I am a first generation law student, and I was really nervous to begin law school as a 1L.

This is where building connections with faculty at LLS really helped. I came to law school feeling really lost, but a lot of my professors were there to guide me along the way.

One of the things that makes LLS different from other law schools is the accessibility of faculty. Professors have scheduled office hours. Can’t make it? Don’t sweat it. Many professors provide their numbers/emails so that students can schedule appointments to meet with them or send a text for a quick question. (I am always surprised how quickly I receive a reply!)

I think the best place to get to know faculty is to join one of the on-campus clinics! The clinics are where students can gain hands on experience while working closely with LLS faculty. I participated in the Loyola Center for Conflict Resolution during my 2L year and the amount of feedback that I was able to get from faculty was amazing, truly a great experience.

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.

Hidden away in Downtown LA is a small campus packed with phenomenal professors and mentors. From the summer of my very first year to my current last semester I have encountered incredible mentors who have helped guide me in my career. The summer before law school I was provided with the opportunity to participate in a program called Summer Institute which was designed to help students become acquainted with law school prior to starting. At the time the program was spearheaded by Dean Gary Craig who has become one of my biggest supporters and greatest mentor. Throughout the last three years Dean Craig has helped me figure out how to move forward in my career and encouraged me to always try my best in law school even in moments when I felt like giving up. Without the help of Dean Craig, law school would have been 100 times more difficult to navigate.

As I mentioned the professors at Loyola are equally as incredible as the mentors you will gain. During my first year of law school I had the privilege of having who I consider to be the best property professor. Professor Motomura cares about her students and their education and it shows through her dedication in class! She makes a point to remember her students and makes everyone feel welcome. I knew that before ending my law school journey I wanted the opportunity to take one of her other classes.

There are many things to love about Loyola, but if I had to pick one reason it would be the faculty and staff at Loyola. Dean Craig and Professor Motomura are just two examples amongst the many incredible people who work at Loyola. Everyone here wants to see the students succeed and it creates the most welcoming and encouraging environment to grow as student. Coming into Loyola I had no idea of the amount of support I would receive but it has been the thing I have cherished the most during my time here.

Thinking about the things I “love” about Loyola; five things come to mind.

I love the campus; coming from my east coast undergraduate institution, which was sprawled along a city block, I enjoy being able to sit in the grass, watch my friends play with some of the soccer or footballs that you can borrow, and read under the sun outside Founder’s Hall or the Advocacy Center. All of the green contrasted against the bright colors of the buildings is a sight for sore eyes after exiting the parking structure.

I love the library; the sprawling bookshelves and the way that the light comes through the windows. During 1L especially, when I found that I would be campus for hours upon end, coming to the library was a refuge from the chaos and stress of the day.

I love how highly the faculty speak of their time at Loyola, and hearing the fondness that which they discuss the students they have met and taught. It is illustrative of the community cultivated at LLS.

I love the student organizations, how they offer small pockets of students with common interests, backgrounds, and passions inside and outside of the law that allow for us to connect and bond. Some of the people that I met during 1L through APALSA and ELS remain some of my closest friends at school.

And finally, I love the alumni network. Saying that I am a 3L at Loyola immediately connects me with so many others who speak highly of their time at the law school. Not only does this allow for me to grow personally in the relationships that I forge in this new field, but also professionally in the connections that may lead to future job opportunities and more as I start my career in LA.

When you think about law school, you think immediately of the red law books, the classrooms, the professors, the hard work. And you wouldn’t be wrong. And, if you’ve read any of my previous posts, you know that I genuinely love all of those things about law school. I like the big books, the hard work, the tough classes, the diverse group of people, the experiential opportunities.

More than anything, though, I like the community at Loyola.

When you spend time on campus, in rooms with friends, colleagues, and classmates, conversations can turn from serious discussions to friendly joking quickly. As an example, in the International and Comparative Law Review office, there is a group of people that gathers around 5pm this semester on Mondays before we all have 6pm classes. This isn’t a planned meeting or anything; our schedules just all line up so we can spend a bit of time in the same place at the same time. We all end up having dinner together, discussing anything from class work and outlining to fun things we did over the weekend to joking about a random topic one of us brings up.

It is moments like these—these short bursts of laughing and putting away our books for an hour—that remind me so vividly that we are not just law students. We are people. Being a law student is a huge part of your life while you’re doing it. But it is not what we become.

I’m always struck by just how recharged I am after this short hour of sitting with colleagues and peers, friends and classmates. This time has become incredibly valuable to me, something to look forward to on Mondays. I’ve connected with people I would never have met otherwise.

The community at Loyola is, above all things, welcoming and helpful. Classmates are eager to offer help if you miss class. Friends are quick to celebrate your wins and are there for your losses. Former professors are happy to offer guidance and advice.

It’s odd to think that this time—my time to be fully immersed in this community—is coming to a close soon. And perhaps that is why small moments, like sitting with friends in the ILR office for dinner, have come to mean so much to me. Come May, I’ll certainly miss the chance to add to my law book collection each semester, and I’ll miss the different classes. Most of all, I’ll miss the community and all of the incredible people I’ve had the chance to meet.