How do you know you want to be an attorney? Here are some of the answers from incoming students at the 2018 SJCL Orientation:
I was inspired watching a trial at the Fresno County Courthouse, and how powerfully the attorney argued for his client. “I see me in those shoes.”
I have a passion for law and justice “and always wanted to be Judge Judy.”
I just went through a divorce where I had to face my ex-husband in court three times, which piqued my interest in law. “And I would save money in case I get divorced again.”
I was finishing my undergrad degree at Fresno State at the same time my roommate (Chris Matthes, Law ’16) was finishing law school. He told me to come here.
“To change the system, you have to be part of the system.”
I have been a crime victim and “I want to fight for women who have been victims.”
Both of my parents are pediatricians and I worked for Child Services. I want to work with the wards of the court.
“My boss talked me into it.”
“So I can have better arguments” with my wife.
"The legal sector is one of the few places where you can still extract justice.”
“I want to provide for my family. We have very expensive tastes.”
“I came back from the military in 2013, and I miss the fight.”
I was an owner of a Cross Fit and was working out with Josh Kruger (Law ’12), A.J. Driscoll (Law ’13) and Mike Brady (Law ’12). “They were surprised I was not an attorney.”
Welcome to the 72 new 1Ls, bearing degrees from more than 20 different educational institutions, and dreams from every sector. While Fresno State and Fresno Pacific are well-represented, the incoming class also includes those with degrees from eight of the ten U.C. campuses, along with degrees from Temple University, American University, Arizona State, and others. While many said they want to serve people living in poverty, give back to their community, or work on immigration, others are passionate about agriculture, marijuana laws, environmental law, elder law, mental health reform, or just “doing something greater than myself.”
Student groups including the Student Bar Association, LawSUIT, the San Joaquin Agricultural Law Review Board, the Christian Legal Society, Delta Theta Psi, and Law Students for Community Advancement also welcomed the new class with offers of help and advice.