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Alumni
Welcome Hispanic Law
Alumni!
This page will be the home to all HLSA alumni-related announcements,
including information about upcoming networking and social events. We would like to encourage the
development of relationships between our HLSA graduates and our current
students, to the benefit of both groups.
HLSA is actively increasing its efforts to build a
strong alumni base – that means that we want to hear from you! If you have
any questions, comments, or concerns, you should contact Christina Suarez,
Director of Alumni Relations, at csuarez@law.gwu.edu. Please send Christina an e-mail if you'd
like to join the new Hispanic Law
Alumni Network.
We have several events and ideas planned for the school
year:
-- creating a network of Hispanic law alumni, in order to encourage
communication, professional contacts, and socializing
-- hosting a Corporate Law
Career Panel on March 2, 2005 at 6pm (keep posted for details)
Past Events-
HLSA Judicial
Career Panel (Fall 2004) – From the Courtroom to the Classroom and Beyond
From left to
right: Bassil Hamideh,
Sylvia Covarrubias, Christina Suarez, The Honorable
Joseph F. Baca (’64), Christina Ferris (’02), Administrative Judge Gladys
O. Collazo, Professor Alberto Benitez, Jacqueline
Cisneros, Andres Castrillon
To
see more pictures, click here!
-- On November 11, 2004 GW
Law’s HLSA in partnership with Nixon Peabody LLP held a career panel entitled “From the Classroom to the Courtroom and Beyond.” The event
brought together HLSA members, alumni, and three
panelists to discuss strategies for success in future career endeavors as
well as issues concerning Latinos and Latinas in the work place and the
community at large. Sitting on the panel were The Honorable Joseph F. Baca
, a ’64 GW alum and former Chief Justice of the
New Mexico Supreme Court, Administrative Judge Gladys O. Collazo, a judge at the Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission, and Christina Ferris, an ’02 GW Law
graduate who currently practices immigration law with the firm of Krause
& Ferris. Moderating the panel and also sharing his experience and
insights was Professor Alberto M. Benitez, Director of the Immigration
Clinic.
Panelists shared thoughts on the
development of their careers and offered advice on things to consider when
making professional choices. All three panelists cited an interest in
public service and a desire to solve everyday problems as primary
motivators throughout their careers. Justice Baca commented on the
importance of flexibility and the reality that most lawyers are doing
something very different from what they set out to do. He also described the positive
experiences he had with GW law clerks over the
years, and described the skills an aspiring law clerk should seek to
attain. Judge Collazo noted that one of the more
fulfilling aspects of her job was the ability to help parties achieve
finality through settlements of administrative disputes. She also stressed
the importance of knowing yourself and who you want to serve. Providing
attendees with the perspective of a recent graduate working to establish a
career was Christina Ferris. She described her clerkship after graduation
as invaluable to learning the inner workings of a court house, a skill that
serves her well in her present capacity.
Explaining the benefits of small firm employment, Ms. Ferris pointed
to the higher level of responsibility and the opportunity to handle cases
independently. Relating her own decision making process as law student, she
stressed the importance of identifying individual interests rather than
going with the crowd.
Following their presentations
the panelists answered questions from attendees. Students were interested
in learning about common pitfalls of new lawyers, and whether their work
ever challenged their belief in the judicial system. An interesting culture
and society conversation ensued when an audience member asked why more
Hispanic students weren’t attaining higher levels of education. One concern
many students seemed to share was how to effectively balance advancing a
career and making sure that they continue to give back and serve as a
resource to their communities. This discussion inspired the HLSA board to consider further exploring this issue by
having the next panel focus on Latinos/as in corporate practice.
The event was a tremendous
success! Special thanks to the Career Development Office, the Law Alumni
Office, Nixon Peabody LLP, and Professor Benitez.
Any updates on these events will
be posted here, as well as sent out via e-mail announcements. Please take a moment to look at our
website and see what we've been working on this year. We look forward to hearing from each and
every one of you!
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