Written by: WSCL Marketing Team
At Western State College of Law, the oldest law school in Orange County, student leaders build community, create opportunities, and help shape what the law school experience looks like for everyone around them. Haneen Afani (2L) is a standout example of that spirit in action.
Haneen is Vice President of both the Business Law Association (BLA) and the Middle Eastern Law Students Association (MELSA), and her approach to leadership is grounded in service and a desire to make space for others. These qualities stand out when she talks about advocacy, connection, and the kind of environment she’s found at Western State.
Haneen shares what brought her to law school, why she chose Western State, and how she stays centered while balancing coursework, leadership roles, and public interest work. Her story highlights what many prospective students want most from law school: a place where you can grow into the attorney you want to become while still feeling like yourself along the way.
Why Haneen Chose Law School and Western State College of Law
Haneen’s path to law school was shaped by lived experience, curiosity, and an early pull toward advocacy. As a Palestinian growing up in Jordan, she gained perspective early on about identity, community, and what it means to speak up when others can’t. “I wanted to go to law school for many reasons, but I think it was just a cumulative gathering of all of my experiences into one,” she says. “It was always important to me to speak for people who don’t have a voice.”
That sense of justice wasn’t abstract; it was personal. “Justice is something that’s ingrained in me and my family,” she shares. And over time, debate in high school, mock trial experiences in college, and a judicial internship helped confirm that the legal world was where she was meant to be: public speaking, analysis, and the ability to advocate under pressure.
When it came time to choose a law school, Haneen considered several options. But Western State, one of the most affordable law schools in California, felt different in both academics and culture in a way that stood out to her: there was a sense of community that just wasn’t the same at other schools. “I took a tour and I loved it. I just felt the energy was what I wanted,” she says. “It’s a smaller program, but it’s very tight-knit and genuine. We’re all hard-working and trying our best. And we represent different views, but we respect our differences.”
That sense of belonging became a deciding factor. “I had visited other schools, and I just didn’t feel right, like something was off,” she says. “When I came here, it felt like I found where I belonged. This was a place where I knew I’d benefit and prosper.”
Rebuilding a Student Organization through Teamwork
Haneen’s campus involvement reflects her belief that law school is meant to be experienced fully, not in isolation. She joined organizations early to contribute, explore different practice areas, and connect with people who could broaden her perspective. She even helped rebuild MELSA, a student organization that was inactive when she arrived.
“I was told by attorneys before law school that networking is why law school is a community experience beyond solely academics, and not just in your own bubble,” she says. That mindset led her to leadership roles in both BLA and MELSA. And, in true Western State fashion, she emphasizes that leadership is a team effort.
“The presidents of BLA and MELSA as well as the executive board are so on top of everything.” she says. “Everyone on the executive board works very hard. It really is a team effort.” For Haneen, the best student organizations are those built around teamwork and help you feel uplifted rather than burdened by your duties.
“With MELSA, everyone’s opinions matter,” she adds. “We plan together, and there’s a real excitement about doing the work.” Reactivating MELSA was meaningful for Haneen. When she arrived on campus, the organization was not active, and she wanted to change that. Along with a committed executive board, she did just that.
Now, MELSA has grown into a diverse, welcoming space that brings together students from a wide range of Middle Eastern backgrounds. The organization works with Western State to highlight multiple cultural heritage months throughout the year, including Muslim American Heritage Month, Iranian American Heritage Month, Arab American Heritage Month, and Jewish American Heritage Month. “We want people to feel welcome,” she explains. For Haneen, that diversity reflects the values she wants student organizations to embody: curiosity, respect, and a commitment to learning from one another.
Immigration Advocacy and Clinic Experience
Beyond student organizations, Haneen is passionate about gaining hands-on experience, especially in work that supports individuals navigating high-stakes legal challenges.
In Fall 2025, she participated in the Legal Advocacy Clinic, where she worked directly with clients facing immigration issues and helped manage casework in a collaborative setting. “I was very lucky to be part of the legal advocacy clinic, where I was able to be a co-director,” she says. “To work one-on-one with community members was an incredible experience.”
Haneen also connected that clinic work to her 1L summer experience clerking at the Orange County Public Defender’s Office, where she worked with the head of immigration during a particularly intense period. “It was very important to me,” she says. “My family and I experienced migrating back and forth, so I understand people who just want a better life and deserve safety, no matter where they are.”
