Like most post-graduates, I had
no idea what I was going to do next when I graduated from the University of
California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2015.
I had graduated early but had absolutely no plans for what I was going
to do during my gap year. One thing I
was sure about was my interest in the law.
I knew that law school was in my game plan, however, I was still some
time away from starting law school let alone studying for the LSAT, actually
taking the exam, and applying to schools.
Having
gone straight through the education system, I decided it would be important to
my development to take a break to sort through my options and determine what my
next move would be. I decided that the only way to know if my interest in the
law was strong enough to pursue a career would be to get hands-on experience in
the legal field. So for the next two
years, I worked as a legal assistant at a law firm and learned what it meant to
be legal professional and a member of such a vast community.
Working
at a boutique law firm definitely had its perks. First, it allowed me to develop a working
relationship with my boss and learn from her example. Second, it allowed me to work and interact
with clients on a daily basis. Much of
my time at work was spent talking to clients, discussing the particular details
of their cases, listening to their issues, and ultimately trying to resolve
them whether by contacting opposing counsel or directly filing for a hearing
with the court.
These
two years of hands-on interactive work really solidified my decision to go to
law school and become a lawyer. Thus,
when considering law schools, one of the most important factors for me was the
opportunity for hands-on, interactive work.
In fact, one of the reasons I chose Loyola was their emphasis on
experiential learning through their various legal clinics (i.e. Immigrant
Justice Clinic or Project for the Innocent) and their pro-bono requirement. The fact that they put such an emphasis on
giving back to the community while at the same time giving students a hands-on
opportunity to learn and explore their interests was a selling point for
me. Fast
forward one year later, and I’m in the middle of my 1L year and looking to
start applying and participating in these unique experiences. I can’t wait to get started!
Until
next time friends!
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