Missouri School of Journalism alumna finds path as an intellectual property attorney
In the fall of 2018, Jazmyn Ferguson, BJ and BSBA ’19, had to make a decision. She was entering her senior year at the Missouri School of Journalism, majoring in journalism and business. However, she was unsure if either of those majors would factor into her life after graduation or if she would turn to a new love.
Ferguson paired the two majors in her first job post-grad working at LinkedIn; however, the idea of pursuing law was never far from her mind.
This path in law was the furthest thing from her mind when she was in high school first thinking about college. Ferguson described coming to the J-School as “an obvious choice” due to her high school desires of wanting to become a journalist. As she moved through her undergraduate years, she made strategic communication her emphasis and paired that with business administration in marketing.
“When I was in undergrad, I had to take a business law and a communications law course,” said Ferguson. “That kind of helped me realize, ‘Oh, there’s so much more in law than I thought’. When I took those two classes, I realized there’s law in everything.”
Although she originally chose a job in sales after graduation, she eventually found herself looking for something more. To Ferguson, post-grad life was somewhat uncertain until she saw a lawyer talking on a talk show, helping to spark the interest that first emerged during her journalism law-related classes.
“When I was in undergrad, I had to take a business law and a communications law course. That kind of helped me realize, ‘Oh, there’s so much more in law than I thought’. When I took those two classes, I realized there’s law in everything.”
Jazmyn Ferguson
Ferguson eventually decided to take the LSAT, leading her to select the University of Notre Dame Law School for the next step in her journey.
“A lot of what I did in law school is write, and that is something that I consistently got great feedback on,” said Ferguson, who entered Notre Dame in 2021. “I went to the best journalism school in the country, so I think they better be [great]. My journalism background definitely helped me with my writing.”
Ferguson specialized in intellectual property law at Notre Dame and then joined Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP in her hometown of St. Louis, where she remains today. In this dynamic field, Ferguson constantly has to be on the cutting edge dealing with issues related to artificial intelligence while exploring and enforcing trademarks and communicating with her clients on any possible breaches or oversteps found.
“A lot of my clients are big brands who are really serious about protecting their brand and their trademarks,” said Ferguson. “I help to be a watchdog for those trademarks, making sure they’re not being used by individuals that are not authorized.”
As Ferguson has settled into her career as an associate attorney, she continues to appreciate all that she gained at Mizzou.
“There is just something like so, so amazing about just knowing that you are a Mizzou journalism alumna,” said Ferguson.
That pride underscores the lasting impact of the Missouri School of Journalism. Ferguson knows the uncertainty and anxieties that can come with life after graduation. Her story shows how resilience, combined with the skills learned at the J-School, can open doors to unexpected and fulfilling opportunities.
Updated: September 9, 2025