I began my career as a music teacher, directing orchestras and performing around the country. I dreamed of becoming a professional conductor while working as a public school music teacher.
But, like many others, the COVID-19 pandemic drove me to make life-changing decisions. My dream took a backseat when classes transitioned to remote learning at the start of the pandemic. Each day, I helplessly witnessed the pandemic's drastic effects on students' and families' lives, which compelled me into a new field where I could effectuate immediate, positive change in others.
I was nearly desperate, as I have always considered myself a person of service. And, if you can imagine teaching choir and elementary music for seven hours a day over Zoom, you'll understand why I quickly reached for the first LSAT book I could find.
So, I switched my baton for a briefcase at the height of a global pandemic. And I chased every opportunity in law school with a zeal I had never known—but little did I expect I'd get to argue before each level of Florida's judiciary.
I entered law school in a state of survival, lacking any clear plan or direction. Although unsure of my specific legal interests, I have always been fascinated by constitutional law. I found appellate advocacy intriguing but understood very little.
One thing was clear: I was a performer who loved connecting with others. So, I was intent on using my voice and finding the path to make that happen.
I chose to attend Miami Law—as a double 'Cane; it's needless to say, I'm a Miami girl at heart. Having already graduated from Miami's Frost School of Music program, there was no question that I would return.
Soon, I realized that the artist within me had not disappeared; I fell in love with cultivating a different craft: the art of oral persuasion. Joining Miami's esteemed Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board was, without a doubt, one of the best decisions I made in law school. I eagerly sought every opportunity to present my case before a judge or practitioner, and I loved navigating the complexities of emerging legal issues.
Then began a series of incredible advocacy experiences I'll always remember. I joined Miami Law's Litigation Skills program, where my partner Zachary Kaufman and I conducted a mock trial and emerged victorious before a jury of young adults in Miami, presided over by Judge Milena Abreu. I delivered the closing argument and received thoughtful feedback from the judge, the jury, and practitioners throughout the semester.
That summer, my moot court partner Joely Arai and I participated in the 50th Annual Robert Orseck Moot Memorial Court Competition, when we had the privilege to argue before the Supreme Court of Florida. I will never forget the thrill of addressing all seven justices of our state's highest court. We ended up winning that competition. We owe so much to the Miami alumni community, professors, friends, and practitioners.
Lastly, before taking the bar exam, the Litigation Skills Office helped place me as a certified legal intern in the criminal appellate division of Florida's Attorney General's office. In February, I wrote a brief on an interesting Fourth Amendment issue on probable cause, and I was thrilled when the Third District Court of Appeal granted oral argument in my case. My supervisor at the local office trusted me to argue it. About two weeks before the bar exam, I stood before that court—and achieved a per curiam affirmance, meaning a court decision that affirms a lower court's decision without writing an opinion or explanation and precludes discretionary review.
Today, I currently serve as a pro se law clerk for the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. I draft orders and opinions for several federal judges on cases initiated by self-represented prisoners in different post-conviction scenarios, such as habeas corpus petitions and civil rights claims. It's a privilege to return to public service while I continually refine my writing skills and engage with complex issues each day.
I chose to write about my experiences to encourage Miami Law students to seize every chance they have to nurture their intellectual curiosities and deepen their understanding of the law.
The sky is truly the limit. For me, my oral advocacy pursuits were my greatest joys in law school; they have enhanced my self-confidence and made me an effective and trusted communicator, and my enthusiasm for uncovering and solving new legal challenges never stops growing.
And Miami Law has countless opportunities to make this happen. Thanks to Miami Law, my three-tiered advocacy journey shaped me into an attorney well-equipped to serve and meet the needs of my community.
I'll leave you with one resonating thought. While giving career advice to Miami Law students, Justice Meredith Sasso once said, "When you make a decision, there's a love side, and there's the other side. Always pick the love side."
You'll never know how far you can go when you pick the love side.
Read more about Miami Law's Litigation, Arbitration and Dispute Resolution area of study.
