McGeorge School of Law third-year law student Ismael Perez is a Certified Law Student in McGeorge’s Homeless Advocacy Clinic. Photo by Victoria Ambriz.

I began working as a Certified Law Student for the Homeless Advocacy Clinic (HAC) in August 2022 and instantly realized the importance of the work we were doing for people experiencing homelessness. HAC’s Supervising Attorney Ron Hochbaum and Staff Attorney Tori Larson explained to me and the other law students that HAC embraced a holistic approach to representing its clients. That meant we also assisted our clients with the other issues they face on top of helping them with their legal issues. The HAC assists people experiencing homelessness or individuals who are housing insecure with legal issues, such as obtaining social security benefits, fighting their tickets, and providing criminal record remedies. Besides that, we also assisted our clients with countless other issues they faced.

I quickly discovered the importance of the holistic approach as I began to represent my own clients and handle their cases. Many times, my clients called upon me to help them with their life and day-to-day issues. Many of my clients suffer from physical and/or mental health problems that make normal day-to-day tasks even more difficult for them. I would assist clients by scheduling medical appointments, calling public entities like the welfare office or the Superior Court, getting transportation set up for them to make it to appointments, standing in line at the food bank so that they could have food, and applying or checking what services they were eligible for. The work I was doing made me realize that what I was providing was life-changing for my clients.

These activities could have been tedious at times for a legal representative, but I realized that doing this work meant that my client could get the treatment they desperately needed to function properly or have food or shelter. Without these services, it would be hard for my client to even focus on their legal issues as they are more worried about their basic human needs. Being able to assist my clients and provide these services for them helped build trust, which led to better legal representation.

Public work and volunteering have been interests of mine since I was an undergraduate student. I am doing so much fulfilling work that I am extremely grateful for at this level of my educational career. Many times, our unhoused neighbors are discriminated against and blamed for their life circumstances. I am proud of the work I have provided and what it means for my clients, but I am even more excited for HAC’s continued success and all the lives that will be touched by McGeorge students in the future. The 120 hours that each student spends at the Clinic per semester is no big feat for a law student, but it could mean the world to HAC’s clients.

By Ismael Perez, a third-year law student at McGeorge School of Law.

Carina Ramos Ceci, ’23, is a third-year law student at McGeorge School of Law. She immigrated to the United States from São Paulo, Brazil with her family in 2005. Ceci was intrigued by McGeorge’s culture and the collegial environment when she was searching to find the law school that best suited her. Three years later, she remains happy with her decision to pursue legal studies at McGeorge School of Law.

Ceci said the campus is inclusive, and everyone has been willing to help her throughout her educational journey. After graduation, Ceci plans to pursue a career in criminal law.

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Adriana Aguena, Assistant Director of Graduate & International Programs, speaks with McGeorge School of Law alumni about how the LLM program changed their career trajectories. They answer various questions and share their experiences in this video.

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Drashti Patel, ’26, said that McGeorge School of Law is her dream school. She was drawn to McGeorge because of the school’s expert faculty and collegial campus culture. So far in her law school journey, Civil Procedure has been her favorite course.

Patel is currently a first-year student in the evening program at McGeorge School of Law. She works to find a balance between her career, legal studies, and social life. Prior to law school, Patel worked in the field of hospitality management for 10 years.

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Brooke Hill, ’23, aspires to pursue a career in public service and the legislative realm. At McGeorge School of Law, she is earning a Certificate of Concentration in Capital Lawyering. Hill also serves as the executive president of Public Legal Services Society, an organization dedicated to enhancing the ability of law graduates to choose public interest or public service careers.

During law school, she did an externship with Chief United States Magistrate Judge Kendall J. Newman of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

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Mondis Vakili grew up hearing she was destined to be a lawyer. Her last name, Vakili, translates to lawyer. At McGeorge School of Law, Vakili serves as the president of both Women’s Caucus and the Middle Eastern and South Asian Association.

Vakili has a background working in theatre. Through this work, she realized her passion for entertainment law. After law school graduation, Vakili hopes to pursue a career that blends her interests in entertainment law and trial advocacy.

