Living the “1L Dream”
It’s hard to believe that it has already been eight weeks since I started my first year as a law student at IU McKinney. Time has moved fast—almost too fast—and honestly, it’s a little insane that I’ve made it this far. (I’m currently outlining for Torts as I write this, so multitasking is alive and well.)
From Informatics to Law School: The Turning Point
After graduating a semester early in December 2024 from IU Indianapolis, I jumped into a full-time internship at my current workplace. During the early months of 2025, I had the privilege of working closely with lobbyists and the communications team. Through that experience, I fell in love with the idea of working in government. It also cemented what I had already felt years earlier when I worked on a political campaign: my strengths and interests weren’t in coding or sitting behind a screen, but in human connection, building relationships and shaping outcomes that benefit communities and the state as a whole. (What can I say? I’m a proud Hoosier—Go Colts!)
The Decision to Apply
I took the LSAT in September 2024, just a few days before my birthday. As application season began, I found myself caught between two potential paths:
Continuing in government/lobbying without law school, or
Taking the leap and going all in on law.
It wasn’t until the midpoint of the Indiana General Assembly session, when the legislature was on a short break, that I finally sat with my thoughts. Conversations with coworkers and friends echoed the same advice:
“You won’t regret going to law school.”
“It’s the best thing you can do for yourself.”
“It’s only three years.”
“You can apply both lobbying and the law together.”
“This will help you conceptualize the world and better serve your clients.”
Those conversations gave me the push I needed. I spent that week off applying to IU McKinney, and yes, I put all my eggs in one basket, and in hindsight, I know that’s risky. I missed the scholarship consideration deadline, but I poured my heart into that application. The process itself with LSAT prep, shifting study strategies due to the changing format, and application fees was draining but deeply gratifying when I finally clicked “submit.”
Then, life went back to normal: long days at the Statehouse, immersed in the legislative session. A few weeks later, two big things happened almost back-to-back:
I received a full-time job offer.
I got my acceptance letter to IU McKinney.
I was thrilled. Then the reality hit: “Oh my God, I’m going to law school.”
Entering Law School as a First-Gen Mexican American
As a first-generation Mexican American, this moment carried a special weight. Not many Hispanics or Latinos grow up thinking, “I’m law school material.” So this blog post doubles as a time capsule for my future self to remember these emotions, doubts, and motivations.
Once classes started, I was immersed, hooked, terrified, and constantly nervous about cold calls. There’s something uniquely intimidating about speaking in front of 80 classmates, knowing the professor will build the class discussion around your response. I still haven’t figured out the perfect way to handle those moments, but I’m learning to accept that uncertainty is part of the process.
Why I’m Here: Advocacy
Whenever I start to feel overwhelmed, I remind myself why I came to law school: advocacy.
My lobbying work focuses on education and healthcare, and law school gives me the tools to strengthen that advocacy. It’s not just about logical reasoning, it’s about understanding the historical and structural forces that shape law and politics today.
Lingering Questions
That doesn’t mean everything feels settled. I still find myself wondering, “Should I have done an MPA instead?” Many of my peers are clearly on track for private or public legal practice as attorneys, not lobbyists. Sometimes that feels isolating. But when I see others working at the legislature or bump into familiar faces in the hallways, it’s a reminder that I’m not alone and I’m just taking a different path through the same building.
Opinions expressed are solely my own and do not express the views or opinions of my employer.