Loyola is home to a wide variety of student clubs and organizations, many of which host events throughout the year.  As an evening student, my schedule can be demanding, and it is not always easy to stay on campus beyond what is required.  Still, I made a promise to myself early on in law school: each semester, I would attend at least one or two campus events.  So far, I have managed to stay true to that promise.

While I have attended several great events during my time at Loyola, the one that stands out most is the Health Law Student & Alumni Mixer that took place during the fall semester of my second year.  Before attending, I knew very little about health law.  I mainly went to accompany a friend, expecting to listen politely and learn more about a field that was unfamiliar to me.

What I did not expect was how interesting the conversation would be.

The event featured a panel of four Loyola alumni who now work in different areas of health law. Each speaker shared how their careers developed and how their experiences at Loyola helped guide them toward the field.  One of the most surprising things I learned was that many of them had not planned to pursue health law when they first started law school.  Instead, internships, coursework, and networking gradually introduced them to the field and shaped their career paths.

Listening to their stories opened my eyes to the scope of health law.  The work extends far beyond what I had imagined, touching on areas such as regulation, compliance, and sometimes even litigation. 

After the panel concluded, the event transitioned into a mixer where students had the opportunity to speak with the alumni individually.  What stood out most was how approachable and generous everyone was with their time. The attorneys answered questions and offered advice to students who were still exploring their interests.

I left the event not only with a better understanding of health law, but also with several new professional connections.  I exchanged LinkedIn information with a few of the alumni and later had the opportunity to meet with one of them individually.  During our conversation, she shared helpful advice about preparing for the bar exam and navigating some of the more challenging semesters of law school.

Law school often encourages us to think carefully about the paths we plan to pursue.  But events like this one remind me that sometimes the most valuable experiences come from simply showing up with an open mind. For me, the Health Law Student & Alumni Mixer was a reminder that some of the best opportunities in law school happen outside the classroom.

At Loyola, there are so many alumni panel discussions that it’s almost impossible to attend them all. When I first arrived, a professor joked that there are enough lunch events with free food that you never have to buy lunch. I laughed at the time, but it’s actually true. Outside of midterm and final weeks, there are events happening almost every day across nearly every area of legal practice.

Coming to Loyola, I had an idea of what area of law I might want to pursue, but I also wanted to explore. I’ve gone to panels from divorce law to construction law to sports and entertainment law. Each speaker feels like a job posting brought to life, you get to hear about their day-to-day work and decide for yourself whether you could see yourself in that role.

I was also assigned a mentor at the beginning of 1L whom I can reach out to with questions or simply to talk to about law school and networking. Having a mentor to turn to during this year has been invaluable. Speaking with them has helped me navigate the process of networking and connecting with practicing lawyers with confidence.

Something Loyola Law School does particularly well is creating opportunities to learn about the legal profession. Through events from the Career Development Office (CDO) and student organizations, there are many chances to hear from attorneys, judges, and alumni about different career paths.

The CDO regularly organizes lunch panels and informational events that expose students to different practice areas. I am actually attending a bankruptcy law event this week. Because they are usually scheduled during the day, they are easy to attend between classes, and beyond the free lunch, they offer the chance to hear from experienced professionals. These events provide practical insight into how different fields of law operate.

I attended Big Law Preview Night earlier in the year, which introduced large law firm practice and the range of work those firms handle. Hearing attorneys discuss emerging areas of law, including issues related to cryptocurrency, stood out to me because I’m interested in how law interacts with emerging fields and new businesses.

At an event hosted by the Loyola Law School Jewish Law Students Association, several judges spoke with students about their careers and their expectations of attorneys appearing before them. They shared practical advice about credibility, preparation, and professionalism, offering a perspective that comes from seeing lawyers from the bench. The judges also encouraged students to reach out, visit court, and observe proceedings, which helped make the path from law school to the courtroom feel more concrete.

I then participated in Loyola’s on-campus interview process (OCI), which allowed me to connect with law firms and explore job opportunities. I actually have another interview scheduled through OCI this week, which I’m very grateful for and excited about. Speaking with attorneys about their practices and the work their firms handle made the process feel much more tangible. OCI is a valuable opportunity to build professional relationships while getting a clearer sense of where my interests might fit within the legal realm.

Experiences like these make it clear that Loyola is committed to helping students explore different areas of practice and begin building the professional relationships that will shape their careers.

Each school day, I try to go to a lunch event happening on campus. In doing this, I have been able to learn about different areas of law and what the day-to-day for various lawyers looks like. As a first generation law student, these events have been incredibly helpful with understanding how the legal profession operates. I had a vague idea of what kind of law I wanted to practice before coming to Loyola, but these events allow for personal perspectives to influence my choices. These events have proven to be more helpful than just a general Internet search about the topic.

