Name: Christine Diaz
Legal interests: Civil litigation.
Bachelor’s degree: B.A. Integrative Biology and B.A. Rhetoric, University of California, Berkeley, 2004.
Hometown: San Diego, Calif.
Dream job: In-house counsel for the San Diego Zoo.
Quote: San Diego is a small legal community with close ties to USD School of Law. USD does its part by recruiting intelligent, well-rounded individuals and producing well-prepared and classy professionals that contribute to the local legal community.
1) What made you decide to come to USD School of Law?
It's the best law school in my hometown.
2) During your first week here, what was one of the first things that impressed you?
It was so easy to make friends! It was not the scary, hyper-competitive environment I had been warned about. Rather, I was surrounded by low-key, intelligent individuals who liked to have fun, and happened to be brilliant in the classroom.
3) What activities have you been involved in at USD School of Law?
Student Bar Association 2L Class Representative; Dean-Student Advisory Committee; USD Appellate Moot Court Board, Associate; USD Appellate Moot Court Board, Vice Chair; Lawyer's Club; intramural softball.
4) How hard is law school? Is it more or less work than you thought?
The material is not very difficult to understand (with some exceptions, of course!), but the quantity of information and the quick pace add to the challenge. Law school will consume you; it takes a lot of time just to do the bare minimum amount of work.
5) What is the best thing that has happened to you here at law school?
I've met some incredible practitioners, judges and fellow students by attending various networking events hosted by the school and local legal organizations.
6) What is some of your previous professional experience? How did that experience help you decide to go to law school?
I worked for two years as a legal assistant in a local law firm before starting law school. I was pretty sure I wanted to attend law school, but I wanted to test-drive the legal world before investing time and money. In addition to confirming that I was ready for law school, working in a firm exposed me to the legal system which made my Civil Procedure course a little easier to understand.
7) What advice would you give to a prospective student? What things might you have done differently?
Get to know your professors. You might have shied away from professor office hours if you attended a large undergraduate university. Law school is a more academically intimate atmosphere, so take advantage of the opportunity to meet with your professors. Conversing with your professor about the class material will help concepts stick.
