January 2023
Officially halfway done with law school! I cannot believe that I only have three semesters left. If 2L has taught me anything so far, balance is essential. During the 1L year, I focused almost entirely on school and studying. Now that I had my first year under my belt, I was more confident in myself as a student and decided to branch out and take on more leadership roles on campus. I officially stepped into my role as Vice President of Communications for ADR and managed all our communications. I made posters for each competition and Instagram posts and informed the school about all things ADR. I also competed in ADR's Client Counseling and Mediation competitions with my best friend. I completed my first semester as part of the Student Bar Association and have had the opportunity to learn more about the school and current students' needs. I am excited to continue to work with SBA on events for the students, specifically Barrister's Ball (aka Law Prom). I also became a member of the Moot Court Board, and I look forward to expanding my legal network and possibly competing in a Moot Court competition.
Although I was booked and busy this semester, with extracurricular activities school always came first. This semester I took Con Law, Legal Writing II, Trust and Estates, Professional Responsibility and Lawyering in Spanish. When I wasn’t attending a meeting or participating in a competition I was in class or reading for class. Another nice thing about 2L is that finals are less stressful. Two of my finals were in person oral exams which was fun; one was for Lawyering in Spanish in which we had a conversation about a legal problem in Spanish and the other was s an oral argument that I worked on all semester for Legal Writing II. The other two finals were in person but open note which really takes some of the pressure off. I still studied just as hard as I did 1L but it was nice to have my notes there just in case.
I have learned so much about myself this past year and a half and grown much more confident. I can't wait to see what the spring semester has in store. Spring semester I’ll be taking my last required course for law school! I will be taking Evidence, Family Law, Pre-trial advocacy, Criminal Procedure and Lawyering in Spanish. I am so excited to continue to practice my oral advocacy skills and legal Spanish. I am also looking forward to our semester gathering with the other Scholars for Justice in the Spring. It is a time for us to come together and share what we have been up to and how we have been doing, because we are all so busy it usually only happens once or twice a semester. Next up, applying to summer internships, attending the Northwest Public Service Career Fair and hopefully landing a summer internship!
Spring 2023
Spring semester is flying by; although it's only been a few months, a lot has happened. My biggest update is that I ran and won an SBA position. Although I am currently on SBA, this was my first time participating in the formal election process. The election process was alright; first, you must write a candidacy statement and sign an election form. Once materials are approved, students can make campaign posters and campaign. Later in the week, an email is sent out to the school with all the candidate's information and students' vote. The scariest part is waiting for results, I did not run unopposed, but students spoke, and I will be the Student Services Representative. I decided to run because I have enjoyed my time on SBA; I have met more students and been involved in the school's decision-making process. Being the Student Services Representative means I will act as a liaison between the students and different departments at the school, such as the Career Professional Development Center, Student Life, Student Services, and Library.
Additionally, I would review, propose, and promote policies and maintenance of our law school facilities to ensure students have the services they need to succeed. This position will give me a more active role within the law school community, and I hope to learn and promote more of the services available to students. I want to make sure that students feel as supported as I have and are utilizing all the resources available. I also want to create a space for students to share what they need; if there are areas of improvement or services they want to see, I would love to work with them on creating them. This past year we got a wellness/meditation room that students can use to pray; creating these spaces and resources is important to me.
Throughout this semester, I have been working with the Public Interest Law Foundation. Last year I was a recipient of one of their summer grants. PILF offers grants to Seattle University law students who work in summer public interest jobs that would otherwise be unpaid. One of the requirements for grant recipients is to volunteer with PILF throughout the year. This year I helped coordinate the dessert dash for the annual PILF Auction. This meant I had to secure 40 different desserts for the auction. Not only did I have to help secure desserts, but I also kept a list of who donated what item and from where, along with an ingredient list. Once all the desserts were secured, I made fun signs to label the desserts (this was my favorite part). The craziest part was coordinating pick up and drop off to ensure the desserts were where they needed to be on the auction day. I could not have done this without the help of other PILF grantees and PILF Board members who helped me pick up cakes, cookies, and pies. I also got to attend the event and see the dessert table in all its glory; the dessert dash alone raised almost $12,000!
My summer plans are still TBD, but I am having fun applying to jobs, and at least I am practicing my interviewing skills. There are a lot of incredible opportunities out there, but it is a competitive process. I hope the next update I have to share is about my summer job and that I can close the search for 2L summer.
April 2023
Last time I wrote I was in the search for a summer internship, I am happy to report that after many applications and interviews I have accepted a position at Northwest Justice Project. This summer I will be a Rule 9 Intern in the family law/victim of law unit, where I will provide culturally sensitive and trauma-informed civil legal services to immigrant clients referred by Refugee Women's Alliance (REWA) in the areas of family law and civil protection orders. I am so excited to start this role for many reasons. First, Rule 9 grants a limited license to law students to practice law under the supervision of a lawyer. That is right, I will be able to practice law this summer! I will have a bar card that will give me a limited license, I will be able to have my own clients and represent them in court.
