Support Abby's Journey to Law School

Dear family, friends, and community,

This fall, I will start law school at LMU Loyola Law School (LLS). I am asking for your support in helping me pay for tuition. Fortunately, I received a good scholarship from LLS but it does not cover my full tuition. I am short $10,000 for each year, which totals $30,000. I am still waiting to hear back about the scholarships I have applied to.

After graduating from Pomona College in 2022, I was not sure I wanted to pursue law. It wasn’t until I interned with immigration legal nonprofits that I realized I had a passion for immigration law. However, I was scared to pursue law school as an undocumented student without DACA.

Nevertheless, the few undocumented lawyers I have met have inspired me to pursue law. I hope to become an inspiration to other undocumented students who are interested in pursuing law and hope to expand opportunities for those without DACA. I want to pursue a career in immigration, education, or employment law. My passion for immigrant rights and advocating for low-income communities like mine is my driving force. I hope to be able to help those in need. Law school will afford me the skills, resources, and network needed to do this.

In 2023, I joined a pre-law program called Legal Access Education Pipeline (LEAP) that supported me in the law school admissions process. Because of LEAP, my attorney mentor, law student mentors, family, friends, and community, I am pursuing a juris doctorate. I want to thank those who supported me this past year. Professor Arely Zimmerman and Gilda Ochoa who wrote a LOR for me. Crista Hernandez, my Dream Summer 2022 supervisor who wrote a LOR for me. My attorney mentor Jaqueline who edited my essays. My law school best friend Astrid who provided much-needed emotional support as we tackled the LSAT and admissions cycle together. My sister’s close friends Yesenia and Willie who opened their home for me so I could take the LSAT in a quiet and comfortable location. Saskia and Zach who opened their home for me the second time I took the LSAT. My family who believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself. My father who paid for my applications. Cynthia Keely who shared legal resources and connections, and everyone else that made this possible for me.

I want to thank everyone in advance for their contribution. I am eternally grateful. This first-generation, low-income, undocumented Latina is going to law school! <3

With love,

Abby