Andrew Co exemplifies the qualities of a dedicated, compassionate, and impactful student leader who has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to giving back to the University of Miami School of Law and the broader community by developing a new schoolwide mentorship program, advocating for Asian American law students, and engaging in international legal experiences.
Co was born in Manila, Philippines, and came to the School of Law hoping to provide legal services to immigrants. Co's dedication to serving underrepresented communities is evident in his involvement with the school's experiential learning programs. He participated in the Immigration Clinic as a second-year student, where he played a crucial role in preventing the deportation of a Somali journalist in the fall and a Bahamian woman with a disabled son in the spring. He volunteered more than 160 hours of pro bono legal services throughout the year as part of the Immigration Clinic, demonstrating his passion for utilizing his legal skills to make a tangible difference in the lives of others.
His commitment to engaging the global legal community extends to his involvement in the International Moot Court Program, participating in competitions in Mexico City, Budapest, and Vienna. Through these international competitions, Co has created new connections with law schools worldwide—including Guatemala, Mexico, and Hungary—and earned an honorable mention for Best Student Arbitrator.
Co is a first-generation law student who had no connections to Miami but found a way to create a community throughout his law school career. Beyond his academic and experiential pursuits, Co has exhibited exceptional leadership within the student body. Under his visionary leadership as Student Bar Association president, he spearheaded an innovative mentoring initiative for first-year law students. This program, designed to create a stronger sense of community and provide valuable interpersonal and campus resources for every incoming 1L student, involves mentoring pods that meet twice a semester. Each pod comprises first-year students, upper-level student mentors, and alumni mentors.
The initiative has been lauded by participants and faculty for its effectiveness in fostering a welcoming and supportive environment, helping first-year students navigate the challenges of law school, and bridging the gap between different student cohorts and alumni. This mentorship program embodies Co's profound commitment to fostering a supportive and inclusive learning environment for all students.
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As president of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association, he tirelessly advocated for the needs of Asian and Pacific Islander students and connected law students with local Asian American attorneys. This dedication to inclusivity culminated in his historic election as the first Filipino-born Student Bar Association 2024-2025 president.
Co was awarded The Meenu Sasser Family Scholarship by the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of South Florida, a testament to his academic excellence and commitment to serving others. The scholarship, named after Judge Meenu Talwar Sasser, Palm Beach County's first Asian American judge, recognizes students who embody Sasser's passion for using the law to impact the community positively.
Co also serves on the University of Miami Board of Trustees Student Affairs Committee, representing the law school and voicing student perspectives while meeting with University leadership. In this role, he creates a better campus environment for the law school and the entire student body of the greater University of Miami community. In April, he was inducted into the Iron Arrow Society just as the University celebrated its 100th anniversary of the founding charter.
Co has led by example through success at his various internships at law firms, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and a major tech company. He recently completed an internship at Citibank and will start as a finance associate in the Charlotte, North Carolina, office of Alston & Bird, a leading international firm, in September. Co balances his schedule to give back as a student leader and blaze a new trail as he graduates in May.
