From Undocumented to Advocate: Help Sandra Pass the Bar

I’m Sandra Guzmán, a first-generation Latina, immigrant rights advocate, and UC Irvine School of Law graduate.

My path into law began at community college, continued through UC Berkeley, and led me to graduate from UC Irvine School of Law. Each step of the way, I’ve navigated complex systems without inherited privilege, but with deep purpose, persistence, and a commitment to public service at the core.

I came to this country as an unaccompanied minor. Because I was never placed in federal custody, I don’t meet the legal definition under federal standards, and like many others, I navigated the immigration system undocumented, unsupported, and unseen.

Today, I’m an Immigrant Justice Corps Fellow representing unaccompanied children—some as young as 11 years old and most arriving without a parent or legal guardian. Many have fled gender-based violence, family abandonment, or cartel-related threats and now face the immigration system alone.

Their experiences mirror my own. My work is about ensuring that their path forward is less arduous, more supported, and full of possibility. I advocate for their right to safety, stability, and dignity within a system that too often fails to recognize their full humanity.

My own journey has never followed a traditional route. I grew up without financial safety nets or generational guidance through higher education. More than that, I came of age in a legal system that too often failed to see me clearly.

When I did have access to legal support, the few notarios and advocates I encountered failed to properly screen me for immigration relief. They overlooked critical facts, misread the circumstances of my case, and ultimately placed me in removal proceedings that could have been avoided with competent, trauma-informed advocacy.

That experience isn’t just part of my past—it is the reason I do this work. It fuels my commitment to providing trauma-informed, culturally grounded representation to children and families navigating the same risks I once did.

I made it through law school not just through intellect, but through endurance. And now, I’m preparing for the California Bar, an exam that too often functions as a gatekeeping tool—especially for low-income students, formerly undocumented students, and aspiring attorneys of color.

For me, each step toward the bar has required balancing full-time advocacy work, financial scarcity, and the emotional toll of navigating this process without a safety net. What others might take for granted—like extra prep time or multiple exam attempts—I’ve had to approach with extreme care and limited resources.

Every step to get to law school, and now beyond, has been a patchwork of hard-earned support, long hours at multiple jobs, and constant budgeting just to stay afloat.

UCLA Law Fellows (which helped cover my LSAT and a few hours of tutoring), the 1L Change Lawyers program, the Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA), and a scholarship from the Orange County Women Lawyers Association Foundation helped me cover basic living expenses like a phone line, transportation, and professional clothes.

But even with those, it was never a cushion—just enough to make it to the next step. Behind the scenes, it has been financial strain, emotional endurance, and relentless self-advocacy.

And yet, I’m still here. I’m still fighting. And I believe deeply in the work I’m meant to do—not just for myself, but for the communities I serve.

I’ve done it largely alone, but not without the generosity of mentors who believed in me. They helped open doors, wrote letters of recommendation, and offered guidance along the way. Still, the weight of the journey—financially, emotionally, and logistically—has been mine to carry.

I’m not eligible for a private loan unless I add a creditworthy cosigner—something I don’t have access to as a first-generation professional. I’m holding this with grace, and still committed to doing everything I can to pass the bar and serve my community. Every dollar in this fundraiser helps bridge that gap.

For the reasons outlined above, I’m seeking to raise $7,500 to cover the cost of bar exam fees, essential prep tools like Adaptibar, and basic living expenses so I can focus on studying and pass the California Bar.

Your support isn’t just an investment in me—it’s an investment in the future of the legal profession.

I bring lived experience, cultural fluency, and a deep understanding of what’s at stake for the clients I serve. But unlike many of my peers, I’ve navigated this path without generational wealth, financial safety nets, or institutional buffers. That reality shouldn’t be a barrier to bar admission, and yet, it often is.

If you believe the future of law should include voices like mine—rooted in service and shaped by resilience—I invite you to contribute and share.

Thank you for helping me cross this final threshold.

Thank you for believing in the kind of lawyer I’m becoming.

Other ways to support:

Thank you for helping me cross this final threshold.

Thank you for believing in the kind of lawyer I’m becoming.

Con cariño y fuerza,

always.

Sandra K. Guzmán