Written by: WSCL Marketing Team
The Promise Behind the Degree
Long before Emily Rivera started her law school journey at Western State College of Law, she learned the true meaning of sacrifice from her parents. Having grown up in Mexico, Emily’s parents immigrated to the United States to create better opportunities for themselves and their future family.
Because of those sacrifices, Emily is now a law student. As a 3L and first-generation student, she describes feeling both proud as well as scared. Entering such an unfamiliar environment came with much self-doubt, particularly when she felt that everyone around her knew more than she did.
Still, she returns to what brought her there. “I’m fulfilling the dream my parents had when they came here and made all those sacrifices for me,” she says. Her family experiences have shaped what path she wants to take in law. Seeing firsthand from those around her how difficult the immigration process can be, Emily decided to pursue immigration law to help others facing similar challenges. “I just want to help my community,” she says.
Finding a Place to Belong
One of the things Emily appreciates most about Western State is the strong sense of community. Having a smaller cohort means students all know each other, making it a tightly knit community. As Emily puts it, “Everyone knows everybody.”
She also points out how supportive her classmates are. A welcome contrast to what she describes as a competitive and cutthroat environment in law school, the support students have for each other at Western State is one of the unique qualities that makes the law school stand out. “I’ve never felt that from another person here,” she explains. “We really just root for each other.”
That close-knit community has also helped Emily create friendships that will last a lifetime. Some of her closest friends are those she met on the very first day of orientation, and they’ve been a constant source of support. “I don’t see those friendships ever ending,” she says.
Carrying LLSA’s Legacy Forward
When Emily first got involved in a leadership role with the Latinx Law Student Association (LLSA), she started as secretary. Now, as co-president alongside Jazmine Vences, she gets to carry forward the work of the organization’s previous leaders and help cultivate a space where students can celebrate culture, find mentors, and learn from one another. “We just want to make everyone that came before us proud,” she says.
“We want to learn from each other; we want to inspire each other,” she explains. As a first-generation student herself, Emily is especially mindful of students experiencing that same intimidation that she once felt. She hopes that building a welcoming and supportive community through LLSA can help new students find their footing.
And while LLSA celebrates Latinx culture, Emily emphasizes that, “You don’t have to be part of the Hispanic community to become a member. Anyone can join.” The planned message on LLSA’s 2026-2027 sweatshirt sums it up: “Rooted in culture, driven by justice.”
Finding Her Voice Through Moot Court
At the beginning of her law school journey, public speaking was something Emily struggled with. “I didn’t feel like I was eloquent enough,” she admits. So when she was assigned a written brief and oral argument during her 1L year, she was nervous. But instead of shying away, she saw it as an opportunity to challenge herself, and dove in headfirst.
Emily and her friends practiced every day, posing difficult questions to one another and working through their arguments. “What you put into something is what you’re going to get out of it,” she says. All that hard work paid off when she got invited to join Western State’s Honors Moot Court team.
Even with all that progress, Emily admits the nerves haven’t disappeared. Before arguments, Emily still feels her heart race, her palms sweat, and she is anything but calm. Yet the feedback she receives from judges tells a different story. That contrast still surprises her: “I’m always like, wow, I seem calm to them,” she says.
“I think that I’m better than I give myself credit for,” she states. That realization changed how she thought about advocacy. The feedback helped her recognize what the people listening to her could already see: she was learning to make her case.
A National Competition and a New Kind of Confidence
Emily’s growth led her to compete at the National Moot Court Competition in Child Welfare & Adoption Law in Columbus, Ohio. She and her teammate, Macyn Sherman, earned the opportunity to compete against students from other law schools across the nation.
The pair practiced extensively. Yet, after listening to the other teams compete, they knew they were up for a challenge. She and Macyn had no expectation of reaching the final rounds. “We’re proud that we came, that we did it,” Emily recalls thinking. But then they advanced to the next round. And then another.
By the semifinals, Emily couldn’t believe how far they had come. “What are they seeing in us?” she remembers wondering. The pair went on to finish in second place, an accomplishment Emily could never have imagined when she first entered law school, terrified of public speaking. “That gave us a lot of confidence in ourselves,” she says. This gave Emily a newfound sense of confidence and a belief that maybe she did belong.
Finding Her Path in Family and Immigration Law
While moot court helped Emily become a more zealous advocate, her experiences in Western State’s law clinics and at local firms are what helped her realize immigration law was what she wanted to do. She’s always been interested in it because of her family’s experiences and wanted to help others navigate the immigration system.
That interest grew stronger once she joined the Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic under Professor Sabrina Rivera, assistant clinical professor of law and director of the clinic. Emily most enjoyed helping clients with limited resources and learning practical lawyering skills. “I love how it feels like a reward when you’re helping people in these situations,” she says.
Family law was another area Emily was curious about, but she didn’t get the chance to explore it until this past summer, when she worked under a family law attorney at Fontes Law Group, a firm that specializes in multiple areas of law. “It’s chaotic, and it’s lots of drama, but I think that’s what I like about it,” she admits. She’s since continued working in family law at another firm.
“My dream is to practice both family and immigration law at the same time,” Emily says.
Making Connections Beyond Campus
Emily’s involvement with LLSA has also helped her build connections outside of law school. Through the organization’s partnership with the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County (OCHBA), she’s had the opportunity to attend events, receive mentorship, and meet local Hispanic attorneys. Those connections even helped her secure her summer position this year.
Emily also received the Wally Davis Scholarship through the OCHBA, an accomplishment she believes she earned through her involvement in the legal community. Many qualified students apply for these scholarships, but ultimately, consistently attending events and building relationships is what helped her stand out. “What sets someone apart is being known,” she explains.
She encourages other students to network, too. “You’re going to get so many opportunities just from speaking to attorneys,” she says. She says attending events, joining student organizations, and simply introducing yourself to someone can lead to opportunities students might not otherwise have.
She’s also grateful for Western State’s alumni network and the connections she’s made in Orange County, which she hopes to maintain beyond graduation. “I see my future job directly coming from a connection I made here,” she says.
Looking Ahead and Giving Back
As Emily approaches graduation, she already knows what she wants to do next: open up a firm with her brother, who also just graduated from law school, and practice family and immigration law. “I want to open up my own business,” she says. Much of that ambition comes from her parents, whose sacrifices continue to motivate her to make the most of her opportunities. She wants her firm to make legal representation more affordable for Spanish-speaking clients. Her experience over the summer working at Fontes Law Group, which has a similar approach, gave her an idea of what that could look like.
Despite her busy schedule with law school, Emily makes time for the things she enjoys, like cooking, spending time with friends and family, or going to the gym and hot Pilates classes. She also has a Disneyland Magic Key pass and loves visiting the park with her friends. She encourages other students to maintain their relationships and make time for themselves as well. “It’s very important to rely on your support system,” she says.
Looking back, Emily sees how much her confidence has grown. She can speak with attorneys, make arguments, and accept being wrong sometimes. For prospective students, her advice is simple: “Just do it and get involved.”
It’s advice she’s followed herself, from taking on leadership roles to pushing past her fear of public speaking and competing nationally. Now, as she prepares for the next chapter of her career, Emily hopes to put everything she’s learned toward the goal that first drew her to law: helping her community.