I attended an event called “Defending the Family: Child Welfare and Why Public Defense Must Evolve” hosted by the Criminal Law Society. Along with the delicious tacos provided, the information that I learned was immensely valuable. I started to tear up when one of the speakers recalled the pain of seeing families ripped apart in court. Getting insight from lawyers who experience this tragedy often and are actively working to better the system has been one of the most impactful parts of my 1L year. I had no interest in family law before law school. I’m not even sure I knew what family law was a year ago. But now, I know much more than I would have thought possible about one topic from just one hour at lunch.

One of my favorite parts about law school is having the opportunity to push my brain in ways I would have never tried to had I not continued my academic career. Obviously attending classes, doing the readings, and taking exams has pushed me academically, but also attending these lunchtime events and gaining valuable insight from practicing lawyers about their various practice areas has played a big part in my learning experience as well. Taking advantage of these lunchtime and after class events has been rewarding and insightful.

As a second-year evening student, I am not able to participate in clinics until my third year and that time is coming fast.  Now feels like the perfect time to start learning about the clinics and exploring where my interests lie.

Working as a law clerk at a personal injury firm has given me a front-row seat to conflict in action. Every day, I see how disputes affect real people and how much careful listening and thoughtful negotiation can change outcomes long before a case ever reaches the courtroom, which has sparked my interest in mediation.  I have come to realize that I want to help people resolve conflicts collaboratively, using strategy to prevent harm before it escalates.

This is why I am especially drawn to the Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution Mediation Clinic.  Mediation feels like a natural extension of what I have already learned, applying real-world problem-solving alongside the advocacy skills I practice in class.  The idea of helping people find solutions that work for them while building skills I will carry into my career is exactly what makes experiential learning so exciting.

My first introduction to Loyola’s experiential learning came during my first year through the Legal Name & Gender Marker Change Project.  While I did not work directly with clients, the training gave me insight into how inclusive language, clear guidance, and thoughtful support can make the law approachable and affirming.  It was a reminder that learning the law is only part of the equation; putting it into practice in a way that genuinely helps people is what makes the work meaningful.

Experiential learning at Loyola, thus far, has been invaluable in bringing the law to life. I am looking forward to the Experiential Learning Fair to explore new clinics and opportunities that will help me grow as a student and future attorney and leave people feeling a little more empowered along the way.

 

Happy Daylight Savings! In honor of this time-based holiday, I wanted to give some insight on what a typical weekday looks like for me as a part-time student, full-time paralegal, and also 24/7 human. As an evening student, I only have classes on Mondays and Wednesdays, and Wednesdays my classes are remote. Here is what my schedule looks like on Wednesdays:

8:00 AM – Wake up, get ready, eat breakfast. Since I work from home, I commute only about 20 feet to my office (the spare bedroom).

8:30 AM – Check my work email, review if any urgent matters need addressing first. If not, I will get started on whatever projects I might be currently working on. This week, I am working on researching and drafting an opposition to a motion to dismiss and preparing a post-trial fee petition, both of which are projects that will take me a good chunk of time.

12:00 PM – Break time! I usually take a walk with my dog, Rain, and eat a quick lunch. If I haven’t already, I will meal-prep my dinner for the night.

1:00 PM – Back to work.

5:00 PM – I’m done for the day (with work). I will usually go to the gym and try to get in a quick 30-minute cardio workout.

5:45 PM – Heat up my meal that I meal-prepped.

6:00 PM – Torts (remotely) begins. In the spring semester, on Wednesdays I only have Torts and Civil Procedure. In the fall, on Wednesdays I had Contracts and Legal Writing. I am usually eating my dinner during class.

7:00 PM – Torts ends, I have a 15-minute break.

7:15 PM – Civ Pro starts. This is the longest class for the night so I usually have to be snacking to keep my energy up during it.

9:00 (ish) PM – Our Civ Pro professor usually gives us a 5-10 minute break in the middle of class to break up the 2.5 hour-long class.

9:45 PM – Classes are done for the day!

I was fortunate enough to be placed into my number one choice of elective: Critical Race Theory (CRT). 

It became apparent to me last semester that who your professor is really impacts your law school class experience. Professor Mendoza teaches CRT. She has an impressive background and stellar reviews from her Criminal Law class students. This impacted my choice significantly. She makes each class a safe space for speaking both about the readings and about personal experiences. She puts an emphasis on lived experiences as a way to connect and exchange ideas in a digestible manner. Some of her Criminal Law students from last semester even followed her to CRT this semester. 

