ACADEMIC SUCCESS PROGRAMPeer Coaches | 2021-2022

Mahsa Kashani | Class of 2022 | Mills College

William Blanchette | Class of 2023 | Georgetown University

Joy Sgobbo | Class of 2023 | University of ConnecticutBetween College and Law School: Prior to coming to BCLaw, I was a paralegal at Sullivan & Cromwell in NewYork in their Financial Institutions Group.

Activities at BC: Boston College Law Review, Women'sLaw Center, First Generation Professionals

Summer Employment: This summer I worked with legaland compliance teams at Silicon Valley Bank to deepen myunderstanding of bank regulatory issues.

After Graduation: Next summer, I will be a SummerAssociate at Sullivan & Cromwell in New York. I hope tocontinue working there after graduation as an Associate inthe corporate practice group.

Why Law School? Becoming a lawyer has been a dream of mine since I was in middle school,but it was not until I had internships in college and worked as a paralegal that I began tounderstand what lawyers do on a regular basis. These experiences allowed me to picture myselfas a lawyer and being someone that clients turn to in times of need. The natural next step inpursuit of this dream was to go to law school!

Why BC Law? I chose BC Law because of its outstanding academic opportunities and theincredible alumni network. BC has a robust course catalog and, as an upper-level student, I willhave the chance to take many classes geared towards my interests in corporate law.Additionally, I am grateful that the BC alumni community includes so many individuals who arewilling to be mentors and give advice. Both of these aspects were important to me as aprospective student and solidified my decision to attend BC.

What Most Surprised You about BC Law When You Got Here? I was most surprised byhow willing professors were to speak to me one-on-one when I needed extra help. Each of myprofessors from last year made efforts to get to know me and my classmates (even during thepandemic!) and made themselves available to answer questions I did not feel comfortable askingin front of a classroom of students. My connections with my professors have been one of thehighlights of my 1L year.

Between College and Law School: Right out of college, Imoved to Germany to complete a Master’s degree in politicalscience. After that, I worked in-house as a legal assistant for acommercial real estate company for a few years.

Activities at BC: Middle Eastern Law Student Association,Westlaw Student Rep.

Summer Employment: Legal intern at American Tower Corporation (1L); Legal intern at Dassault Systemes (2L)

After Graduation: Ideally, I would like to pursue a career intax, either working at an accounting firm or for thegovernment.

Why Law School? So many reasons! Bottom line, I felt like, no matter what, working as anattorney meant that I could always guarantee that my work would be meaningful and make someimpact in the world.

Why BC Law? At first, I wanted to pursue a career in international law. So, BC’s international andstudy abroad options really influenced my decision to attend. Once I discovered an interest in tax, Iwas pleasantly surprised to learn that BC’s tax program also has an excellent reputation. What Most Surprised You about BC Law When You Got Here? Weekly lunchtimemeditations! With all the stress of 1L, having dedicated time to unplug and focus on myself wasessential. The fact that BC offered guided meditation really drove home its commitment to ensuringthe success of its students in all ways (mental health as well as academic success).

Between College and Law School: I was an eighth gradesocial studies teacher in Springfield, MA.

Activities at BC: Good Governance Project, NationalLawyers Guild, Law Review

Summer Employment: Legal intern with the Rhode IslandAttorney General's Office, in their Open Government Unit.

After Graduation: I hope to clerk for a judge aftergraduation, then work in litigation, either at a firm or ingovernment.

Why Law School? I majored in government in undergrad, and I also enjoyed teaching civicsas a teacher, so I came to law school because I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of thelaw and because a career in the law seemed like a good fit.

Why BC Law? I knew I wanted to stay in Boston, and my conversations with alums andcurrent students at BC Law convinced me it was the right fit.

What Most Surprised You about BC Law When You Got Here? Even though BC has areputation for being a collegial place, I was still surprised by how willing students, professors,and other college staff were to talk about their experiences and work together. Everyonereally wants to help others succeed, and I've always felt welcome.

Isabella Forcino | Class of 2023 | University of Washington

Between College and Law School: I came straightthrough from undergrad at the University of Washington.

Activities at BC: I am the Auctions Director of thePublic Interest Law Foundation, a TA for Law Practice, amember of LALSA, and a member of the GoodGovernance Project.

Summer Employment: Massachusetts Office ofConsumer Affairs and Business Regulations.

After Graduation: I'd like to try for a clerkship,although I am still working out my long term plans.

Why Law School? I love a challenge, but I ultimately decided to go to law schoolbecause I wanted to make a difference. Having a J.D. is a ticket into rooms that mostpeople don't have access to which makes it an incredible tool.

Why BC Law? I chose BC Law because of the community. When I was accepted, Iwas immediately connected with 2L and 3L students who went out of their way toschedule calls with me. They were so willing to talk about their experiences and theirenthusiasm for BC was contagious.

