Greetings,
 
Last week we heard from first-generation law graduate Pete Sabori ('18). Today, we feature recent alumnus David Herrera Perera ('20), whose story broadens our window into the law school experiences of first-generation students.

Until the footnotes,
 
Marc
 
Expanding a Family's Legacy in Two Countries: 
David Herrera Perera ('20)
  

 
University of Arizona Law graduate David Herrera Perera ('20) was born and raised in Spain's Canary Islands. 

David knew from a very young age that he wanted to attend law school and become a lawyer, and he credits his grandparents, with whom he lived for part of his childhood, with influencing his pursuit of higher education. David says, "They were always there, telling me, 'You have to study, you have to study.'"
 
His grandfather, a goat shepherd, and grandmother, a field worker, ingrained in him the importance of education and encouraged him to work towards a career outside of manual labor. 
 
David did just that, earning a law degree in Spain in 2012. Graduating during a time of economic crisis made it difficult to find work, so he and his then-girlfriend, now-wife moved to the U.S. in search of better opportunities.
 
"Since when we first moved, I was thinking of finding work in the legal field. I came to the U.S. as an attorney, so I was thinking, 'Why not?' But I heard getting into law school was super difficult, and I wasn't familiar with the language, so I thought it was impossible for me."

He eventually joined the human resources department of a small law firm in Houston, Texas. He considered getting an associates degree to do paralegal work, but then wondered what was stopping him from applying to law school. He shares, "I started to look into requirements and thought, if I can do it in Spain, I can do it here too."
 
David discovered Arizona Law's JD for Non-U.S. Lawyers, realizing the advanced admissions path would give him credit for his previous legal training: "I thought, that is for me."
 
With support from his colleagues at the law firm in Houston, David applied to Arizona Law. He and his wife made their third U.S. move, arriving in Tucson just a few days before orientation. As his first semester got underway, he quickly noticed the differences from his previous law school experience.
 
"In Spain, we don't have the Socratic method; there it is more of a lecture. The professor just talks and talks and talks. People there don't ask questions in class. But here, a law class is more engaged. That was a big change for me."
 
He says the Arizona Law community was essential to adjusting to the new format.
 
"Here, there is a support network that makes things easier. If you have a question or you have a problem, you can go talk to someone, because there is someone in charge of helping you with that."
 
David says his class cohort checked in with one another to make sure they were doing well, not only academically, but also personally. Faculty were always available to offer guidance, which he says was particularly important as a first-generation student without family members who had walked the path before him.
 
"I am not a person who asks too many questions, but I knew I could go to my professors and talk to them. They will give you honest advice."
 
David graduated in December and now works at a small Tucson firm that focuses on business and employment law and estate planning. His goal is to learn as much as possible and to help the firm grow within the Hispanic market, a community he hopes to work with throughout his career. He shares,
 
"In the long term I want to open my own firm focusing on the Hispanic population. My goal is to empower them and show them the tools at their hands, so they can show the rest of the country their value when there is a level playing field."
 
As he considers the journey he has taken in his career and as a first-generation student, David points back to his persistence as key to success.

"I once read, it doesn't matter how many times you fall, what matters is how many times you rise up. That works for everything in life, not just law school."

Around the College

Celebrate Scholarships!
 

We invite you to watch Arizona Law's 2021 Scholarship Celebration on our YouTube channel. The celebration includes meaningful discussions with donors and heartfelt thanks from our students.
 


Call for Mock Jurors
  
Director of Advocacy Barbara Bergman is seeking volunteers to serve as jurors for the Basic Trial Ad Final Mock Trials this Saturday, April 24. The trials will be conducted on Zoom, running from 9 a.m. until approximately 1 p.m. 

We welcome alumni, family, or friends of the college -- anyone who is interested in participating! The case file is a first degree murder charge with a self-defense claim.
 
If you can help, please contact Professor Bergman.


Fegtly Intramural Moot Court Competition Results

Yesterday evening, 2Ls Liam Martin and Joe DeFino argued online in the final round of the Samuel M. Fegtly Intramural Moot Court Competition. 

Professor Tessa Dysart shares that this year we saw 23 students compete in several weeks of oral argument in a problem that involved a prisoner challenge under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act to a prison's meal policy that removed a prisoner from religious meals and services for one violation of the meal plan.

 
The final arguments were judged by the Hon. Andrew Oldham (United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit), the Hon. Daniel Bress (United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit), and the Hon. Patrick Bumatay (United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit).
 
We are pleased to announce the following awards!
 
The F. Britton Burns Award went to the student who, in the judges' estimation, gave the best oral arguments in the final round:

Joe DeFino

Semifinalists:

Seth Brimley
Joe DeFino
Liam Martin
Garrett Tobin

Quarterfinalists:

Seth Brimley
Daniel Bowman
Neal Brubaker
Joe DeFino
Rachel Madore
Liam Martin
Benjamin Myer
Garrett Tobin

Suzanne Rabe Award for Best Brief:

Garrett Tobin
 
Excellence in Brief Writing:

Darya Anderson
Annabel Barazza
Daniel Bowman
Seth Brimley
Neal Brubaker
John Frick
Alan Leichty
Liam Martin
Garrett Tobin   

The Samuel M. Fegtly Award was presented to the student who earned the best combined score for brief writing and oral arguments in the preliminary rounds:

Annabel Barazza

Excellence in Oral Argument:

Annabel Barraza
Daniel Bowman
Joe DeFino
Rachel Madore
John McKelvey
John Frick
Darya Anderson
Benjamin Myer
Neal Brubaker
Seth Brimley
Liam Martin
Kevin Godfrey
Garrett Tobin
 
Thank you to the Moot Court Board for helping organize the competition: 

Glynnis Anderson
Stephen Bagger
Nate Goodman
Zeke Peterson
Vince Redhouse
Natalie Trouard
Katrina Wilkinson

Finally, we are extremely grateful to Scott Burns ('76) for his 37 years of support of this competition in honor of his father, F. Britton Burns, Sr. ('41).

In the News

Interstate water wars are heating up along with the climate
The Conversation, authored by professor Robert Glennon



The conversation about first-generation law students and alumni this week and last is a window into who we are, and the difference we can make. 
 
The challenges for first-gen students are both different from and similar to all law students. There is a critical mentoring role for alumni and friends to play for first-gen students.

Warmly,

Marc Signature





 

 
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