I also wanted to ensure that I understood and appreciated whichever subject I chose. Historically, the law has been looked at through a color-blind lens and CRT seeks to view law through a race-conscious lens. The subject is often misconstrued as a highly political topic because of the emphasis on race-consciousness. However, there isn’t a strict definition of CRT; each theorist has their own interpretation of the subject. The writers are diverse and the topics range remarkably. While it is still an academically rigorous course, it is also a relief from the rigidity of my core classes. In undergrad, I studied Political Science and focused more on political theory in my senior year. CRT readings feel similar to political theory readings; both are dense and full of complex ideas waiting to be unraveled and dissected. 

Choosing an elective was more about trying to understand where I fit in legal academics rather than making a career-motivated move. Because of my background in Political Science, I knew that CRT would feel familiar and be a subject that I could enjoy as well as be challenged by. In our bi-weekly discussions, as ideas are shared and dreams are written out, I feel even better about my choice.

Experiential learning has been one of the most meaningful parts of my law school journey. Last summer, I worked at Kabateck LLP, and I am currently continuing my work there during the school year. I will also be returning this upcoming summer. Securing this position involved networking, refining my resume and writing samples, and utilizing Loyola’s Career Development Office resources. Loyola’s guidance and strong professional network played a key role in helping me obtain and maintain this opportunity.

At Kabateck LLP, I have gained hands on litigation experience, including legal research, drafting memoranda, assisting with case strategy, and observing how attorneys advocate for clients. Being involved in active cases has strengthened my analytical skills and deepened my understanding of how legal doctrine operates in real situations. It has also reinforced the importance of preparation, professionalism, and client communication.

Experiential learning offers benefits that go beyond the classroom. It builds confidence, sharpens writing and advocacy skills, and exposes students to the realities of legal practice. Working in a firm setting has helped me better understand litigation strategy, teamwork, and the pace of real world legal work.

I have selected the Civil Litigation and Advocacy concentration, which aligns closely with my firm experience. Courses like Trial Advocacy and Evidence complement my work and allow me to immediately apply what I learn. I have truly enjoyed the concentration because it provides both doctrinal depth and practical skill development.

Overall, Loyola has supported my growth by connecting classroom learning with real world experience, preparing me to step into practice with confidence.

This semester, I chose Innovation Law with Professor Atik as my 1L elective. At first, I was drawn in by the word “innovation.” As we opened the course with the system of patent law, I started to see something deeper. 

Patent doctrine is not just technical. It shapes market leverage. It can determine who controls a technology, who must negotiate for access, and how competition unfolds.

That shift mattered to me.

Coming from a business background, I have always thought about products in terms of risk, investment, and scalability. The legal structures governing innovation compel you to ask different questions: What is worth protecting? When does exclusivity encourage growth, and when does it stifle competition? 

In class, the cases are not abstract disputes. They involve companies making strategic decisions about research investment, licensing, pricing, and litigation. This intersection between legal structure and business is where I feel most engaged.

When selecting my first-year elective, I prioritized genuine interest over what I thought I “should” take. Loyola gives 1Ls a special opportunity to explore beyond the core curriculum, and I wanted something that connected doctrine to industries I care about. Innovation Law offers that, while pushing me to think critically about how legal rules shape technological progress.

LLS electives are more than just an academic requirement. In a curriculum that is otherwise largely prescribed, Loyola’s elective courses offer a genuine perspective of the law’s impact in different sectors and communities.

There is a huge emphasis on office hours at Loyola, especially for first year students. I could count on one hand how many times I attended office hours in undergrad. I was always doing something else outside of class that kept me from going and building relationships with my professors. Now, I go to office hours whenever I have any question or comment about the class. It is important in law school to develop these relationships with professors because the learning in law school is not just academic. Professors will teach you the content in class but can teach you about how to apply the concept to your profession in office hours. 

I attend legal writing office hours most frequently. As the weeks stretch on and the persuasive brief assignment fast approaches, I find it helpful to talk through the content of the assignment with my professor. Though she tries not to give me direct answers, just the act of talking through the issues that I’m having helps me collect the building blocks to establish a plan for resolving those issues. Learning to write memos and briefs has been like learning to speak another language. Each time I go to office hours, I find a flaw in my assignment. This could be discouraging, but taking these flaws, fixing them, and being able to recognize them later is the goal of the course. Shying away from office hours because you are scared that your question is silly or your assignment isn’t far along enough will only hurt you in the long run. 

At the end of the semester, office hours will be packed full. Last semester, my section had to sign up for slots for our criminal law office hours because there were frequently too many people to fit into the office all at once. Most of the time, depending on the professor, office hours can be a place to sit and listen to your classmates’ questions. When you’re so confused and don’t know where to start, listening to the questions of your classmates can be inspiring and helpful. Office hours are a place of understanding and comfort especially for people who learn better talking things out.