It’s that bittersweet time of year again, as the semester is wrapping up, finals are approaching, and while summer is on the horizon, so is the pressure to make the most of it by advancing our legal education and careers. 

For me, this marks the end of my first year out of four. Reflecting on the past nine months, it is astonishing to see how much my life has transformed thanks to Loyola Law School. The experiences, lessons, and opportunities I have gained will undoubtedly shape the months ahead. 

Although I look forward to sunny days at the beach and reconnecting with family and friends, as an evening student, I am also excited about taking Constitutional Law this summer. I have heard from multiple attorneys that it is a challenging course, but I welcome the opportunity to dive into a foundational subject, especially during a Loyola Summer. 

Last summer, I took a three-week course at Loyola and got a glimpse of summer classes. There is something nostalgic about stepping out into the warmth of the sun before entering an air-conditioned classroom, settling in for an evening of rigorous discussion, and then watching the sunset fade behind the city skyline. That rhythm of summer nights and legal studies is something I look forward to experiencing again. 

In addition to summer classes, I will continue working as a legal assistant in Downtown. With tourist season in full swing, there will be so much to explore during lunch breaks and after work. Thanks to Loyola, I will spend my summer right in the heart of the city, balancing work, studies, and small moments of adventure. 

Who knows? This summer I might finally catch up on Suits (though law school has made me watch legal dramas a little differently). 

As I wrap up this blog post, I wanted to thank everyone who has followed along this journey. Here’s to another summer of growth, learning, and a little bit of fun along the way. 

 

Despite Loyola’s small campus, its networking opportunities in Los Angeles are anything but. With one of the largest alumni communities in the city, Loyola offers students numerous chances to connect with legal professionals across various practices of law. 

My first networking experience was during Summer Institute, where we had Loyola alumni speak on their experiences, from law school to practice, followed by a dinner that allowed us to connect. This was my first introduction to how networking can be both professional and personal. 

In one of these networking events, I met my mentor, a Business Attorney who graduated from Loyola in 2022. She has provided countless tips, including exams, networking, and general life advice. Through our conversations, I have realized our backgrounds are similar in more than one way, and it is a reminder that I, too, one day will be in her position as a first-generation female attorney. 

Additionally, I was introduced to the Partner I work for through an email, which led to a job offer at a law firm where 75% of the attorneys are Loyola alumni. Through these opportunities, it has become clear that Loyola’s alumni actively support students.

In our classes, we often have guest speakers who share their experiences and challenges they faced when starting their careers.  A common message they all share is that, despite how successful they seem now, everyone was once a law student who did not know where they would end up. It is always reassuring to hear this, as it is a reminder that uncertainty is part of the growth process and that we’re not alone, there’s a network of Loyola alumni willing to help. 

As a first-year evening student, our law school journey looks a little different. While many 1Ls are preparing for their externships or selecting electives, we evening students are often still adjusting to balancing full-time jobs, or even multiple jobs, alongside our coursework. However, that does not mean opportunities are out of reach. In fact, being an evening student can offer unique advantages. 

When I started law school, I had no legal experience and worried that my peers in the evening division might already be working at law firms or had legal backgrounds. I feared I would be at a disadvantage. Yet, I quickly realized that we all come from diverse professional paths, and each of our experiences contribute to our growth in law school, and with that realization, my opportunity into the legal world came. 

During my first semester in October, I responded to an email from the evening student advisor, and that email landed me a job at a Tort law firm in Downtown Los Angeles. This experience taught me the importance of checking my emails because you never know what opportunities may arise. 

What I have also found valuable is Loyola’s prime location in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, surrounded by law firms and a strong network of Loyola alumni. This proximity creates accessible opportunities for Loyola students throughout the city. 

Furthermore, working at the law firm has deepened my understanding of Torts and allowed me to see the law in action. I have also gained firsthand experience with Civil Procedure, from discovery to pleadings to motions. Learning legal concepts in class is essential, but witnessing how they apply in real life makes everything click.

Ultimately, experiential learning brings all the puzzle pieces together, reinforcing classroom knowledge with real-world application. I’m incredibly grateful for this opportunity, which would not have been possible without Loyola’s support and its evening program.

Every master was once a student, and every student is shaped by the guidance of a master. 

At Loyola Law School, mentorship is a foundational pillar of the institution. Faculty members, professors, counselors, and librarians alike, play an integral role in shaping student’s academic and professional journeys. 

While it is difficult to single out one individual, as I have encountered many remarkable mentors throughout my journey, the faculty as a whole is exceptionally accessible. Whether through office hours, academic advising, or legal discussions, they consistently offer their time and expertise to support students. 