The Rule 9 process is a bit grueling; it is basically the same as applying for the bar. The application requires a lot of information including but not limited to all your residences for the last 10 years and all your employers and supervisors including contact information for the past 10 years. I knew the application would require a lot of information, but I was not prepared for the depth of information it required. This application process required me to turn to my detective skills. I had to remember the apartment number for my first apartment, the dorms I lived in. Thank goodness for online shopping and websites that save your old addresses. The other part that was a bit difficult was the contact information for past jobs. I got my first job in high school and that store has since closed so I had to contact my old manager for her direct contact information, call old workplaces to figure out supervisor emails and phone numbers that were not just available online.
Other exciting news includes that after this semester I would have completed all my required courses to graduate. That is right I have completed all the required 1L courses along with Evidence, Professional Responsibility, Legal Writing II and Constitutional Law I. This means that I will have complete freedom in deciding the courses I will take my 3L year. The options are really endless but I am hoping to be able to take Tribal Law, Constitutional Law II, maybe a reproduction rights class or a class about race and the law. Finally, I am highly considering doing an externship for my last semester of law school. Externships were something I was not sure I would pursue when I first started law school. For starters I did not know what an externship was. I later learned an Externship is an experiential learning opportunity, similar to an internship but an externship is an off-campus learning experience for one semester usually in in a judge's chambers, a government agency, non-profit or public interest organization, or in some cases, in-house counsel with a private company or corporation.
The externships I am considering would be for a federal judge which would be in Seattle or a supreme court judge in Olympia. I have been meeting with current externs and past externs to get an idea of the work, what is required and how to be a competitive applicant. Just like most things in law school these externships are highly sought out for, they can be competitive because there are only so many spots. I am hoping that these informational meetings will help me be a competitive applicant. I am absolutely terrified to apply but I lose nothing by trying! Law school is all about going for it, trying new things and putting yourself out there.
Summer 2023
Summer came and went. I can’t believe I am starting my 3L year, time does fly. This past summer was different from my 1L summer in many ways. Last summer I worked on more general projects and advocacy. This summer I had the privilege of interning at the Northwest Justice Project as a Rule 9 intern in their family law and victim of crime unit. As a Rule 9 intern, I had the opportunity to work directly with experienced attorneys, learning from them and putting my legal skills into practice with real clients and in the courtroom. My focus this summer was on clients who were referred to us by the Refugee Women’s Alliance. Working with immigrant and refugee women seeking family law services (divorce, parenting plans, protection orders, etc.).
One of the most memorable experiences of my summer was when I had the chance to represent a client in court for the first (under supervision). This was my first real client, I got to do the first client interview, practice asking open-ended questions, and gather the facts of the case. I had done client counseling competitions in law school and other simulations during legal writing which I do think helped me feel a little more comfortable and confident. One thing I learned fairly quickly was that one conversation was not enough, it usually takes about two to three meetings to really iron out all the details. After I had gathered all the information I got set on the paperwork for this particular case. I jumped right in; this client was seeking a protection order and a divorce from her husband. Once all the paperwork was filed (and it was a lot), we had a hearing date. I was so fortunate to work with a great team that was patient and supportive. Before my hearing, we held a “moot” or practice oral argument. I presented my argument just like I would in a real hearing, and I got a ton of great feedback and tips. Finally, I made my first appearance in front of a family law commissioner, via Zoom, and the temporary order for protection was granted! Even though the hearing was on Zoom, I was nervous. I was doing what I always wanted to do, advocating for someone who needed help navigating the legal world. I will never forget the feeling of accomplishment when the judge granted the order.
I also got to do a lot of other cool things at my internship, I worked on my first pocket brief with another intern. I had the opportunity to assist in discovery for a trial and I met a lot of great people. This summer solidified what I always knew that I wanted to be an advocate. I am so excited to continue my work here at NJP through my part-time externship this semester. I am also excited about the classes I am taking Criminal Motions and Nonprofit, Trust, and Philanthropy Law. Up next, post-graduation job search!
Winter 2023
If you are reading this, I survived the final Fall semester of my 3L year. I cannot believe how fast it has all gone. I recently heard someone describe law school by saying, “The days are long, but the years are short.” That is the most accurate description I have ever heard. Somedays law school feels impossible, and you are taking it day by day. The next thing you know, you’re one semester away from graduation.
