Carolina Rondón Chacón, ’17, is a McGeorge School of Law LLM alumna, who practices immigration law in Las Vegas, Nevada.

1. Carolina, you are originally from Colombia. How did you discover and decide to attend McGeorge for your LLM degree?

After graduating from law school in Colombia, I realized that if I wanted to pursue my international legal career I needed to improve my English skills. I came to Sacramento, California to learn English during an ESL class for six months. While completing this program, I found out about McGeorge School of Law and the excellent international program that the school offered. I decided to visit the campus, and it was then that I knew I wanted to pursue my studies there. From the moment I stepped into the green quad and met the welcoming and helpful staff who presented to me the tailored program designed to meet each student’s needs, I knew I would call McGeorge home for the next year. Now, I can safely say I was not wrong because McGeorge still feels at home even after 7 years have passed.

2. What did you find the most challenging about coming to Sacramento and to McGeorge?

In my particular case, I would say I was most challenged by the language barrier and adapting to the Socratic method used for the classes. As I mentioned earlier, English was not my first language, and while I had already improved a lot when I was admitted to McGeorge, I do now realize that I had to put extra effort into reading before class, writing papers, and preparing for classes because I knew I could be called on at any moment during class. I am now grateful that the international program at McGeorge met my needs by offering an optional Legal English class for international students. I am confident to attribute the improvement of my English skills to both the LLM program and the tools that McGeorge offered us. Through my personal experience, I hope to encourage any prospective student hesitating in pursuing an LLM as the language barrier challenge can be overcome with the right tools and support.

3. You came from a civil law legal system. What has it been like to practice law in a common law jurisdiction?

It was challenging, to say the least. After being trained for many years in Colombia to excel in practicing in the civil law legal system, it takes a shift in mind to adapt to the common law jurisdiction. In my experience, the common law jurisdiction is broader which allows us to be more creative in arguments and requires us to analyze the law, including case law, from different perspectives to be able to apply it to the particular set of facts. I have come to realize that having the opportunity to understand and be trained to argue in the common law system provides particular analyzing and argumentation skills that are helpful to the practice even in the civil law system.

4. What did you enjoy the most about your LLM experience?

Without hesitation, I will say that what I most enjoyed was the personal relationships that I created during that year. Since the program allows the LLM students to take classes with JD students, it provides a great opportunity to meet both international students from all over the world and local students which helps us to have a more immersive cultural and legal exchange experience. I cherish the memories I made with my classmates in the quad, the pool, and even the intense study sessions. I was mostly surprised by having Professors who were always willing to help and even invited the LLM students to celebrate Thanksgiving at their house. I thank the school for granting me the Outstanding Student Service Award because this will be a lasting reminder of a significant part of my experience at McGeorge.

5. What other tools or experiences would you highlight from the program?

I particularly remember that through McGeorge I was able to participate in the international job affair in New York in January 2017. I was selected to interview by two of the biggest law firms in Colombia and offered a job position by one of them. It was my first time in New York, so I was particularly excited to participate in this affair. I am especially grateful to McGeorge’s Career Services Office for their help in drafting my resume.

The program also facilitates the participation of LLM students in most events organized by the school. For example, I volunteered in a public immigration affair with the school’s Immigration Law Clinic which allowed me to learn more about the immigration system and to help real clinic clients in their immigration proceedings.

6. Based on your experience in the LLM program, would you recommend McGeorge graduate programs to potential students? 

Yes. I recommend McGeorge for its excellent academic program, its strategic location in California, its warm and kind staff, and the many career tools that the program offers to international students.

7. Carolina, we understand you are currently living in Las Vegas. Would you tell us what has been your journey after you were done with the program?

After I completed the LLM program, I landed a job in Las Vegas at a recognized immigration firm thanks to the recommendation of my immigration professor at McGeorge. I sat for the California bar, and I was admitted to practice law in 2021. During these last 7 years, I have been privileged to practice what I believe is one of the most humanitarian aspects of international law. I now envision helping individuals and broadening my immigration practice to business, as well.

If you would like to be in touch with Carolina, you can reach her at [email protected].