During my undergraduate studies at Santa Clara University, I worked with formerly incarcerated individuals at the Northern California Innocence Project. When I came to law school, I was passionate about discovering solutions for this typically underserved population. Through the Prisoner Civil Rights Mediation Clinic at McGeorge School of Law, I had the opportunity to work as a co-mediator — alongside federal judges — facilitating mediations between incarcerated individuals and the Attorney General, which represented the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Most cases related to harassment, inadequate medical care, or other circumstances constituting cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. Through classroom simulations and facilitating mediation of our cases, we learned negotiation skills and the importance of a neutral, facilitative mediator. We also learned to filter through large case files and understand the civil negotiation process — invaluable skills I will carry into my career.

We interviewed the incarcerated plaintiffs in order to better understand their goals for mediation and to draft summary memoranda for the judge. These interviews were incredibly powerful; we got to hear the stories and goals of incarcerated individuals in their own words. For example, at the end of our first interview, our elderly plaintiff told us about her family and her life in prison. She shared how much she missed simple things, like seeing her niece grow or watching the sunset on her hometown beach.

Additionally, during our tour of Folsom Prison, we spent almost an hour in the prison law library, talking with men who were excited to talk about their online college classes or ask about legal research. I found myself wishing more members of the public had similar encounters. These experiences could help destigmatize and humanize this population, preventing the image of incarcerated people as one generalized group, all undeserving of basic human rights because of a mistake in their past.

The Clinic also afforded us the essential opportunity to reflect on access to justice, as well as what justice means to us. Professor Ederlina Co led seminar discussions challenging us to see both sides of these complex issues. We were reminded how subjective and personal justice can be, and that, as attorneys our job is to listen to our clients’ needs and goals to obtain whatever justice looks like for them. For example, sometimes when we thought justice warranted a large monetary award, justice for the plaintiff was as simple as the return of pizza money or a wrongfully confiscated poster.

I came to law school because I wanted to help facilitate access to justice; the Clinic reminded me that doing so effectively requires humility, empathy, and active listening. I witnessed the plaintiffs’ desires to share their stories and learned the value of a sympathetic yet impartial mediator who gives parties the opportunity to be heard. I was reminded, as author Michelle Alexander wrote in The New Jim Crow (a book we read as a class) that, “rather than shaming and condemning an already deeply stigmatized group, we, collectively can embrace them — not necessarily their behavior, but them — their humanness.”

Tara Lucero, ‘25, decided to pursue her legal studies at McGeorge School of Law because she felt most at home and felt the Office of JD Admissions was always there for her. Lucero recommends McGeorge School of Law’s JD program to prospective student because of the wide variety of options and resources that are offered at the school. Lucero is enrolled in the school’s evening program.

Currently, Lucero works at the California Victims Resource Center and is the event coordinator for the Health Law Association. In addition, Lucero is the programming manager for the Center for Inclusion and Diversity and is a part of McGeorge’s Latinx Law Students Association.

Learn more about McGeorge School of Law.

Apply today.

Learn more about the law school’s evening program.

In my 1L year, I went to a post-COVID talk hosted by the Capital Center for Law & Policy about the future of downtowns. The panelists took questions ranging from the constraints of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) litigation to how to get one specific man’s building permit for one of his rentals processed faster. To get there, I walked past the California State Capitol Building. I was accustomed to seeing unhoused people sleeping alongside the borders of the Capitol’s garden, but on this night the complete absurdity of the situation struck me. Empty buildings, empty structures and no mass civic interest in addressing the problem.

At the time I am writing this, it is estimated that California is the world’s fifth largest economy. What that means in the face of a real humanitarian crisis? I’m not entirely sure — though I strongly suspect it suggests GDP is not the end all be all metric for the health of a society. But I knew I wanted to get a more concrete view of the systemic issues that create, encourage, and perpetuate the poverty cycle, which is what brought me to the Homeless Advocacy Clinic (HAC) run by Professor Ron Hochbaum and Staff Attorney Tori Larson.

