My name is Sandra Guzmán, and I am a first-generation Latina, UC Irvine School of Law graduate, and immigrant-rights advocate.

I came to this country at 14 years old after my father suffered a stroke that left him permanently disabled and unable to care for me. I had already experienced abandonment earlier in my childhood, so when I arrived in the United States, I did so without family support and without anyone to guide me through school, immigration issues, or basic needs. I spent my teenage years navigating the world largely on my own, learning how to survive, how to advocate for myself, and how to build a life without the safety nets most people rely on.

Those experiences shaped the advocate I am today and the purpose that guides my work.

After taking the 2025 July Bar, I served as a Rapid Response Law Fellow at a nonprofit in the Bay Area, where I supported community members suddenly arrested by ICE—many fleeing gender-based violence, abandonment, or cartel-related threats. I advocated for families in crisis, argued my first bond hearing, requested ankle-monitor removals, drafted urgent filings, and stood in front of ICE on behalf of people whose stories echoed my own.

Stepping into those spaces felt like a turning point. After years of being the person who once needed an attorney to advocate for me in court, I became the one advocating for others. And almost everyone I worked with told me the same thing: you will be able to do even more once you’re licensed.

I believe that, too.

Where things stand now

I sat for the July 2025 California Bar Exam, but I did not pass. I have already registered for the February 2026 exam, paid all bar-related fees, and paid for Adaptibar and other study materials.

The previous $2,060 raised through an earlier GoFundMe fundraiser helped me cover the July exam period—including materials, transportation, and basic living expenses. I am deeply grateful for that support.

However, I recently experienced an unexpected job loss. That has created a financial gap at the exact moment when I need stability to prepare again.

I know I’ve already asked a lot from this community, so I am not asking previous donors to give again, but if you are in a position to help, what I need support with now are basic living expenses during the study period:

Rent and utilities

Groceries

Transportation

Phone/Wi-Fi

Cat food and essentials

These are the costs that allow me to stay housed, fed, and focused as I prepare for February.

What your support makes possible

Passing the bar will allow me to represent immigrant communities with:

Your support is not just an investment in me—it’s an investment in the kind of advocate I am becoming, and in a legal profession that includes people with lived experience of the systems they work to change.

Other ways to support:

If donating isn’t possible, you can still help in meaningful ways:

Thank you for helping me keep going, especially during this difficult transition.

Thank you for believing in me.

And thank you for standing with me as I work toward passing the California Bar in February.

Con cariño y resilience,

Sandra K. Guzmán