老司机福利网

Meet Jasmin Boparai 鈥�28, full-time JD program

Jasmin Boparai 鈥�28 started law school this fall. She was originally pre-med in college, but decided that her passion is in the legal field.

鈥淢y whole life, I thought I would become a doctor. But I discovered my passion for law when I saw the difficulties the Punjabi-Sikh American community faces with the legal system,鈥� Boparai said. 鈥淚 worked as a Punjabi translator at a criminal law firm, and it opened my eyes to how little marginalized communities know about the law.鈥�

She was born and raised in Sacramento, went to Franklin High School and majored in psychology at UC Davis. 

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 realize I鈥檇 love the campus so much,鈥� Boparai said. 鈥淗aving gone to an undergraduate school with classes filled with hundreds of students, it鈥檚 refreshing to be at a smaller campus where faculty know you by name.鈥�

She is keeping an open mind about which area of law she will pursue, equally intrigued by both business and criminal law. Her experiences with small businesses and working at a criminal law firm is what pushes her interest in those two fields. Adding she wants to continue her passion for service by helping those who struggle with legal issues.

鈥淲hat matters most to me is using my law degree as a tool for advocacy, especially for individuals and communities who find it difficult to navigate the legal system,鈥� Boparai said.

鈥淗aving seen firsthand how overwhelming and intimidating the process can feel, I want to be the kind of lawyer who not only provides legal solutions but also helps make the system approachable, understandable, and less daunting for my clients.鈥�  

She won her first pageant around this time last year and won the title of Miss Capitol City in January 2025. 

鈥淚 became the first Punjabi-American and Sikh-American to win a title in the 72 years of my local organization鈥檚 existence and the first to make it into the top 12 at Miss California,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y title is part of the Miss America Organization, which is the largest provider of scholarships for women across the country.鈥�

She has led service projects in classroom visits, fundraised for nonprofits, and even adopted a tiger to support animal conservation efforts. For her, her title opened doors to build skills she now takes with her into the legal profession. 

She said that her time at McGeorge so far has been such a rewarding experience.  

Meet Sydnee Navarro 鈥�28, full-time JD program

Sydnee Navarro 鈥�28 is a double tiger鈥痺ho went to the 老司机福利网 for her undergraduate degree in sociology and a concentration in criminology. She participated in the university鈥檚 Pacific Legal Advantage Program. She grew up in Manteca, California and attended Manteca High School. 

Navarro said law school has been a fun challenge so far.

鈥淚 have loved learning about legal processes鈥痑nd honing my critical鈥痶hinking and analysis skills,鈥� she said. 

She said she enjoys hearing different perspectives from her peers; she believes it will create a diverse and accepting legal community. 

鈥淭he collaborative environment also allows me to think differently about legal issues and various application of the material,鈥� Navarro said.

She said she had always played around with the idea of law school, but made her final decision to pursue a legal education when she began her undergraduate studies at 老司机福利网. 

鈥淢y volunteer work with homeless families in my hometown alongside Pacific's pre-law program offerings solidified my desire to go to law school,鈥� Navarro said.

Navarro said she was inspired to practice in victim's advocacy because of her 11 years of volunteer work with HOPE Ministries in Manteca, California. They are鈥痑 series of homeless family shelters that provide housing and rehabilitative services, with many of their residents having lost their economic and mental stability due to experiences of domestic violence or sexual assault. 

鈥淗aving worked closely with the families going through the program, I found a motivation to provide support and advocacy for those who cannot do so themselves, particularly in a biased justice system,鈥� she said.

She wants to practice law in victim advocacy; her current aspirations are to pursue either criminal or family law.

鈥淚 chose McGeorge because I knew I'd be supported throughout the entirety of my legal education and career,鈥� Navarro said. 鈥淭he McGeorge community is extremely encouraging, and I know I can rely on my peers, faculty, and staff for assistance and advice throughout my law school experience.鈥�

She added that the location was a bonus because she is not too far away from home and can reap the benefits of networking and going to school in Sacramento. 

Meet Daniel Laciste 鈥�29, part-time JD program

Daniel Laciste 鈥�29 grew up in Sacramento, attending Cristo Rey High School and then Sacramento State University as a business major with a concentration in entrepreneurship, marketing and international business.鈥� 

Laciste chose to pursue his legal studies at McGeorge for several reasons. 

鈥淔irst, as my hometown school, it offered both convenience and a sense of comfort,鈥� Laciste said. 鈥淢ore importantly, as a native Sacramentan, I believe McGeorge reflects the values of our city and community.鈥�

He said McGeorge has a remarkable ability to bring out the best in its students, transforming the ordinary into something extraordinary. 

鈥淭he strong sense of community and the support McGeorge promised before I enrolled has more than lived up to its reputation, and I have no doubt that I made the right choice,鈥� Laciste said.

