|
Welcome to The Council on Legal Education Opportunity (CLEO) JD Report where we will share tips on how to prepare for and succeed in law school. Get legal profession insights from our CLEO alumni, and get to know our Partners-In-Law: law schools who are making a commitment to diversity and inclusion.
|
|
|
The Council on Legal Education Opportunity, Inc. (CLEO)
is a 501(c)(3) national non-profit organization that was founded in 1968 to expand opportunities for minority and low-income students to attend law school. Since its inception, more than 26,000 students have participated in CLEO's programs and joined the legal profession.
|
|
Read Secrets of a Law Student’s success & how CLEO can help YOU!
Priya Patel
Law Student
The George Washington University Law School
|
|
|
Q1. What was your course of study at the University of California, Berkley?
B.A. in International Development, Minor: Human Rights; B.A. in Philosophy
Q2. How did you become interested in pursuing law?
Initially, I did Mock Trial and Speech & Debate in high school which left law school on my radar. However, when I worked as a paralegal and was directly exposed to legal work, that's when I realized I fully wanted to pursue a career in law.
Q3. What steps did you take to prepare for law school?
I was a Philosophy major in college which meant I had to read and write a lot. I also tried to read pre-law preparation books like "1L of a Ride" or "Getting to Maybe" to help me better understand what law school is like since I'm the first in my family to go to law school. What ultimately prepared me the most for law school was CLEO's Pre-Law Summer Institute since it exposed me to an actual classroom setting and taught me how to digest the information in law school.
Q4. How did you find out about CLEO?
I found out about CLEO through a number of pre-law programs I was a part of beforehand: the UCLA Law Fellows, For People of Color, Inc., and the California Community Colleges' Pathway to Law. They would publicize the information about the Pre-Law Summer Institute in their newsletters and networks.
Q5. What benefits did you receive by participating in the CLEO Pre-Law Summer Institute or 1L-Prep Attitude is Essential?
I was taught the fundamental skills needed to succeed in law school like constructing an effective case brief or writing a strong analysis using IRAC on a law school exam. Getting proper exposure and feedback from actual law school professors helped fill the gap between me and my classmates who already had these skills from other sources.
Q6. What helped you cope with the stress of law school?
I focused on making time for the things that made me happy, like exercising, watching my shows, and spending time with friends. In order to make time for the things that I enjoy, I had to be sure I made a schedule that I stuck to. Time management is essential in law school not just to succeed, but to take care of yourself. It is definitely possible to succeed in law school and still get enough sleep at night if you manage your time effectively and stick to an effective schedule that works best for you.
Q7. After law school, what are your legal career plans?
If all goes well, I plan to work at a firm after law school that has a practice in project development and finance with an emphasis in the energy industry. The energy industry is going through a very interesting and innovative transition for a number of reasons and I would like to be at the forefront of this shift by engaging with the new energy projects, some of which will involve clean energy and clean technology.
Q8. Do you volunteer or intern with any legal organizations?
I interned with the Department of Energy for credit last semester and I'm currently a paid intern for the American Clean Power Association. Otherwise, I have not yet volunteered in the traditional sense, but would like to do so my 3L year.
Q9. Do you have any advice for future lawyers?
Law school is only 3 years of your entire career - although it can be intimidating and stressful, it is important to use this time to grow and explore subject areas of your interest. Establish your goals, but don't forget to focus on the present moment because your time is valuable.
Q10. What motivates you to be part of the legal profession?
There are a number of things that motivate me. The first is to make my family proud and be in a position to support them once I have a stable career. The second motivation I have is my personal need to contribute to society in a way that I believe and feel is productive given my skills and experiences. The third motivation is to represent my community in spaces that are difficult to access due to institutionalized barriers.
|
|
Three law students – Xavian, Yolanda, and Zain – each decide to adopt a pair of kittens, one of whom is Jaguar. From the clues below, can you determine the name of each kitten and who adopted it?
Clue 1. Zain did not adopt the pair of kittens in the yellow bowl, but he did adopt Fluffy.
Clue 2. Dusty and Garnet were not adopted by the same law student.
Clue 3. Yolanda adopted Lion-O, but not Garnet nor Dusty.
Clue 4. Garnet is in the yellow bowl; Honey is in the blue bowl.
Solution: Yolanda adopted the kittens in the blue bowl, who are Honey and Lion-O; Xavian adopted the kittens in the yellow bowl, who are Garnet and Jaguar; Zain adopted the kittens in the pink bowl, who are Dusty and Fluffy.
|
|
|
Read Secrets of a Pre-Law Student’s success & how CLEO can help YOU!
Jennifer Pulido
Pre-Law Student
|
|
|
Q1. How did you find out about CLEO?
I found out about CLEO through an internet search. I was just starting to explore the idea of going to law school and was looking for programs that could help me on that journey.
Q2. When did you realize you wanted to attend law school?
In the fall of 2019. It was a gradual realization that did not happen until I was a few years into my current career. Once I decided though, I did a lot of research to make sure that it was the right choice, which is how I found CLEO.
Q3. What did you learn during the various CLEO programs?
At CLEO’s Achieving Success in the Application Process (ASAP), I received guidance on when to prepare different parts of the application, how long I should be studying for the LSAT, when I could begin asking for letters of recommendation, and more! The CLEO Connection (CNXTION) sessions have also provided guidance around specific topics. One that stands out is the Financial Awareness session, where we budgeted the cost of law school, including LSAT fees, CAS fees, application fees, tuition, board, books, even the bar fee.
Q4. How has the CLEO programs influenced your preparation for law school?
I was lucky to attend CLEO ASAP toward the start of my law school preparation, because I was able to turn the advice I received there into an application roadmap. Without CLEO, I think I would have ended up doing those tasks much later in my application journey or having to rush through them because I didn’t leave enough time.
Q5. Select one of the CLEO programs (ASAP, JJ LSAT or CLEO Connection) you attended.
What portion of that program was most beneficial to you and why?
When I attended CLEO ASAP last fall, I found the opening panel with various law school deans to be the most valuable part of the weekend. Dean Palafox, Dean Simmons, and Dean States all have so much experience and it was incredible to hear application advice directly from law school deans of admissions. The information they shared was direct, informative, and invaluable.
Q6. Do you plan to attend any future CLEO events?
This winter I will be attending the remaining CLEO CNXTION sessions and this summer I plan to attend ASAP again. I think it would be valuable to hear the information now that I am closer to applying. Once I am admitted to a law school, I would also love to participate in the Pre-Law Summer Institute.
Q7. Do you have any advice for other aspiring lawyers?
Even if you are not going directly from undergrad to law school, it’s not too late. When I first started thinking about law school as a post-grad, I was worried that I would be at a disadvantage compared to those applying right out of undergraduate programs. However, law school is challenging for everyone, so do not count yourself out before you’ve even begun.
Q8. Do you have any additional comments about CLEO?
I am very grateful that I found CLEO. It has provided great resources for me this past year, but more importantly CLEO has given me the opportunity to meet other aspiring lawyers like myself. It feels great to know that there are others going through the same experiences that I am.
|
|
|
|
Cuong Huynh - CLEO 2000
The CLEO “Alumni Spotlight” showcases CLEO alumni and the experience and success they’ve had in the legal profession. It also represents a space to highlight community involvement, volunteer service, and the impact alumni are making in society. If interested in being considered for an upcoming “Alumni Spotlight,” please send an email to alumni@cleoinc.org
|
|
|
|
|
