'I always thought the rest of it would work itself out': How Ellie McIntyre is navigating law school, mid-twenties

Ellie in her living room.

Her mornings start with the sun, around 6:30 a.m. She makes her coffee and settles into her usual spot on the couch, in the living room to watch the news—typically WRAL and The Today Show.

Ellie McIntyre likes to stay informed.

A 25-year-old, UNC-Chapel Hill law student from Charlotte, North Carolina, Ellie is learning the art of balance as she works toward completing her law degree this year and stepping into a full-time, nine-to-five job in the fall.

"This photo shoot is kind of giving Architectural Digest."

Despite the societal pressures that often come with being in her mid-twenties, Ellie doesn’t let them weigh her down. Growing up, her dad would always remind her:

"The life that's in front of you is so much more beautiful, joyful, and fulfilling than the one you could write yourself."

That advice keeps her grounded. Instead of fixating on a rigid timeline, she focuses on building a strong foundation. As a result, things like community, friendships, and love have naturally fallen into place.

“I knew I wanted to spend my 20s starting a career… a job with purpose,” she said. “And I always kind of thought the rest of it would work itself out.”

After her morning news and coffee, Ellie spends a few hours reading and studying before her 10 a.m. lecture. On long days, she doesn’t get home until the evening, but on a typical Wednesday, she’s done early.

Ellie graduated from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN –  where she first fell in love with law.

“I always knew I wanted to work in some kind of social justice capacity because that’s what I cared about, and I wanted my job to align with that,” she said. “I wanted to do good work.”

She majored in English but worked at a legal nonprofit expungement clinic, where she met public defenders and started to see herself in their role. Hearing their stories moved her.

She realized she could blend her career with her passion for helping people and become a public defender. 

That passion also comes with pressure—the understanding that her work will directly impact people’s lives. But she doesn’t let that pressure derail her ultimate goal.

Outside of law school, Ellie finds joy in running.

Ellie running at a local trail.

“I love running,” she said. “I ran in high school, and it's such a great mental health outlet for me. Plus, it gets me outside.”

Running, along with cooking and eating healthy meals with her boyfriend in the evenings, is part of the foundation she’s building. She hopes that by maintaining these habits now, they’ll sustain her once she’s fully immersed in her legal career.

Like many 25-year-olds, Ellie is navigating the evolving nature of friendships. With distance now separating her from childhood and college friends, she has to be intentional about maintaining those connections. Her childhood friend group gathers every year on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and she makes a point to see her best friend at least once a semester.

“We're all in different places with jobs and school, but being together when we can, with people who have known you for so long, is so special.”

She makes time for phone calls, too. And she leans on her parents, who have been a pivotal source of support throughout law school. Whenever she has doubted herself, they’ve reminded her to keep going, that she is more than capable. 

Ellie's dad gives her lots of art and quotes.

“If I didn't have those people in my corner, I mean, this would be impossible,” she said.

Ellie feels like 25 has given her newfound clarity.

She notices shifts in how she processes the world—she understands people’s complexities in a way her younger self didn’t.

“I think that’s probably the biggest thing—just being able to understand nuance and see the layers in things I couldn’t process when I was younger,” she said.

Oh—and I can’t forget about Luke.

A mirror in Ellie's home.

Ellie made sure I wouldn’t.

Her wonderful partner in crime, her rock, and a huge part of her support system as she navigates life in her twenties.

“He’s literally my everything.”