This semester was different than my other semesters because I did an externship along with some classes. Externships are experiential learning opportunities like internships, but instead of volunteering or getting paid, you earn school credit. I had the opportunity to extern at Northwest Justice Project (NJP) where I interned this summer. I chose to extern because I had a couple of cases that I wanted to see all the way through, continue to get courtroom experience, and continue to grow the skills I had been working on during the summer. I am so glad I did. I feel like the extra time I spent at NJP allowed me to grow my skills in oral advocacy and writing. I had the opportunity to see a couple of cases which doesn’t always happen because internships go by fast. This experience allowed me to be hands-on and part of a great team.
Along with this part-time externship, I took two classes: Criminal Motions and a seminar titled “Nonprofit, Trust and Philanthropy Law.” They could not be more different. Criminal Motions was all participation and advocacy. Each week we presented an argument, like a bail hearing, motion in limine, or sentencing. This class taught me to think on my feet and expect the unexpected. Even though we were given information about our case, the judge (our professor) would often shake things up by offering new facts. In the seminar we learn about the legal frameworks that govern nonprofits, the intricacies of philanthropic endeavors, and the role of trust law in shaping these entities. The seminar was very much out of my comfort zone since it was heavy in tax and business law. Though those areas are not my forte, I was lucky to have a great professor, and the experience challenged me to consider other types of law. This has solidified my interest in litigation, and I can confidently say that transactional work is not for me.
On top of juggling an externship and classes, I also had my extracurriculars. Most notably this year I am the Vice President of Recruitment for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Board. In this role, I oversee planning our open house membership event, collect applications from prospective members, schedule interviews, and most importantly decide who will join the ADR Board. I participated in the membership committee and process last year, but I was still not prepared for the amount of work that goes into membership. The hardest part was determining who would join the board—we had almost 30 applications and only 11 spots. Every applicant was impressive and brought something different to the board, but we couldn’t take everyone. This experience taught me a lot about making hard decisions and trusting my judgment.
I have also really stepped up in the Latinx Law Student Association which has been so rewarding. We recently planned our Dia De Los Muertos (Day of the Dead) Mixer, and it was the most successful one yet! We had a great turnout and raised money for our organization. It was a great opportunity for law students and members of the legal community to come together and learn about the Day of the Dead and network! I am so proud of this event and of the E-Board members who helped put it together. It took each one of us stepping up and reaching out to make it a successful event.
Up next, my last semester of law school! I have officially accepted an offer to extern with the honorable Judge Lin at the Western District Court of Washington. I am proud of myself. I came to law school to make the most of it and gain as much experience as possible. I am accomplishing those goals. I have had the opportunity to learn so much inside and outside of the classroom. I can’t wait to see what’s next.
March 2024
Halfway through my last semester of law school, it is both exhilarating and bittersweet. As of this week, I have officially signed up for the Washington State Bar exam and ordered my graduation regalia. It still doesn’t feel real that I am graduating and that the next bar exam offered is the one that I am taking.
Luckily, the bar exam application is the same as the Rule 9 application I filled out last summer. I could download my application and copy everything, saving me so much time. The application is very intensive; it requires a lot of information about yourself from the last ten years. So, if you are considering law school, record all your residences, education, and employment.
One of the highlights of this semester has been my externship at the federal courthouse. Before law school, I didn’t know about externing or clerking for judges, so this was not something I ever considered for myself. Externing for a judge has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences thus far. I have grown tremendously in the two months there, but the work has been difficult. In my externship, I have had the opportunity to sit in on federal hearings; I have watched a sentencing, a revocation hearing, and a direct examination of a defendant, and each case has been different. I have also had the opportunity to draft orders and motions, pushing me out of my comfort zone in ways I wasn’t expecting. Going into this, I knew that legal writing was an area for growth for me as I haven’t had much writing experience outside of my legal writing classes and a couple of memos in internships. Writing for the federal court is very different. First, it’s very objective and very technical. I have spent more time checking commas and spacing and learning the bluebook than I ever imagined. My first writing assignment was tough, but as I started my second assignment, I found that these things are second nature. The other skill that has already greatly improved is my legal writing; I am even starting to enjoy it.
Besides my externship, I am taking Federal Litigation and Bar Skills Studies classes. Federal Litigation is held at the federal courthouse and is very hands-on. We get to hear from judges and clerks, and we just did our first oral argument in the inaugural courtroom! My bar skills class has been super helpful; I have learned so much about the bar exam already that I didn’t know before this class. We also get to practice the multiple-choice questions and essays.
Finally, I just finished my final membership process for ADR! This process went much smoother than last semester. It was still challenging to choose only nine members when we had over 20 applicants. But overall, I am proud of the newest members and excited to leave the board in good hands. Up next, planning the Latinx Law Student Graduation Gala!
