Ashley Gomez-Rodon, inspired by the television shows and movies she watched growing up, always wanted to be a lawyer. She participated in mock trial at Miami Palmetto Senior High School and was inspired by the coaches, Mr. Beverly and later Mr. Gregory. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2011 during the recession and decided to work for Teach for America for a few years, which gave her an AmeriCorps grant to attend graduate school. She loved her work there and stayed for a few years before working for a law firm in Austin, Texas, for a year to decide if she was still interested in pursuing a legal career. She applied to Miami Law and was accepted with a full scholarship.
During her time as a student, Gomez-Rodon was a Miami Scholar and involved with the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center, which she said always provided her with the reminder that “what really matters is how the law affects people on a grand scheme—even the smallest thing can have a great effect, whether good or bad.” She also participated in STREET Law with Professor Jessi Tamayo, a program where Miami Law students taught lessons to students within the Miami-Dade public school system. She was a member of the Honor Council and participated in the Children & Youth Law Clinic and Federal Appellate Clinic. She also served as executive editor of the University of Miami Law Review.
Since law school, Gomez-Rodon has worked at Cozen O’Connor, focusing on commercial litigation, which she finds exciting and diverse, constantly challenging her and allowing her to problem-solve.
What stands out to Gomez-Rodon about Miami Law is the community. The School of Law has a strong presence in South Florida, with alumni who look fondly on their time at UM and are willing to help students. She has maintained connections with people she attended law school with, which she considers crucial to her success and growth as a lawyer. She also enjoys attending events hosted by the Law Alumni Association to stay connected.
Outside of her career, Gomez-Rodon enjoys spending time with her husband and 17-month-old. She also considers herself a movie buff - watching movies, reading about films, and participating in trivia nights at Barracudas in Coconut Grove as one of her team’s resident movie experts.
Gomez-Rodon advises students not to “be afraid to take a class that you’re interested in, even if your peers say that it’s hard and not a ‘guaranteed A.’” She explains that it is crucial to allow yourself to learn what you are interested in during your time in law school, even if that means risking a change in your GPA. To alumni, she encourages more involvement and increased community post-pandemic.