For example, my first introduction to the Loyola faculty was during Summer Institute, a three-week Introduction to Law School crash course. There, I met Dean Winograd, Professor Craig, Professor Yagura, and Professor Tan. Each of them shared invaluable tips that have carried me through law school. They offered guidance on exam preparation, homework strategies, networking, and more, all of which have proven helpful. Not only were they incredibly supportive during this transition into law school, but they have remained accessible throughout the year.  

During the first weeks of law school, I found myself struggling to balance my homework with my day job. I scheduled a meeting with Professor Craig, who suggested that I dedicate the weekends to tackling the bulk of my assignments. Since implementing that advice, I have not fallen behind on my assignments. 

More importantly, the faculty is invested in our success, often leveraging their professional connections to provide guidance and opportunities that extend beyond the classroom. One individual I am particularly grateful for is Professor Bakhshian, a clinical professor and the evening student counselor. Throughout the year, she keeps us informed about midterms, opportunities, and has always made herself available to talk. It was through one of her emails that I learned about a legal job opening. After expressing interest, she went above and beyond by helping me refine my resume and cover letter, and answering all of my questions about working in a law firm. As a result, I now work at that law firm and am extremely grateful for Professor Bakhshian’s guidance throughout that process. 

The mentorship we receive at Loyola Law School helps shape us into the attorneys we aspire to one day be. With their guidance, the faculty not only supports our success but also prepares us to one day be mentors to our own students, because, after all, every master was once a student. 

As we embrace the spirit of February, a month often associated with love, I find it fitting to reflect on what I appreciate and admire about Loyola Law School.  

While Loyola Law School’s campus is geographically small, spanning just one acre within a single block, it offers extraordinary diversity in its student body and experiences. My 1E class of 47 students (first-year-evening students) includes peers of various ages, professions, and backgrounds. One of my favorite aspects of the law school experience has been not just getting to know my classmates, but learning from their diverse life experiences. From news anchors to aerospace experts to mathematicians to fragrance specialists, the range of backgrounds is truly a unique mix of inspiring stories. I’ve come to realize that law school is more than just the lessons from professors; it is also about the lessons and stories you discover through the connections you make. 

The campus itself fosters a strong sense of community, as well. While it is quiet and peaceful at night, especially with my classes running from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., there is still a sense of connection. I often walk through a nearly empty campus, passing a few students as they go about their own late-night routines, all while the Downtown skyline glows in the distance. After a long evening of work and classes, it’s a beautiful way to wrap up the night, offering a moment of reflection and a reminder of how unique this experience truly is. The skyline feels like our version of the Northern Lights, quietly uniting us under the night sky.

Even in those quiet moments, the sense of community is always felt. The small size of the campus fosters a supportive environment, where whether we’re attending office hours, chatting with classmates about assignments, or debating the law, we’re always working together. No one here wants to see you fail. Instead, it feels like we’re all growing together as a community, surrounded by faculty and peers who genuinely want to see us succeed. 

Ultimately, what I love about Loyola Law School is the campus environment, but, most importantly, it’s inclusivity. The school’s commitment to offering an evening program for students who want to continue or need to continue working has made it possible for many of us, including myself, to pursue and achieve our dreams of becoming attorneys.

Before starting law school, you often hear about the competitive, individualistic class (cohort) environment. After all, it is hard to ignore the fact that law school grades are based on the curve, meaning your grade is measured relative to your classmates’ performance. However, my experience at Loyola has proven this assumption to be far from the truth. I have found that my peers are far more collaborative and supportive than I initially expected. Instead of fighting to outperform each other, we work together to succeed.

One of the most crucial sources of support during my first semester has been my study group. What began as a small group of 4 classmates I met during orientation has grown to 10 peers. We meet every Thursdays at 8 p.m through Zoom to review material, dissect complex legal concepts, work through hypotheticals, clarify questions, and check in on each other’s well-being. These weekly meetings have become an invaluable part of my law school experience, especially when the workload feels overwhelming. 

Also, study groups are an excellent way to prepare for exams. During my first Contracts midterm, for example, I thought I had studied all the material thoroughly. But during a study session the night before the exam, one of my peers raised and explained a topic that I had completely overlooked. That very topic ended up being the focus of 5 out of the 25 questions on the exam. Without that study group session, I would have walked into the exam unprepared for a major part of the material. 

Ultimately, the collaborative atmosphere at Loyola Law School has had a profound impact on my experience here. The student body is focused and professional, but there’s also a deep sense of collegiality. Everyone wants to succeed, but not at the expense of others. The culture of mutual support and shared growth has allowed me to thrive, and it has been essential in helping me through some of the toughest moments of law school so far.