What stands out most is the way she describes clients: not as “cases,” but as people she recognizes. “It would get emotional,” she shares. “You see your grandparents in them, your parents, your brother. This is why that work mattered so much to me.” That combination of compassion and action is exactly what experiential learning is meant to develop. Haneen got to develop her skills while also building the professional identity she will carry into practice long after she graduates.
Networking Beyond Campus Grounds
Haneen has made an effort to network beyond campus, which is essential for a budding lawyer. She’s active in professional spaces as well, including bar association events such as the Muslim Bar Association of Southern California, where she’s found mentorship, connection, and career opportunities. “It’s really nice to see how these attorneys are more than happy to reach out and talk to you,” she says. “I could tell they really wanted to see me succeed.”
Her advice for students is practical and reflects professionalism that employers notice: “Be professional, be assertive, and don’t be afraid to attend events and network alone,” she says. “You want to make the best impression possible, so suit up and be confident in your abilities.”
But her biggest takeaway is that networking cannot be passive; it is an active, assertive endeavor. It’s about showing up as someone ready to engage and getting to know as many people in the field as you can. “Just sitting at the table doesn’t always make a difference,” she says. “You have to speak up and engage. People are eager to share their experiences and advice if you let them. So don’t be shy. You just might find your next internship at one of these events.”
How Haneen Balances School, Networking, and Leadership
With leadership roles, clinic work, networking, and a demanding academic schedule, Haneen has developed a system to make it work: plan everything, even your time off. “You have to make time for everything, even time for yourself! Self-care is so important in law school.” For her, self-care is so essential that it’s scheduled. It’s protected. And it’s the reason she stays grounded while pursuing one of the most demanding academic endeavors out there: law school.
“I have five times a day where I have to stop, reflect, and pray,” she says as she explains her strong faith in Islam. “I feel like that’s helped me break up my day into five parts, so I can take breaks and breathe.”
She’s also a strong believer in nature as reset time. “My favorite way to recharge is to cook and go hiking,” she says. “Sometimes I don’t even take my phone.”
And she’s clear that self-care only works if it’s treated as an important task, just like classes. “You can’t have self-care if you don’t make the time for it,” she says. “It’s easy to just study for 12 hours straight, but solely doing that is not useful. You have to recharge, and you have to make time for it.”
“Feel and See Everything”: Haneen’s Advice for Incoming Students
When asked to describe her experience at Western State in just a sentence or two, Haneen offered a phrase that captures her whole philosophy of law school: “Feel everything. See everything,” she states. “Be open to change. Nothing changes unless you’re willing to grow.” It’s the kind of advice that resonates with prospective students because it comes from real lived experience.
She also acknowledges that law school is tough, that imposter syndrome is real, and that growth is not linear. “Give yourself some grace,” she says. “You’re smart. You’re here. You deserve it. You wouldn’t be here if you didn’t.” And that’s a key piece of knowledge that students often forget: getting into law school is very hard, so having accomplished that means they are strong.
She also encourages students to choose involvement that they really enjoy. “Make sure that what you are pouring your time into is stuff you enjoy,” she says. “If you don’t enjoy it, five minutes will feel like a waste of time. If you enjoy it, ten hours means nothing.”
What She Wants to Carry Forward
Looking ahead, Haneen’s goals are rooted in excellence, service, and pride in the community that helped shape her. “I want to be the best advocate that I can be for any type of client that I have,” she states. And she hopes to stay engaged long-term through mentorship, bar associations, and giving back to Western State as an alumna. “I want to support and represent that Western State pride and spirit,” she explains. “Our school produces a lot of great minds. We’re very hard-working and diligent. I’m very proud to be part of Western State.”
A Western State Experience That Feels Personal
Haneen also echoed something that many Western State students feel: the support here is genuine. And it comes from every direction: administration, faculty, peers, and alumni. “I absolutely love that the administration is so involved with the students,” she says. “Upperclassmen are very happy to share tips from their prior classes and how to succeed with particular professors. It’s a great community, and I love that everyone is very welcoming.”
Haneen Afani’s story reflects what Western State aims to offer every student: a rigorous legal education paired with a community that helps you thrive academically, personally, and professionally. If you’re looking for a law school experience where leadership is collaborative, mentorship is accessible, and students are encouraged to bring their full selves to the work, Haneen’s journey is a stellar one worth learning from.
