Lourdes was inspired to attend law school by a speech given by then Public Defender, Jose Villareal. She later interned at the P.D. office while still in law school and was hired on in December of 1993, when a position opened at the P.D. Lourdes has worked there ever since in nearly every kind of case including misdemeanors, felonies, major crimes, and dependency. She feels blessed that SJCL was available to her as she could not have left Fresno for law school.