Written by: WSCL Marketing Team
From Educator to Immigration Advocate: A Purpose-Driven Path to Law
Ana Morel’s journey to becoming an immigration attorney began with a desire to serve others. Before law school, she worked as an educator, teaching art and developing a deep appreciation for learning and communication, skills that would later shape her legal career. That background gave her a unique perspective when entering law school, allowing her to approach legal education with empathy and curiosity. She still paints today, using it as a creative outlet and a way to decompress as she balances the demands of immigration law. “I used to be an educator. I love to learn, so I didn’t feel like that was a hindrance. In fact, I think that background was actually helpful,” she explains, reflecting on how her teaching experience shaped her approach to law school and professional growth.
Her decision to come to Western State College of Law was influenced by both the environment and the opportunities she saw firsthand. After meeting representatives at a Law School Admissions Council (LSAC) event and later sitting in on a class, she recognized the supportive atmosphere and accessible faculty engagement. “When I saw the professor interact with the students, it seemed like the kind of environment that I wanted to be in,” she says.
That sense of connection, with faculty engagement, smaller class sizes, and a collaborative culture, helped confirm that Western State was the right place for her to begin her legal journey.
Learning the Law and Learning to Serve
At Western State, Ana developed the foundational legal skills necessary for practice while also gaining clarity about the type of attorney she wanted to become. She credits both classroom instruction and hands-on opportunities with shaping her professional identity. “I didn’t have any background in law before coming to law school,” she shares. “Our professors did a great job helping us develop those foundational skills.”
But it was her experience in the Immigration Clinic that was the game-changer for her. There, she worked directly with community members, navigating real cases and developing communication skills needed for client-centered advocacy. “The immigration clinic helped me see how I wanted to practice law,” she explains. “I got the theoretical foundation, but I also gained practical experience working with people.”
Through these experiences, Ana discovered a side of law that changed everything for her. She learned that it’s about listening, guiding, and supporting individuals during some of the most difficult moments in their lives. “You really learn how to work with people and figure out what kind of lawyer you want to be,” she explains.
This combination of classroom learning coupled with real-world experience is a staple of Western State’s experiential education model, one that prepares students to enter practice with both competence and confidence.
A Passion Rooted in Community
Ana started law school with a clear mission: to serve immigrant communities. Coming from a family of immigrants herself, she recognized both her own privilege and the barriers others face within the immigration system. “I come from a family of immigrants,” she shares. “I personally have privilege due to my legal status, but people from similar backgrounds don’t have the same opportunities due to the barriers in our immigration system.”
This awareness motivated her to pursue immigration law and to use her legal education to support individuals navigating a complex and often overwhelming system. “I want to use that privilege to support people trying to obtain lawful status and let them know they’re not walking alone,” she explains.
Her work is driven by empathy, community connection, and a commitment to expanding access to legal support, values that align closely with Western State’s emphasis on service and community engagement.
The Immigration Clinic Experience: Learning Through Service
Ana’s work in the Immigration Clinic gave her opportunities to develop practical legal skills while directly serving community members. The clinic’s client-centered model emphasizes counseling, collaboration, and empowerment. “A lot of the work is communicating the law to community members in a way they understand,” she says.
Students in the clinic learn to counsel clients in an accessible way, collaborate with supervisors and peers, draft legal filings, communicate with courts, and navigate procedural aspects of legal practice. This experiential learning model ensures students graduate with real-world preparation. “You learn how to navigate different aspects of a case beyond just the law,” she explains. “It makes the experience more well-rounded.”
For Ana, the clinic was a formative part of her legal career. It helped her develop professional confidence and define her role as an advocate in the field.
Continuing the Mission with Western State After Graduation
After graduating in 2025, Ana decided to stay with Western State and continue her work in the Immigration Clinic as an attorney and fellow. Her continued presence reflects both her commitment to the mission and the unique opportunities the clinic provides. “I feel very fortunate to be working in the clinic even beyond graduation, because I really believe in the work they’re doing,” she says.
Now, she collaborates with community organizations, mentors students, and helps expand access to immigration legal services. She also supports law students as they perform consultations and develop their own advocacy skills. “Working in a role where I’m supporting other people just feels very rewarding,” she shares.
Expanding Access Through the Liberty Fund Fellowship
Ana’s current role is supported by OC Immigrant and Refugee Liberty Fund funding and is connected to the U.S. Legal Empowerment Network, allowing her to work with unrepresented individuals and expand access to legal guidance.
Her fellowship focuses on:
- Assisting pro se community members
- Providing consultations and limited-scope services
- Offering legal education and resources
- Collaborating with community organizations
- Training advocates assisting immigrants
This work ensures that people navigating the immigration system can still receive guidance, even when full representation isn’t available. “This way, while they’re trying to find representation, they’re not on their own in their case,” she explained.
This work is crucial, given the shortage of immigration attorneys and the complexity of immigration proceedings. “A lot of people are handling their cases on their own,” she says. “So being able to be alongside them is meaningful to me.”
A Commitment to Public Service
Throughout law school, Ana remained strongly engaged in public service. She took part in community-focused student organizations, volunteered extensively, and earned recognition for her dedication.
She received:
- Distinguished Public Service recognition
- CALI Awards for practical coursework
- Participation in the Summer Honors Program
- Dean’s Fellow role supporting peers
“The one that I’m most proud of is the public service recognition,” she states. “That was really important to me.”
Women in Law Making a Meaningful Impact
As a Latina attorney working in immigration law, Ana also reflected on the importance of women’s representation in the legal field. Early in her career, she was inspired by working alongside women leaders, including Director of the Immigration Clinic, Professor Sabrina Rivera. “I was surrounded by women. Supervising attorneys and staff attorneys,” she explains. “I saw them as powerful women discussing strategy.”
Seeing women in positions of authority reinforced her confidence and sense of belonging in the profession. Her experience exemplifies how mentorship and representation can shape the next generation of attorneys and highlights the importance of celebrating women in the legal field during Women’s History Month.
Today, Ana’s work centers on guiding people through difficult legal issues while also envisioning broader systemic change. “The most meaningful part to me is providing that support so they don’t feel alone,” she says.
Looking ahead, she hopes to continue supporting people while also participating in broader advocacy efforts. “I hope that one day, I can take part in some sort of systemic advocacy,” she shares. Her career reflects both immediate service and long-term vision, helping individuals today while working toward meaningful change tomorrow.
Why Her Story Matters
Ana Morel’s journey illustrates the power of experiential education, mentorship, and community-focused legal training. Through Western State’s Immigration Clinic, she developed the skills, confidence, and purpose that now guide her career.
By continuing her work at Western State after graduation, Ana embodies the school’s mission to prepare attorneys who serve their communities and support the next generation. Her path, from educator to immigration advocate, from student to mentor, demonstrates how Western State empowers students to turn passion into purpose and education into impact.
