Written by: WSCL Marketing Team
From Family Legacy to First-Gen Attorney
Before Alexandria “Alex” Alvarez (Class of 2024) ever set foot in a law classroom, she was already inspired by a family legacy of determination and resilience, which laid the foundation for her own journey. Born and raised in Anaheim, California, Alex grew up hearing stories about the women in her family working in the legal field, which deeply influenced her path to law.
“My grandma came over from Mexico to America when she was young and built a career as a court interpreter, helping people with legal matters, immigration petitions, and notary services,” Alex recalls. Her mother, who never went to college, continued that legacy, working as a legal analyst for a major telecommunications company. “I’m going to be the third generation of women in my family working in the legal field, but I’m the first to become an attorney and go to law school. For me, that was a huge personal achievement.”
Growing up in a family with strong roots in the field of law led Alex to the next chapter in her journey: going to Western State, the oldest law school in Orange County.
Western State: The Perfect Fit
Building on the legal legacy of the women in her family was important to Alex, but she needed a law school that fit both her personal and professional needs. This made Western State the most natural choice for her. She’d just finished her degree at UC San Diego during the height of the pandemic, so staying close to her family became really important. She also wanted to attend a law school that was both affordable and had a real sense of community.
“I wanted to stay and live and work in Orange County, and Western State has very good resources,” she explains. “It’s a well-known school in the area, the class sizes were smaller, and it felt a lot more homey compared to other schools.” For Alex, staying in Anaheim meant she could continue to support her family, save on living expenses, and immerse herself in a network where she planned to launch her legal career. And at Western State, one of the most affordable law schools in Southern California, she found the balance she was looking for.
As it turned out, attending Western State was serendipitous in more ways than one. “When my mom was a teenager, she worked as a file clerk for a family law attorney named Renee, now Commissioner Renee Wilson. My middle name is Renee, and I found out I was named after her and her daughter, Alexandria,” she explained with a smile. “After I got into Western State, I found out that Renee was an alum. It really felt like a sign that I was meant to be here.”
Academic Excellence and Community Recognition
From the very beginning, Alex made law school her top priority, making sure she balanced her schoolwork with her community engagement effectively. Her hard work paid off when the Hispanic Bar Association of Orange County (OCHBA) awarded her the prestigious Wally R. Davis Memorial Scholarship, which is given to students who both excel academically and are committed to the Hispanic community. Being selected for the award was, naturally, a meaningful moment for Alex.
“Being recognized by an organization focused on highlighting people of Latino/Hispanic descent was a big point of personal achievement,” she shares. “Professionally, it was an incredible networking opportunity and a huge help financially with bar exam expenses.”
Her story is not just about personal advancement. It’s about honoring where she comes from and using her success to inspire others. “I want to give back to people who are in similar positions as me, who might be the first person in their family to go to college or law school. I want them to know that it doesn’t mean they can’t do it. If you set your mind to it, you can accomplish so much.”
Paying it Forward: Mentorship and Leadership
Alex’s drive to help others took root early, from her years in Girl Scouts to volunteering with the Miss Anaheim scholarship program. She kept coming back as a mentor, helping younger participants navigate school, careers, and life in general. “I love being a presence in people’s lives where, if they need something, they know they can reach out,” she says.
This dedication didn’t stop when she started law school. At Western State, Alex mentored fellow students and made it a point to uplift others, especially within the Latinx community. “You don’t have to look a certain way, act a certain way, or come from a certain place to achieve your dreams.” Alex also wants to shift the perception of lawyers from just problem-solvers to partners in growth and planning, building on her commitment to mentorship. “Attorneys aren’t just there for problems. They’re there to help you build your future, whether that’s starting a business, planning your estate, or protecting your family. I want to emphasize that we’re here to help as well.”
Weaving Creativity Into Her Legal Career
Alex isn’t your typical lawyer; she brings something truly unique to the table. Along with a history of workers’ compensation, estate planning, and corporate law, she’s also an artist and an entrepreneur. From quilting and crocheting to painting and custom merchandise, Alex’s creative endeavors have reached a global audience—shipping handmade items to all 50 states and over 43 countries, with more than 10,000 orders fulfilled.
