The SJCL motto “One Degree, a World of Options,” is greatly exemplified by the legal career of 2009 graduate Sung Bae Park, who currently lives and works in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
In the 16 years since graduating from law school, Sung Bae has become the Legal Director of the Aljomaih Energy and Water Company, as well as a member of the Saudi Arabian Infrastructure Developer in the UAE. Born and raised in South Korea, Sung Bae found early inspiration in the engineering processes of modern society. “I recognized that everything (that is engineered and built) is subject to law and regulations,” he said. His interest in the systems of infrastructure eventually led him to law.
Sung Bae attended undergraduate school in China. He ordered books from the US to study for the LSAT exam. He says he lucked out when his law school application landed in the hands of Dean Pearson and he was accepted at SJCL.
When he graduated, the US was mired in the financial crisis. Finding it difficult to land a job as an international student, Sung Bae returned to Korea with two goals: fulfill the South Korean requirement of mandatory military service, and find a good job. After three years of military service he became in-house council for a Korean construction company. Over the next 15 years he practiced law in the areas of construction, energy, and infrastructure.
In 2018 Sung Bae secured a position in International Arbitration in Abu Dhabi, UAE. His work there involved billion-dollar settlements, which opened even bigger doors of opportunity.
As an example of the heights one can reach with a JD, Sung Bae reflected on an international arbitration case involving $500 million at the Court of International Arbitration in London, England. He said the proceedings were under UK British Law and that the opposing sides exchanged documents for two years prior to the four-week hearing. The teams (the opposition included attorneys from Paris, London and Singapore, and Sung Bae’s team included himself from South Korea, and attorneys from the Middle East and London), hailed from four major law firms. During the hearing more than 50 witnesses were called before the Queens Council of British Arbitrators. “It was an amazing experience,” he said. There is no limit to what one can do as an attorney.
Joe Alindajao (Law ’16) also joined the Career Panel discussion. Unlike Sung Bae, Joe never aspired to become a lawyer. He was, however, always involved in the civics of his hometown. Born and raised in Delano, Joe began his professional life by opening an insurance firm. Then, an experience involving his efforts to oppose a business that wanted to open in Delano inspired his interest in the law. After reaching out to advocates throughout the state and learning how the law upholds civic order and fairness, Joe realized his destiny. He lost that first battle - the opposed business did open - but he was inspired by the experience to turn his attention toward law school. He began his career as a law clerk in the Tulare County District Attorney’s Office and then became a deputy D.A. In 2019 he returned to his roots in Kern County and became a prosecutor for the DA’s office there. He is currently a City Council member and the former Mayor of Delano.
One of Joe’s shinning career moments was a gang-related shooting case that came under review on appeal. He and his team had won the conviction, but their work was reviewed in detail during the appeal process. When the 5th District Court of Appeal confirmed the conviction, Joe was thrilled his efforts had prevailed. Building a family legacy, Joe’s eldest son will be a 3L at SJCL this fall.
Catarina Benitez (Law ’06), another alumni panelist, is a partner at Lawvex, LLP, where she practices Estate Planning, Trusts, Probate and Business Law. Catarina says she knew in Jr. High she wanted to be an attorney. She attended undergrad at USC and then traveled after graduation. That’s when she decided law school was now or never. She moved back in with her parents, enrolled in SJCL’s 3-year law program, and worked part-time to make it through. After a post-bar stint as an associate, Catarina opened her own practice with a focus on bankruptcy and real estate law.
With the birth of her first child Catarina transitioned to a firm that was fully remote. Lawvex founder Gary Winter (Law ’06) had embraced remote work even before the pandemic, and for Catarina the fit was perfect. Now in her 20th year of legal practice, Catarina says she loves the freedom of a firm that is hybrid and flexible. She noted that the SJCL network of alumni attorneys and judges is a huge help when one has questions or needs a resource. Her flexible work schedule enables Catarina to serve as the current president of the Fresno County Bar Association and a member of a fundraising Guild for Valley Children’s Hospital, among other organizations.
(Law ’15) is the Assistant Public Defender for the Tulare County Public Defender’s Office. A small-town girl who grew up in Ivanhoe and Orosi, Sarah became a single parent as a teen. She had a serious need to be successful in college and land a good paying job. Sarah earned a degree in psychology from Fresno State and worked for a number of years as a probation officer. She also spent ten years in upper management for a Foster Family agency. By the time her daughter was ready for college, Sarah realized she was ready for a change. She had always enjoyed her time in court as a probation officer, so she decided to tackle law school. She took out a loan, chose the accelerated day program, and quit her job to make law school her life.
On day-one of her first class she met who would be her future husband, Jarrett Rogers (Law ’15), and they walked the law school tightrope together.
During her second year Sarah clerked at the Fresno County Public Defender’s Office and says after two weeks she knew she had found her field. She has spent her entire career thus far in the public defender’s office along with husband Jarrett, and says “I absolutely love it!”
Sarah said one of her favorite cases involved a post-conviction that she was able to obtain for a 30-year-old who was incarcerated at the age of 15. He had been present during a murder. Due to a change in a juvenile sentencing law, Sarah was able to help him get resentenced and he was released last fall. Said Sarah, “It was one of my best moments ever.”