A native of the Philippines, second-year law student Andrew Co was recently elected president of the Student Bar Association for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Law school wasn't on Co's radar during his undergraduate career at the University of South Carolina. Instead, he decided to study sports management there, where he was part of USC's 2% Asian population. However, after graduating, he started questioning whether he should pursue a law degree.
"I was chatting with a few friends who went to law school, and they shared how unique, intellectually challenging, and rewarding their experiences had been," Co said.
After speaking to practicing attorneys and learning what it takes to be a successful lawyer, Co felt encouraged to pursue law to build skills that would benefit others.
Miami Law's support for first-generation students and collaborative atmosphere made it his first choice.
"As soon as I visited for Admitted Students Day, there was no doubt that Miami was the perfect school for me," Co said. "I was interested in studying immigration, international, and business law, and Miami is a leader in all three."
Co then joined Miami's experiential learning programs, such as the Immigration Clinic and International Moot Court, to jump-start his legal career with hands-on experiences. At the clinic, he helped prevent a Somali journalist's deportation and attended moot court competitions in Mexico City, Budapest, and Vienna.
His previous time as a Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A. summer associate led him to become a remote in-house counsel legal intern for Sophos, a British security software and hardware company, where he reviewed company licensing agreements with internal stakeholders.
Co then sought leadership positions to highlight underrepresented student's needs. After becoming the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association president, Co was elected as the first Filipino-born SBA president. He aims to seize this golden opportunity.
"Miami Law has provided me with an elevated opportunity to assist others, and I am fully dedicated to making a difference," Co said.
As SBA president, Co will work to cement Asian and Pacific Islanders' impact on campus and advocate for the law's power to change lives.
In addition to being named SBA president, Co was recently awarded the $2,000 Sasser Family Scholarship by the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida during its 20th anniversary gala.
The Meenu Sasser Family Scholarship awards law school students this scholarship yearly and is named after Judge Meenu Talwar Sasser, Palm Beach County's first Asian American judge, who had a passion for using the law to help others.
Read more about Miami Law's student organizations.