“A lot of attorneys might know the law, can win cases and help clients, but don’t know how to run a law firm,” Alex says. “A law firm isn’t just about knowing the law; it’s about finances, taxes, and all the behind-the-scenes work. My entrepreneurial side lends to not only being a lawyer, but also having my own firm, which is something I may pursue one day.” She credits her creative skills with enhancing her problem-solving and critical thinking abilities: “The law isn’t linear. You need to see all the different avenues you could take. If you’re creative, you can think outside the box to find better solutions.”
Her approach has already led to exciting collaborations—including creating merchandise for recording artists and running art booths at local street fairs. As she puts it, “Being an artist is about marketing yourself, and that translates a lot to being an attorney. You need to be able to market yourself to get clients and do the work.”
Faculty Support at Western State
Alex’s resilience was put to the test during the bar exam, when technical issues forced her to reschedule at the last minute—a stressful ordeal involving tech support calls, a trip to Best Buy, and an in-person retake in Los Angeles. “It was a mess, to say the least,” she remembers. And throughout the entire ordeal, Western State faculty had her back. “I owe a lot to Professor Sheppard—he really helped me develop my legal critical thinking and writing.” She also relied on Professor Shah from the Academic Success Program: “I cried and called her so many times while I was studying for the bar exam, and she was always there for me.”
With continued communication about scholarships, stipends, and unwavering support from professors, Alex says, “The support makes a real difference.” What stood out most for her was how a law school like Western State became like a community that supported her every step of the way.
Community, Collaboration, and Pride
It should come as no surprise that the sense of community she had was something Alex cherished most about Western State. “I’m proud to come from a school that’s truly community-oriented, she explains. “We were collaborative in our work and studying—no cutthroat competition like you hear about at other law schools. People here are willing to help each other. That shows what kind of professionals they’ll become.”
She boasts about how many peers went on to public service and community-focused careers. “The people here really have a passion for helping others, not just going for the highest paycheck. I see that so much at Western State.”
There’s a sense of pride and connection Western State graduates have, and it goes on well beyond graduation. Alex explains, “People are really proud to have gone here, even professors who are alums. Western State students have grit. Many are non-traditional, first-generation, or have overcome challenges that make them stronger. We get a lot of underdogs who are diamonds in the rough.”
Advice to Future Law Students: Be Yourself And Stay Creative
Drawing from her own experiences, Alex advises incoming and prospective law students, particularly those with creative or unconventional backgrounds, to remain true to their passions: “Don’t stop doing what makes you happy. Law school deserves your attention, but you shouldn’t put your hobbies or passions on the back burner. I crocheted between classes, brought my yarn everywhere. You need an outlet to stay balanced and happy.”
Alex also stresses how important networking is for students during their time at law school. The friendships and connections you make often last well beyond graduation and shape your professional life, too. As she puts it, “Those connections become lifelong friendships and professional relationships.”
Giving Back as an Alumna: Building the Next Generation
Now part of Western State’s alumni network of over 12,000 strong, Alexandria Alvarez is excited to give back to her alma mater. She was recently sworn in to the State Bar of California, officially launching her legal career. Alex now practices workers’ compensation defense at the Law Offices of Stacey L. Tokunaga—a Western State alum herself. She’s received direct messages from prospective students and current law students looking for guidance, something she’s more than happy to provide. “I think just being a resource hub would be a good point to start, and hopefully later on, I can help bring more Western State alumni to wherever I end up working,” Alex shares.
By keeping in touch with new students and opening doors to fellow alumni—just as others did for her—Alex helps strengthen the Western State alumni community and ensures the next generation of law students has the support and opportunities they deserve.
Inspiring Future Lawyers Through Creativity and Law
Alexandria Alvarez’s journey at Western State College of Law is proof that creativity and determination don’t just coexist—they amplify each other. Whether she was quilting and crocheting between classes or building a global art business, Alex never set aside her passions on the road to becoming an attorney. With the support of dedicated faculty mentors and a close-knit community, she stitched together an unconventional and successful path through law school. Now, as a licensed California attorney working alongside a fellow Western State alum at the Law Offices of Stacey L. Tokunaga, Alex continues to weave creativity, resilience, and service into her legal career.
Her experience at Western State became a springboard for both personal and professional growth. Alex’s determination and resilience helped her navigate challenges, mentor others, and find ways to give back to her community. She sets an example for future law students, showing that the most effective attorneys are those who bring their full selves, including their creative sides, into their work.
By weaving her passions into every part of her journey, Alexandria Alvarez reminds us all that law and life are richer when we dare to create, connect, and uplift those around us.