What Most Surprised You about BC Law When You Got Here? I was mostsurprised by how approachable the professors were. The first year is incrediblyintimidating and while I chose BC because of the student community, I was so gratefulto have professors eager to engage outside of the classroom.

Maggie Utter | Class of 2022 | University of North Carolina atChapel Hill Nicole Zelada | Class of 2023 | University of California, Berkeley

Evelyn Jackson | Class of 2022 | University of Virginia

Between College and Law School: I took a year off between collegeand law school to travel and work at the front desk at a spa.

Activities at BC: Law Review, Board of Student Advisors, researchassistant with Professor Young, Harvard Law and InternationalDevelopment Society (LIDs), BC Law Democrats

Summer Employment: During my 1L summer, I was a judicialintern for the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.This past summer, I worked as a legal intern with the Social SecurityAdministration Office of the General Counsel.

After Graduation: Ideally, I would like to work as a litigator for thelocal, state, or federal government. I am also considering impactlitigation or policy work in a nonprofit.

Why Law School? I wanted to be involved with organizations that are pushing for betterpolicy or fighting against systems that perpetuate bad policy.

Why BC Law? I was looking for a school where it would be easy to find a community.Everyone I talked to said the best thing about BC Law was the people, and I didn't hear thatanywhere else.

What Most Surprised You about BC Law When You Got here? How eager professorswere to hear feedback from students.

Between College and Law School: Worked as an aupair in Italy, at a law firm, and in a cookie store, thentravelled to Europe.

Activities at BC: LALSA (Latin American LawStudent Association) & DLSA (Disability LawStudents Association). I also participated in thenegotiation and client counseling competitions and didsome volunteer work in the CORI Clinic.

Summer Employment: Judicial Intern for JusticeRobinson at the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

After Graduation: I hope to work in big law.

Why Law School? My undergrad major was Legal Studies (decided through a $10 bet withmy friend) and I loved it because it combined all my interests— history, rhetoric, reading,and writing. A personal injury lawyer represented me when I was in a car accident. He wasabsolutely amazing and showed me the human side of the law and how a zealous advocatecan turn the worst experience of someone’s life into something very minor.

Why BC Law? BC Law has a smaller class size than a lot of other schools, so I knew I’d beable to get to know my professors pretty well. A lot of BC grads end up working in big lawtoo!

What Most Surprised You about BC Law When You Got here? HOW FRIENDLYEVERYONE IS!!! I was used to the competitive environment at Berkeley, so I was reallyshocked when people started giving me free outlines.

Between College and Law School: I worked at amental health private practice for one year and inneurodevelopmental and behavioral health clinicalresearch for two years

Activities at BC: Health Law Society; Law Review;First Generation Professionals; PILF Spring Break Trip;BC Law Magazine Photographer

Summer Employment: During 1L summer, I worked atthe Massachusetts Attorney General's Office in the FalseClaims Division. During 2L summer, I worked at Ropes& Gray in the Corporate Department, mostly doinghealthcare assignments.

After Graduation: After law school, I plan to clerk fora judge and then work at Ropes & Gray in theHealthcare Group

Why Law School? Before law school, I wanted to be a clinical psychology researcher. The labI worked in was implementing preventative health measures for populations at risk of adepressive episode. As much as I loved the research, I knew the treatment would be of littlepractical help if people could not access it. I became more interested in the structure ofhealthcare policy and felt I could make the most change in that area with a JD.

Why BC Law? I chose BCLS because I knew it had a great, supportive culture. I knew lawschool was going to be a rough ride, so I wanted to go to a place where I was supported by mypeers, professors, and school administration.

What Most Surprised You about BC Law When You Got here? It's not competitive at all!All of the stereotypes I heard about law school are not true at BC!

Between College and Law School: I was a paralegalat Hunton & Williams LLP and Mayer Brown LLP.

Activities at BC: Boston College Law Review, APALSA, LAHANAS, Intellectual Property & Technology Forum

Summer Employment: During 1L summer, I was thelegal intern for the Boston College InnocenceProgram and a research assistant for ProfessorO’Malley at the University of Navarra. During 2Lsummer, I was a summer associate at Goulston &Storrs.

After Graduation? I will be returning to Goulston &Storrs as a corportate associate.

Ye-Eun Sung | Class of 2022 | Wellesley College

Why Law School? During my time as a paralegal, I enjoyed the work that I did at a big lawfirm but I wanted to do more, and going to law school was the logical next step.

Why BC Law? I chose BC because of the strong community and alumni net work. I alsoreally wanted to come back home to Boston.

What Most Surprised You about BC Law When You Got Here? Despite knowing BC’sreputation, I was still so surprised by how willing everyone was to help one another. Iquickly met some really amazing mentors who provided great advice and looked out for me.