Ben Reichard ’25 believes that community is built, not merely found.
A native of far western Maryland, Reichard wanted to find a way to connect with Harvard Law School students with similar roots and share his culture with others. But when Reichard realized that what he was seeking didn’t yet exist on campus, he didn’t get upset — he got busy, co-founding the Appalachian Harvard Law Students Association last year.
“It takes effort to build a shared sense of belonging, an inclusive space,” says Reichard. “Trying to make those spaces at HLS has been really meaningful to me.”
Reichard didn’t want to interact only with people from his own background at Harvard Law. Instead, he aimed to take advantage of as many opportunities as he could during his three years to make friends, foster connections, challenge and be challenged, and grow as a person and professional.
“We’re not just here to become lawyers,” he says. “We’re here to become better people and better global citizens.”
Reichard says he hopes others have similarly learned from him as a person from rural Appalachia, a region that is sometimes misunderstood, and which he didn’t always see the advantages of as a child.
“I definitely felt the allure of the big city when I was growing up in a small town,” says Reichard.
That desire to explore brought him first to the University of Maryland, where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree in government and public policy, respectively. Then, pursuing an interest in politics, Reichard went to work in Annapolis for the state legislator representing his home district. He was there for several years until his legislator retired, providing an opportunity for Reichard to pivot.
“I had become a little disillusioned working in politics, if you can believe that,” Reichard jokes, adding that he decided to pursue another path, at least for the time being.
“We’re not just here to become lawyers, we’re here to become better people and better global citizens.”
The experience nonetheless convinced Reichard that he wanted to continue to serve his region in some way. “I think spending time away from my Appalachian community made me appreciate that part of my identity more,” he says, pointing to the area’s unique culture and environment.
“One of my favorite things in the world is going up to my friend’s cabin in West Virginia. There’s no cell service there, no internet. I don’t even bring my computer,” he says. “In a fast-paced, ultra-connected world, getting back home and unplugging a bit is refreshing.”
Hoping to gain skills that could be used in a variety of possible careers — including business and entrepreneurship, government work, or advocacy — Reichard decided that law school was his next logical step. And as he began considering schools, he aimed to find one with more than just great academics — he wanted a place where he could also be part of a real community.
After visiting on admitted students’ day, Harvard Law felt like the perfect fit.
“I was blown away with the diversity of perspectives and backgrounds of the people I met just in that one day,” he says. “I talked to students who were from California and Florida and Texas and all over the country, but also from all over the world, with very different goals about what they wanted from law school.”
Reichard says his efforts to build community have meant the most to him during his time at Harvard Law, including serving as co-founder and president of the Appalachian student organization, as a member of the Board of Student Advisers, and as a 2025 Class Marshal.
“As part of the Board of Student Advisers, I mentored about 30 students during my time here,” he says. “Seeing their growth as students and young professionals has been so inspirational. I’m really excited to see the big things they’ll accomplish, and I hope that I had a small positive impact on their time at law school.”
Reichard has also appreciated being able to explore some of his personal interests, such as sports — he’s an avid Washington Commanders fan — through classes, the Sports Law Clinic, and as co-president of the Harvard Committee on Sports and Entertainment Law. He even scored internships with the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Twins and spent a summer as a law clerk with DraftKings, which he calls “a magical experience.”
“I think those experiences taught me a lot of non-legal skills, such as people management, communication, and negotiation. And with DraftKings, I was exposed to entrepreneurial work and the business side of legal innovation. The energy there was inspirational.”
Reichard says he also enjoyed fostering friendships outside of classes and extracurriculars, playing in the law school’s flag football and softball leagues, and organizing a weekly poker game at his apartment.
“Maybe most important to me are the connections I’ve made here,” he says. “I’ve learned so much more about the world and the people in it from surrounding myself with the rich, diverse perspectives here at HLS.”
“The second most important thing was finally winning the flag football championship with my team this spring,” Reichard joked.
Throughout law school, he tried to be intentional about engaging with campus. “My aim was to give back by helping to organize these spaces and foster community with others — understanding that it takes intentional effort to build community. It’s not something we just find.”
His other goal, he says, was to ensure that future law students understand that they belong on campus. “I hope it’s meaningful to know that there is a place for people from Appalachia, especially when we are thinking about elite institutions like Harvard.”
As Reichard prepares to graduate on May 29, he says he is excited for his next move — to Nashville, Tennessee, where he will work at the law firm Bass, Berry & Sims. He says he was attracted to the Music City for its vibrant footprint and community of young professionals. He notes that, as he was searching for a career there, the value of his Harvard Law degree once again became clear.
“I sent out a bunch of cold emails to alumni in Nashville, and I heard back from so many who were willing to chat or connect me with others,” he says. “I feel very fortunate to have this incredibly supportive network.”
In Nashville, Reichard will also be closer to Appalachia, where he plans to stay involved. After all, he says, it is up to each of us to build the community we desire — and together, he believes, we can make it happen.
“If you think about the impact you can have as one single person, it could be big, but you’re still a single person,” he says. “If you can mentor or inspire or be a positive influence on others, then hopefully that impact will multiply.”
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