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Second-year law student Morgan Graber has numerous achievements under her belt, including:

  • In the 1L Moot Court Competition, she won all three awards including Best Brief, Best Oralist, and Best Overall Advocate.
  • Graber was on the team that took first place in the 2022 Appellate Lawyers Association National Moot Court Competition Championship in Nov. 2022.
  • Graber was one of only four students selected to compete in McGeorge’s 49th Annual Top Oral Advocate Competition in Jan. 2023.
  • At the ABA Law Student Division National Appellate Advocacy Competition, Graber was on a team that advanced to the national round of the competition.

Graber has done an externship at the Office of Administrative Hearings in Sacramento. She has also secured another externship for next year at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and a summer job at a well-known firm in Sacramento doing civil litigation.

She is extremely grateful for her experience at McGeorge School of Law. She believes that with the help of the school, she is not the same person she once was. Graber said has gained an enormous amount of confidence that has truly changed her life.

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Francia Orduño, ’24, has always loved being a student. Orduño cultivated a love of reading and writing during her undergraduate studies and was drawn to the legal field. Orduño decided to pursue her legal education at McGeorge School of Law because of the school’s location in Sacramento and generous financial aid offerings for students.

During law school, Orduño has worked with clients in the school’s Homeless Advocacy Clinic, served as president of the National Lawyers Guild, and competed in McGeorge’s 49th Annual Top Oral Advocate Competition.

“McGeorge has been, is, and will continue to empower a generation of attorneys that will go on to transform the legal field,” Orduño said.

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Brittney Barsotti, ’17

The moment I decided to attend McGeorge School of Law is still crystal clear, I stood on the steps outside the courthouse and admissions after Admitted Students Day. I could feel calm and certain to my core. Even though I wasn’t certain what kind of law I wanted to practice and had no idea the shape my career would take, I knew McGeorge was the place this journey would begin. I didn’t want to move to Sacramento. I loved the Bay Area and being close to my family and friends. But, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that to be involved in public policy, McGeorge and the Capital Lawyering Concentration was where I was meant to be.

Now, almost 10 years later, I am so grateful I followed my gut and took full advantage of the courses and Legislative & Public Policy Clinic I never thought I would want to be a lobbyist, but it was the feeling of watching our bill get unanimously off the Senate floor, while I was spending the summer at the Office of Legislative Counsel, that I knew to my core, lobbying was what I was meant to do.

My career didn’t take the path I expected. It was a struggle. I sat for the bar four times, the whole time applying for jobs in and around the building and being told I made it to the final round or “it was so close, but…” I stayed ready. I kept at it. Finally, the day I got sworn in, I interviewed at the California News Publishers Association. As a former journalist, it seemed like a great fit. The Director and General Counsel even knew the attorney who talked me into law school and told me about McGeorge. I got hired and the program at McGeorge enabled me to hit the ground running. A little over a year later, the General Counsel retired and I was promoted. It was like drinking out of a fire hydrant. But again, the Capital Center for Law & Policy had prepared me for success and I had a 10 out of 10 on our top priority bills for the session.

As a member of the Capital Center Alumni Board, I get the honor of supporting the program that I credit with my success and that I know will help others succeed as well. I get to work with my fellow Capital Center alumni, attend and support events, mentor students, and help others find their paths. If nothing else, I can be an example that even if your path doesn’t look like what you thought it would, the Capital Center prepares students for success, no matter the obstacles.

By Brittney Barsotti, JD ’17
General Counsel, California News Publishers Association

Second-year law student Ava Sutton always knew she wanted to be a lawyer. Sutton got involved in mock trial during high school, which cemented her desire to go to law school. Last summer, she externed at the Placer County District Attorney’s Office. Next spring, she has a judicial externship lined up.

Sutton participated in McGeorge’s Global Lawyering Skills Top Oral Advocate Competition recently, which advanced her expertise as an advocate and writer. Sutton received the award for Top Oral Advocate at the competition.

Sutton said the law school is incredibly supportive and encourages anyone thinking about earning a law degree to apply to McGeorge School of Law.

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