Chester Klotz earned his B.A. in Spanish and B.S. in business administration from KU in 2002.
What do you do and what’s your current title?
I am the lead attorney for Solana, a recently-completed $1.8 billion solar thermal power plant outside Gila Bend, Arizona, constructed by Abengoa, a Spanish multinational. I follow all legal and insurance issues related to the project, including negotiations of subcontracts and litigation.
Where did you earn your law degree?
University of Arizona (along with an M.A. in Latin American studies)
How do you use what you learned as a KU College of Liberal Arts & Sciences student in your career?
My liberal arts and sciences background, which included extensive study abroad and Spanish language training, has proven invaluable in my current position. My work environment is fast-paced, multi-lingual and multi-cultural. Without the cultural and language training I received during my liberal arts curriculum at KU, my ability to communicate and operate in this environment would be severely limited.
Why law?
A legal career appealed to me because, much like a liberal arts and sciences degree, it allowed for a wide range of career opportunities. It turns out that I was correct – I don’t think that I could have ever guessed that a law degree would lead to me working in a trailer on a giant construction project in the middle of the desert.
What’s your advice for aspiring law students?
From Liberal Arts to Law
View more stories from our alumni here.
I think it’s important that law students try to imprint their interests on their studies. Law school can be anything and everything, which is in some ways wonderful and in some ways very daunting. To the extent that they can channel prior interests or competencies into their legal studies, I think they will feel more grounded and ultimately get more out of the law school experience.
Favorite KU memory?
My favorite KU memory is walking back home from Watson Library on fall evenings, with the leaves turning and the weather getting colder. I sincerely believe there is no more beautiful campus in the whole world.
Photo credits: thomasje