When I started college, I had it in the back of my mind that I might go on to study law, but I wasn’t sure whether it was a career path I really wanted. Then, I went for a job interview at an insurance company and saw what my future might look like if I wasn’t careful. During the interview, I was escorted into a large room filled with cubicles. Papers were being shuffled, phones were ringing, pens were being tapped impatiently. After a panicked flash forward to how my life would look here after five years, I quickly left the interview and started calling universities with law programs. A year and a half later, I was starting my education at Loyola Law School.

At Loyola, it took no time at all for me to realize I had made the right decision. I found my classes fascinating, and my adamance for justice was promptly recognized by my professors — especially when it came to my writing on topics pertaining to discrimination. My natural knack for legal writing led me to become a teaching assistant and to participate on Law Review. My eagerness to fight back against discrimination led me to practice employment law after getting my Juris Doctor.

Like Todd, I now use my knowledge and decades of experience to help the next generation of attorneys. I am frequently asked to speak on educational panels and demonstrate advocacy skills for less experienced lawyers. And from 2002 to 2016, I co-hosted the American Association for Justice’s Trial Advocacy Regional Competition on the West Coast.

I believe that the strength of our civil justice system lies in its ability to give the average person the same rights as big corporations.