Q1. – What was your course of study in college?

I studied Urban Studies and Planning at the University of California, San Diego.

Q2. – How did you become interested in pursuing law?

After graduation, I thought about working in law, but I did not think I could work in the legal field. To confirm my decision, I went back to school to get the ABA-approved paralegal degree and worked in many temporary legal internships.

One of the internships that left an impression on me was volunteering at Community Legal Aid SoCal. There, I got to work on the hotlines, performing client intake for various issues from family law and domestic violence to tax. I discussed the facts of the case with the attorneys, and I got to see how attorneys work and used the law to help those in need. I felt like my work with them was meaningful.

Through my discussions with attorneys, I was convinced I, too, wanted to be an attorney. Right now, I am glad to be in law school and have recently finished my summer externship with the city.

Q3. – What steps did you take to prepare for law school?

I did three things to prepare for law school:

First, I researched the law schools that I want to apply to online and then talked to their ambassadors, admission officers through law school events and the local LSAC Law School Forum. Some ambassadors give you waviers to application fees if you ask them. I like to get to know the school more in-person and, if they are admission officers, let them see your face and get to know you personally.

Second, I took a LSAT prep course to prepare for the LSAT. I needed to get a score that would give me a good shot to get accepted by law school. I studied for the LSAT like it was a marathon by putting all my energy into it.

Third, I attended programs and applied to many fellowships which helped me with the law school application process and law school preparation. In the programs, I got pointers on how to improve my application, such as feedback on my personal essay and how to approach certain issues (e.g., low grades or gap years) in the application. Then, when I was accepted into law school I applied to and attended the CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute which [gave me the tools and honed in the skills I needed to succeed] in law school.

Q4. – How did you find out about CLEO?

I found out about CLEO at a law school conference hosted by LSAC. There, I was introduced to CLEO’s Pre-Law Summer Institute – a “boot camp” to prepare people like me, a person of color and first-generation student.

Q5. – What benefits did you receive by participating in the CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute or 1L-Prep Attitude is Essential?

There are many benefits!

The first benefit is that you get to do a “trial run” of law school. You take notes from professors’ lectures, create your outline, take a live exam and write a legal memorandum.

You also get to experience the Socratic method from professors. At first, my mind went blank because I got nervous. However, throughout the process, you get to build more confidence with each practice. You slowly learn to become an effective speaker who can answer the professors’ questions with confidence. Although the Socratic Method was never fun when l gave the wrong answers, at least I was prepared. I learned to brush off the feeling of getting a wrong answer.

Second, you get guidance and support. Academic fellows answer questions about the course and give you tips on approaching the exam. And professors are open to helping you during office hours.

I learned from mistakes based on my experiences in the program and had a second chance to do it right at law school. Also, I took the constructive criticism and tried to improve upon it.

Finally, another benefit is that you start to develop a cohort. On the first day, I was in a class with people I had never met. Throughout the program, you get to know and bond with your classmates personally as well as professionally. During the class, we got to be more honest and have somber discussions about our experience and how the law, the good and bad, affected us. By the end of the program, we all became very close and continue to maintain contact.

It was crucial for us [to know], especially during the pandemic and the historical events that affected us, that we supported each other throughout the CLEO program and law school journey.

Q6. – What helps/ed you cope with the stress of law school?

Having a support system. Having study groups with friends I met in class and are serious about grasping the material. They helped me get through difficult material, and study group sessions were a surprisingly great bonding experience.

I also set times when I would rest from my studies to reset. During my “rest time”, I did simple activities such as walking outside, listening to music, or praying before going back to reading 20 pages or drafting a legal memorandum.

Q7. – After law school, what are your legal career plans?

So far, I plan to work in the public interest. Although it is not set, I would like to work in dependency, local government, or land use.

Q8. – Do you volunteer or intern with any legal organizations?

Before law school, I volunteered at Community Legal Aid of SoCal at a hotline. The position tended to be very stressful and high-paced. However, I enjoyed my time because I got to help members of the community who did not have the economic means to get legal representation. Also, I was exposed to various areas of law such as family law, domestic violence, landlord-tenant law, and tax.

One summer, I interned with the City of Santa Ana. It was a good experience. I performed legal research on municipal issues and drafted legal memos, a motion, and agreements to serve the city officials and departments. I learned how to advise clients in a way that aligns their interests to serve the residents of Santa Ana and avoid unnecessary legal liability.

Q9. – Do you have any advice for future law students?

Be mentally prepared to do law school. It is not like any other experience. You will experience a high amount of stress, work, and negative thoughts throughout the process. Find ways to cope with countering those negative experiences, such as having a support system to help you think through the process and encourage you to push [through the tough times]. Whenever there are resources the law school provides, use them. Any help goes a long way.

Q10. – What motivates you to be part of the legal profession?

One thing is remembering that I want to be a lawyer. I want to use the degree to help people [at the legal level] and I cannot do that without my J.D.