risks and collaborate closely with faculty in, beyond and beside the classroom.
UB Law fosters an environment through independent studies, clinics, journals and research partnerships, allowing students opportunities to build meaningful relationships with professors and contribute to scholarship that informs real legal conversations.
Your Path, Your Partners
If you’re a prospective student wondering what your law school experience could look like, consider UB School of Law! You won’t just learn from your professors, you’ll work with them.
Your journey will be shaped not only by what you study, but by the people who walk alongside you. Why not start building those partnerships today?