SJCL alumnus and Fresno State grad, Jacobo Espindola, is no stranger to hard work. Coming from humble beginnings, Jacobo started working in the fields at an early age, worked as a custodian through high school and became the first person in his family to go to college. Find out how Jacobo continued his journey through law school, how his early life lessons helped him pass the Bar on the first try and how a worldwide pandemic did not stop him from accomplishing all of his goals.
Tell us about your journey to law school.
I was born in California, but my parents are originally from Mexico, and they came from very poor beginnings. As a kid I would always hear the word “abogado” thrown around, which means “attorney” in Spanish. I never knew what college was because my parents never went to high school. In high school, I did not know what I wanted to do but I knew I wanted to make my father proud. I always did well in school and when I went to college, I asked my counselors what I should do. I took my counselor’s advice, graduated from high school, and went to Reedley College where I got my Associate Degree in Liberal Arts just to qualify to transfer to Fresno State. Once I got to Fresno State, I didn’t know what to do there either, but my counselor advised that I graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy, so that’s what I did. At the time, I had never met a lawyer or stepped foot in a courtroom, but I wanted to become an attorney. I didn’t know what I needed to do but I found out about San Joaquin College of Law and I wanted to apply. I took the Law School Admissions Test (LSAT) and even though I achieved an average score, I did well enough, and I was admitted to SJCL. I went through law school, graduated and now I am an attorney.
Did you know what type of law you wanted to practice when you started law school?
I had no idea. I never thought that I would be doing criminal defense, but here I am. I didn’t know anyone who was an attorney at the time, and I didn’t have any connections. I owe it to SJCL because they made a flyer announcing that the Fresno County District Attorney’s office was hosting internship interviews at the school. I applied and was fortunate enough to be chosen to work in the violent felony’s division. After that, I applied for my current job and I think my previous experience at the DA’s office helped me get the job. I also did workers compensation defense for a very brief period.
How does it feel knowing your Juris Doctor degree will give you opportunities to go down many different career paths if you choose to?
I am very proud of that because I’m a person who values his family more than anything, so having that law degree and Bar license, even if I’m not practicing law, is very valuable not only to me but to my family as well. That makes me very happy and proud because I feel like I’m an asset to my family.
How did your hard work at your previous jobs help prepare you for law school?
It was extremely humbling. I grew up working in the fields ever since I was a little kid, and I continued that work through high school. During high school, I also worked as a custodian after school and on Saturdays. In college, I continued to work as a custodian until I went to law school. During law school, I applied as an intern at the District Attorney’s office and out of about multiple applicants, I was very fortunate to have been chosen for that position. I worked in the violent felony’s division for about four months and then from there, I went to Caine Law Firm, which is a private defense firm where I'm currently employed. I also interned at the Public Defender’s office for about four months in the misdemeanor department.
A lot of people complain that law school is very difficult, and it is, I’m definitely not saying it’s easy. But everything is relative. To me, law school was difficult but not as difficult as being out in the fields under the sun in 120-degree weather earning minimum wage. Working in the fields doing manual labor and growing up poor truly humbles you and gives you this mentality that if you work hard enough, you will achieve your goals.
Why did you choose to attend SJCL?
The proximity was a big factor, and I also didn’t know how to become an attorney. I was told that I needed to attend law school and I heard about SJCL. I was told SJCL was a great school, so I applied.
How was your experience as a law student?
It was pretty good. I think I was prepared, but I do think students can be pushed a little harder because sometimes the professors can be lenient. It was certainly a challenging experience, but I was raised poor and had to work really hard most of my life, so being in an air conditioned classroom is definitely easier than waking up at 3 a.m. every day to go to work in the fields.
What advice do you have for students who are preparing for the Bar?
Do not take anything for granted. Work hard to achieve your goals and stay humble.
What impact did COVID-19 have on your law school and Bar experience?
I graduated in May 2020 and COVID-19 impacted my final exams, graduation, employment, and the Bar Exam. I was working part time through the final semester and I stopped working for about a month when COVID-19 first hit with the stay-at-home order. After that, I went back to work for another month before taking time off again for Bar prep. It was very challenging because I didn’t have substantial funds and I didn’t have any income during the months I studied for the Bar. The Bar was postponed the first time from July to August and then again from August to October. For about a month, I had to be a provisional licensed lawyer and some courtrooms were reluctant to let me appear in court. Once I passed the Bar and became an attorney, it was much easier. There are some upsides to COVID-19 as well though because I get to appear in court via Zoom.
Did the Bar postponements make it more difficult to study?
It made it extremely difficult. I stopped working three months prior to the August Bar Exam after it had been postponed the first time. When I heard rumors that it was possibly going to be postponed again, all I could think about is that I felt like I was essentially wasting my time and I was worried that I was going to peak at the incorrect moment because you can only hold so much information in your brain for so long. For the Bar, you also must follow a schedule depending on what Bar prep material you have - I had Barbri. So, when it was postponed again to October, my calendar was affected, and it made things much tougher but I stuck to it and continued studying from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every night.
Can you describe the moment you were sworn in realizing all your hard work paid off?
I was sworn in in January by Judge Ana de Alba, who took a similar path to law school as myself and I was very proud to be sworn in by her. My experience was awesome - I know prior to the pandemic, everyone was sworn in masses. Judge de Alba let the attorneys from my firm, a close friend of mine who is also an attorney and my parents be present. She also addressed my parents in Spanish so they could understand the process. I was very fortunate to have that experience and my parents were very proud of me.
How important is networking and making connections while you are in law school?
It’s very important. Networking and making connections in law school is very important because the connections you make in law school can determine the career path you follow in the future.
What advice do you have for maintaining a healthy work/school/life balance?
For first year students, I would recommend not working at all if possible. I quit my job and dedicated myself to law school because the first year is the most difficult. I would recommend that students find internships or part-time jobs following their first year of law school.
What is some advice you have for students who are interested in the Criminal Defense field of law?
Working in this field makes you value your freedom. It is a very interesting field of law and no two cases are ever the same.
What advice do you have for future applicants?
If you are a person that enjoys reading, problem solving and reasoning, law school is something you want to look into.
Want to learn more about San Joaquin College of Law, attend a virtual student forum or set up an appointment to discuss your law school future? Contact our Admissions Team, Assistant Director of Admissions Francisco "Javier" Rosas, Or our Director of Admissions Diane Steel today!