Loyola is a little piece of paradise. My favorite thing about it is the physical space. The campus is beautiful, blending old-school charm with modernity. It is also abundant in nature: flowers that perfume the air, trees that change with the season and beautify the scenery. There’s a water fountain where you can sit to relax, study or chat. Entering from the busyness of LA, it just feels like walking into a little oasis.

My favorite times are the weekends when I come to campus to study.  I enjoy the library’s peace and quiet, which offers comfortable spaces. During breaks, I can step outside to soak up some sun or—my favorite—play table tennis while listening to music.

Of all the places on campus, the library is by far my most loved. They even provide a sewing kit for emergencies: I once had to sew a button before my final presentation for Trial Advocacy. We could also check out remotes to play games on the Student Lounge TV. Speaking of the student lounge, it’s a great spot to store food, have study groups, play chess, or shoot pool.

At the library, I encountered the tangible support I needed. However, it was truly the school staff that made me feel at home. The level of care you’ll experience at Loyola is genuinely unique. From the security staff, to the professors, to the library and administrative staff, everyone goes above and beyond to make things easier for you. I’ve never experienced anything like it!

There are so many wonderful things to see and do at Loyola, but, by far, its biggest secret are all those who make it what it is: the people.

In my last post I told you all that faculty is what made LLS unique, and I’m happy to say that I get to expand on that this week! In my last three years here I have met, been encouraged, and supported by professors and faculty members whose areas of study are all different. It is a privilege to be taught by professors who come from different walks of life and who get to share the stories that have shaped their ideas on the law.

Last semester I took Law of War with Professor Glazier. Everyone I talked to about this course was pleasantly surprised that it was something offered at LLS. Professor Glazier is clearly passionate about international law as it pertains to war, and his prior military background enriched his explanation of the topic. Taking his class was a breath of fresh air in comparison to all the other courses at LLS because it focused on an area of the law that people sometimes forget about. Talking with Professor Glazier was always easy, and he encouraged me to apply for the position I now as an extern for the Air Force JAG Corps.

In the Spring of 2023, I was able to work on the Tiersma Project in the Rains Library on campus. Working on this project I got to meet many incredible librarians. It was a privilege working along-side women who I aspired to emulate in their careers. Librarianship has always intrigued me, and the Tiersma project provided me some insight into what working in a library would be like. My supervisor, Professor Cadra, was an incredible resource and the kindest person I know on campus. She was always understanding and helped me navigate the project with ease. Working with her made me feel like my work was appreciated and valued.

To say that faculty members are accessible at LLS is an understatement. Professors at Loyola are ready and willing to help students succeed in any way they can. It has certainly been my experience that professors want their students to succeed and evolve. I appreciate that all my professors have been more than willing to help not only with issues pertaining to my education but even extending far beyond that to ensure that I succeed in law school.

Being in huge classes where you feel like just one more head peeking out from behind a laptop screen might feel like you don’t have the opportunity to get to know your professors, but besides office hours and panicked emails the days before the exam, there are many chances to get to know the faculty.

For me, I found that the first big opportunity to get to know my professors was through clinics; in my case, the International Human Rights Practicum with Cesare Romano. I remember the moment I introduced myself to him as ‘Missy’ instead of ‘Michelle’, because most of my law school professors before then knew me as ‘Michelle’ or ‘Miss Elizalde’.

The other opportunity I’ve had has been slightly backwards. I met several adjunct professors through interviews and networking events through the Philippine American Bar Association. In its own unique way, it shows just how small the SoCal legal community is, and it removes some of the nerves around professors by seeing them outside of the classroom. Being able to speak both Tagalog and English with Phil Nulud who teaches a very successful course on Fashion Law, and seeing familiar names during OCI and other networking opportunities, has been a unique experience illustrative of LLS’s presence in the community, and the strength of the alumni network.

I wish I knew as a 1L that I would have significantly more interaction with professors than I initially expected, I believe it would have helped me ask more questions and been more willing to pick their brains for the wealth of advice and experience that they have. I know I will appreciate the connections I’ve had when I leave LLS, and know that I will always be able to reach out to the faculty for advice long after graduation.

I have been lucky enough to form close relationships with several professors on Loyola’s campus. Almost every professor I’ve had in law school has been willing to meet with me for office hours and any questions I may have about course material, careers, and anything! Even in office hours, professors are quick to check in with students’ mental health, how law school is generally going, and how their class specifically is going. It is really wonderful to have open lines of communications to professors in such a way.

Professors in small seminar classes as well as clinic professors are extremely open to mentor you if you ask. Some of the best advice I’ve received in law school has been from my clinic professor, Professor Shah. She has been extremely open to giving me advice, listening to any issues I’ve had in classes, and assisting me in improving my writing and research skills.

I truly believe that all the faculty on Loyola’s campus are extremely interested in putting genuinely good attorneys into the legal workforce. Further, they all truly want to help their students in office hours, in meetings as requested, and anything else their students might need.

To be honest, the mentorship my professors have provided me makes me excited to be a future mentor to students myself!

When I was applying to law school, Loyola was my first choice. I am happy to say that the choice I made was one of the best decisions I ever made. I knew I wanted to pursue a law degree ever since I was a little girl. Loyola has made that dream possible.

There are so many things to love about Loyola that they would not fit in this post, but I will list my top 3.

First, the student body is incredibly collaborative. I know everyone says that law school is competitive and cut-throat, but at Loyola students really care about each other. This is not just true about students, but the faculty and staff really care about student success.

Second, law school gives students the opportunity to engage in clinics. Clinics provide hands-on experience to students where they are able to engage with real clients facing various legal issues. There are many to choose from at Loyola, from the Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution to the Project for the Innocent, you are sure to find something that interests you!

Third, once you have taken all the required bar courses, there are many electives that Loyola offers where students can explore different practice areas.

Overall, Loyola is a great place to be! From the year-round sunny skies of Southern California to the intellectually stimulating course work and life-long friendships that Loyola creates, it’s hard not to accept an offer from the school.

When I came to Law School, I had a really clear picture of what I wanted to do: become a trial attorney in the United States. A step towards that goal was, obviously, passing the bar. I was still in doubt about whether I would go Civil or Criminal. Criminal law seemed like a daunting undertaking at that time. Based on my background, I chose Civil Litigation and Advocacy. This would allow me to grasp the litigation landscape in the US, aligning with my career goals.

Regarding the lectures, I faced time constraints because my program – LLM for Foreign Trained Attorneys – is shorter than a JD Program. Additionally, I had not gone through the traditional Law School timeline. I had a lot to cover, so I considered mostly two things:

(1) I knew that I would have to go through the Bar Prep course regardless, so, for the Bar Courses, I would focus only on those I needed to cover for my degree.

(2) I wanted practical experience that would prepare me for my career.

When choosing a class, I looked at its description. If I had more than one option, I would look at the Professor’s CV, career, etc. Lastly, I would talk to colleagues and ask which classes they took, which professors they liked, and why. It was all about looking to the skills I would obtain from which class and who I could learn the best from.

Last, but not least, I considered which classes I would enjoy the most. Law School is hard work. Adding fun and enthusiasm to it makes it very enjoyable. I’ve loved all the classes I’ve taken so far and some of my professors continue to inspire me, long after the classes are over.

Each semester brings a new set of challenges and a sense of adventure and excitement because of the classes and professors I’ll meet throughout the weeks.