Adam Ellis

You've had a goal of running a marathon.  How are you doing with that?

I’m not as far along as I had hoped, but I’m slowly getting back to training. Before law school, I ran a half-marathon, and my right knee decided not to cooperate a few miles in. I basically ran a majority of the race sideways to avoid bending the knee, and I think that did more damage than good. But I think sitting in class for the last three years has helped me recover!

What's been the highlight of your tenure as editor-in-chief of the UNLV Gaming Law Journal?

Besides working with all the great members of GLJ, the highlight has been interviewing Jack Binion over lunch for our recent Oral History Issue. He was around for so many historic events in Las Vegas, and it was fascinating hearing his stories about gambling, the mob, and growing up the way he did. And I’m not going to lie, as a long-time Las Vegas resident, I was a little starstruck.

Tell us about a class you took at Boyd that you loved.

I absolutely loved being part of the Small Business and Nonprofit Legal Clinic. Getting to work so closely with clients taught me a lot about myself, as well as the practice of law, while at the same time giving back to the community. Everyone should take one the Clinics—the experience has been invaluable.

Graduation is almost here and the bar exam is next.  What's after that for you?

I have a one-year clerkship with Judge Nancy Allf, and then I’ll join Snell & Wilmer as second-year associate. I’ve always been interested in businesses, so I feel extremely lucky being able to work in the Business Court and then with a firm that focuses on commercial litigation.