Rodney Perry, M.A. Legal Studies Master’s Degree – 2010
Rodney Perry is an independent consultant and expert witness in commodity futures and options compliance…and a University of Illinois Springfield’s (UIS) Legal Studies Department graduate! Mr. Perry graduated with his Master’s Degree in Legal Studies from UIS in 2010. He chose the online Legal Studies Master’s Degree Program at UIS as a way to help him professionally, while preparing him for law school. As a former graduate from University of Illinois Champaign Urbana in 1991, obtaining his Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois was an important factor for Mr. Perry. He chose the online Legal Studies Master’s Degree Program at UIS “because it had everything I wanted”. “UIS offered an online program in legal studies; classes were taught by professors and not teaching assistants; the tuition was affordable; and most of all, UIS is a part of the U of I family.”
Today, Mr. Perry serves an independent consultant and expert witness in commodity futures and options compliance and assists with litigation, arbitration, and settlement discussions. The skills he learned in the Legal Studies Master’s Degree Program have helped him analyze cases and evidence to determine the most effective case theme, strategy and development. In his profession, he also provides investigatory and trial expertise to law firms, futures commission merchants, brokers, traders and customers. Mr. Perry says that the Legal Studies Master’s Degree Program sharpened his legal research and writing skills and provided him with career direction. He says that Program also gave him the skills necessary to succeed in the future, when he plans to attend law school.
Mr. Perry feels the best part of the Legal Studies Master’s Program was the valuable education he received along with the lifelong relationships he has with classmates and professors. He advises future students that the Legal Studies Master’s Degree is a challenge, but that it is ”well worth the time and effort”. He says the Legal Studies Master’s Degree “is designed to be difficult because it is a Master’s level program, but with the options of attending classes on campus or online the program is specially designed for students’ success”. He says, “Professors are always available to assist their students, and the student will be successful if he or she dedicates the time and energy necessary for academic excellence.”