Before I began my summer internship with the HAC, I had approximately zero appreciation for what the conditions of being unsheltered can do to someone over time. It does not take long to start understanding the chasm that exists between the systems in place and the ground truth of what it’s like to live outside while trying access underfunded programs that are not to scale of the problem. The clinic will introduce you to real clients, acquaint you with their stories, and give you a boots-on-the-ground perspective on what it’s like to be unhoused in Sacramento.

As a student intern at the Clinic, I have been able to practice and develop many skills I’ll need for my life as an attorney. Now that I’m a Certified Law Student, I have been able to appear on the record on behalf of a client, develop case strategy ahead of a trial, and so much more. The Clinic takes a client-centered and trauma informed approach that students can apply to more than their professional lives. It’s been my privilege to learn the harm reduction principles of the Clinic and become acquainted with professionals who’ve dedicated their careers to assisting the most vulnerable in our community. It’s both encouraging and humbling to see the work that’s currently underway by advocates to help those across the state who have been most impacted by homelessness and housing insecurity.

By Tara Paris, a second-year student at McGeorge School of Law.

Anna Karen Estrada, ’24, shed a light on what a typical day looks for her as a law student at McGeorge School of Law, from her alarm clock going off to hitting the pillow. A typical day is filled with coffee, preparing for class, studying in the library, attending classes, spending time with close friends on campus, and even more coffee. 

Learn more about McGeorge School of Law.

Apply today.

I’ve always enjoyed puzzles. Ever since I was a kid, I liked puzzles, logic games, brain teasers, anything that would challenge me. I still do the New York Times crossword every morning before I start my day and debrief about it with my dad. When I started my law school journey, I knew that this love of puzzles would be a factor in deciding which field I wanted to practice in. I discovered international law as a 1L and decided to set up a meeting with Professor Omar Dajani to speak about it. He talked about his experiences in international law, gave me a book to read about the field, and from that point on I was hooked. I knew that this was my path. International law was a giant puzzle, attempting to use different avenues of the law to make the pieces fit together and solve a complex problem. It was a match made in heaven.

My journey to Salzburg however, started in January 2023 in Professor Dan Croxall’s office. I was struggling with what to do for my 2L summer and his answer was almost immediate; “Why aren’t you going to Salzburg?” I sat back and asked myself the same question. I had planned to participate in the Salzburg Graduate Study Abroad Program in the 2021-2022 school year, however the program had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. As someone who would be graduating with a Concentration in International Law and wants to practice international arbitration and litigation, the choice seemed easy. I wanted to work abroad one day, what better way to get some experience and be sure this was truly the field for me. I emailed Assistant Dean Clémence Kucera that day to express my interest in the program and it ended up being the best decision I would ever make.

Fast forward to May, I landed in the Netherlands (on my 26^th birthday) and had never been more nervous in my life. I didn’t speak a word of Dutch, had never been outside the United States before, and was 5,387 miles away from my friends and family. I would be spending six weeks in Rotterdam with Conway Advocaat and Attorneys-at-law as a law intern learning all about international arbitration and then three weeks in Salzburg, Austria taking classes. I had only ever studied international law in the classroom and was anxious to see it in practice and get the chance to put my knowledge to use. As the weeks passed by, the anxieties fell away and I focused on learning as much as I could about the practice of international arbitration, witnessing firsthand its intricacies and nuances. I also began to deeply admire the Dutch way of life. Everyone at my firm worked hard, but they also understood the importance of a work-life balance. Daily walks after lunchtime became the norm and I had the privilege of getting to know the associates as friends, in addition to colleagues. I also got the opportunity to travel and see Amsterdam, The Hague, Vienna, and Venice, and foster so many new friendships. This program is so unique in the opportunities it provides, and I’m so grateful I got the chance to be a part of it.