“We did it!” Those were the remarks I heard as I finished my last exam of the Winter Semester: Contracts. A four-hour final that left us all tired, slightly defeated, excited for winter break, and one step closer to achieving our attorney dreams. 

As we filed out, there was a sense of camaraderie between us, first-year law students who had survived our first round of finals. We had shared weeks of panic, frantic studying, and the challenge of reviewing 15 weeks of material in 3 weeks. Although, as evening students, our winter exams looked a little different. We only had a Contracts final and a Torts midterm.

To be honest, law exams are exactly what you expect. They’re tough, long, and tiring. But there are a few strategies I picked up that helped me get through exams.

First, start early. Do not wait last minute to outline. Do multiple-choice questions and write practice essays weeks before your exams. Second, use study groups and office hours. I can not stress enough how important this is. My study group, which started as a small group of 4, grew to 10. In these sessions, the competitiveness of law school fades, and we all genuinely want to help each other succeed in the courses. 

When it comes to exam day, give yourself time to think, and do not jump into the essay without reading the question carefully. Your first guess is usually wrong. Take time to think through every fact and outline your response first. Trust me, it’ll save you time when you start writing your essay. 

Ultimately, law exams are difficult, but when you put in the work beforehand, the confidence you feel walking into the exam room is unbeatable.

Now that finals are over and I’ve had a restful winter break reconnecting with family and friends, I’m ready to learn from my past mistakes and start this semester fresh. At least I can say, “One semester down, seven to go!”

 

Before starting law school, I heard countless myths. I was told I would be burdened by debt, have no free time, and face an exceptionally competitive job market. But none of those comments made me second-guess my decision. However, the one myth that did get to me was the fear of cold calls.

As a perfectionist, the idea of being called on in class and not having the answer felt like the ultimate humiliation. This fear was fueled by friends, family, fellow students, and even practicing attorneys. I envisioned cold calling like the scene from The Paper Chase, imagining professors as cold, unapproachable figures who wanted to embarrass students with deceptive questions. 

When the first day of law school arrived, I was well-prepared to be called on. I had read and analyzed each case in detail, spending hours rehearsing potential questions—all to avoid embarrassment. However, to my surprise, the first student called on in my Contracts class was asked to simply restate the law from Restatement § 19. At first, I thought this might have been a special occasion, but as the semester progressed, I realized the focus was not on recalling every fact about a case but on demonstrating an understanding of the law.  

My first cold call came Week 2 of Torts, and it was anticlimactic. I did not have to stand up and recite the entire facts of the case as in The Paper Chase. Instead, I was asked to discuss the application of assault in a specific case. I quickly learned that cold calling was not meant to be stress-inducing, but rather an opportunity for discussion and learning.

By the time I was cold-called in Contracts in Week 9, I no longer viewed the experience as something to fear. This was particularly true because professors were not only understanding but also incredibly supportive, offering help during office hours and reassuring us that it was okay not to know everything. They made it clear that law school was a learning process. More importantly, all of my professors and classmates fostered an environment where cold calling was not embarrassing. In fact, we supported one another when we did not have an answer. 

So, my tips for you are as follows: Instead of spending hours on a single case, time is better spent reading the case and practicing how to apply the law, outlining, and reviewing supplemental materials. If you really want to avoid being cold-called, try sitting in the front rows of the classroom. But most importantly, don’t believe all the myths you hear or see on TV. 

This summer, I had the chance to attend Summer Institute before starting law school. Initially, I imagined my summer filled with adventure—maybe visiting the Mona Lisa, taking a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon, or binge-watching all nine seasons of Suits. But that’s not how my summer unfolded. Instead, my plans shifted when, along with my admissions letter, I received the opportunity to attend Summer Institute, a three-week introduction to law school course that ran from mid-July to orientation week. I went from envisioning a carefree summer to diving straight into the world of legal studies.  

However, Summer Institute turned out to be an invaluable experience. Led by Dean Winograd, Professor Craig, Professor Tan, and Professor Yagura, I gained insights into the legal field. I met experts and alumni, learned how to read and brief cases using the IRAC method, and even took a mock exam. The free dinners before class were a nice bonus! Beyond connecting with remarkable mentors—who continue to offer support—I built friendships with fellow students from diverse backgrounds, some of whom are now part of my study group. Summer Institute served as a small but meaningful introduction to law school, preparing me for the journey ahead at Loyola Law School.  

If you see the Summer Institute note on your admission letter, know that you are about to embark on an incredible journey before your first year of law school. It was a summer filled with unexpected adventure—different from what I had initially envisioned, but better in every way.