Congratulations to Regent University School of Law M.A. in Law - Wealth Management graduate Ian Lawrence!

In December, Regent University School of Law M.A. in Law graduate Ian Lawrence passed the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) exam, becoming the first with a concentration in Wealth Management & Financial Planning to do so. Ian was attracted to the program because of the curriculum's strong practical application to his career goals: "This program is focused on preparing a person to take the CFP exam and it is easy to see how each course relates to that goal. The curriculum covers many practical areas that are easy to use in my life." The M.A. program also offered him, as a non-traditional student, the flexibility he needed to balance work and family with additional education. Ian was able to take several courses online and set aside time in the evenings and on weekends to focus on school. "I have a wife and two young kids and I work full-time so [it was] definitely a challenge," Ian said. "I was aware that school would require a good bit of my time, but after nine years away from school I did not know what to expect in terms of how much time it would take and if I could 'do this.' Like many things, you can't be fully prepared for grad school so you just have to start and prove to yourself that you can do it."

Ian had nothing but good things to say about his experience as an M.A. student: "I like that Regent offers high quality education from a Christian perspective. . . . The faculty are excellent. They really want you to understand the material and they [were] very responsive when I have contacted them." Ian advised that those considering pursuing the degree have a clear idea of why they want it. "I chose the M.A. in Law program primarily because of the classes. . . . It's okay if [your] plan isn't super detailed, but having a general idea of your goals and how the degree helps you get there is extremely helpful. I recommend using our career services department throughout the time you are a student."

Ian is from Knoxville, Tennessee and also has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration for Thomas Edison State College ('07). He now has three small children and lives in Virginia Beach. He works for Regent University as its Assistant Director of the M.A. in Law Program and as the Law School's Finance and Analytics Manager.