According to him, McGeorge recognizes that the path to greatness lies not in gatekeeping or competition, but in fostering an environment where students push their own limits and support one another along the way. 

鈥淚 chose to pursue law school because I wanted to challenge myself intellectually while also preparing for a career with broad opportunities,鈥� Laciste said. 鈥淭he study of law demands critical thinking, discipline, and perseverance; qualities I was eager to develop further.鈥�

Furthermore, Laciste thinks earning a law degree would open doors to promising career paths, particularly in areas that align with his interest in starting and running businesses. 

He said he thinks law school will allow him to seek entrepreneurial ventures with confidence.

Laciste said that although there is no one favorite class or professor, he feels in capable hands and enjoys all of his professors, each with their own quirks that he appreciates.鈥� 

鈥淚 want to pursue a career in the business realm,鈥� Laciste said. 鈥淲ithin that broad scope, I enjoy the idea of handling sports contracts around college students. I also really enjoy investments and may opt to pursue a career around investment contracts, mergers and acquisitions and real estate.鈥�

Laciste commented on the amount of support given to new students, especially given the fact that it is a small community at McGeorge. 

鈥淭he staff and faculty鈥痟ave been nothing short of amazing and I appreciate all of the help; students and faculty, are willing to lend to me,鈥� Laciste said. 鈥淚 definitely鈥痓elieve鈥疘 made the right choice in the school I chose.鈥濃�� 

Meet April Dawson Rawlings鈥�鈥�29, part-time JD program

April Dawson Rawlings 鈥�29 chose McGeorge for its proximity to the California State Capital area, the small class sizes, and the school鈥檚 emphasis on student success.鈥�

She said law school was always on her mind, but this was the right time for her to pursue the opportunity.鈥�

鈥淚 find the McGeorge campus very supportive,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he faculty are invested in our success, and I lean on my cohort for support; we are all in this together.鈥濃��

She said she likes how the concepts from Torts and Civil Procedure are broken down and discussed in smaller discussion groups. Skills Lab has also taught her new study strategies that she knows will carry her through law school. 

According to her, Global Lawyering Skills I is challenging to the point where it鈥檚 almost like learning a new language, but she appreciates that office hours are open.

鈥疐or the past 18 years, she has worked in the public sector advocating for people with disabilities and older adults. She wants to work with stakeholders to improve public policy in disability and aging spaces.鈥�

鈥淚 always had law school in my mind, but it never seemed like the right time to pursue it,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n my current role as the executive director of a statewide commission, I was inspired by observing and working closely with attorneys who organize stakeholders around proposed building code changes.鈥�

She said her work experience inspired her to deepen her understanding of the law, giving her more tools in her toolbox to elevate stakeholder voices who desire policy change.鈥�

Dawson Rawlings grew up in Windsor, California, attending Windsor High School and then Sonoma State University as a liberal studies major. Rawlings is interested in pursuing a career in government law.  

Meet Victoria Hypolite 鈥�29, part-time JD program

Victoria Hypolite 鈥�29 grew up in the Sierra Nevada foothills, in Mountain Ranch. She attended Calaveras High School and went on to study East Asian Cultures, with a specialization in Korean, at the University of California, Irvine. 

鈥淎lthough the path to law school has been a complicated one, I have always had the goal of attending,鈥� she said. 鈥淢y first exposure to the legal field was participation in a law and trial conference in high school.  

She said that her high school experience, paired with her undergraduate studies, sparked an interest in law school. 

鈥淚 am also deeply committed to advocacy around issues affecting marginalized communities, and I intend for that to remain a core part of my legal career, through community involvement and diversifying and protecting underrepresented voices in the entertainment and tech industries,鈥� Hypolite said. 

According to her, balancing work and school, has been an adjustment but the support from McGeorge and her fellow classmates has made all the difference.  

鈥淢cGeorge emphasized a robust community of involved alumni and staff, and I found all were eager to guide me through the application process and beyond,鈥� she said. 鈥淭he culture of community is palpable among my classmates as well, and it is clear that everyone is supportive of one another and their personal law school journey.鈥�  

She said McGeorge prides itself on a uniquely hands-on educational approach that ensures each student has access to helpful, practical resources and critical guidance for exam-taking.  

鈥淚 have felt supported every step of the way, and I am so grateful to have chosen McGeorge,鈥� Hypolite said. 

Her aim is to work in the digital entertainment and video game legal space. She is interested in helping shape the constantly evolving landscape of interactive media.  

鈥淲hile I am still exploring whether I want to represent individual creators or work in-house with game studios to support compliance, governance and risk mitigation,鈥� Hypolite said. 鈥淚 am passionate about both protecting creative expression and helping to build sustainable/ethical business practices.鈥� 

Her background in estate planning and corporate law has given her a strong foundation in contracts, entity maintenance and long-term strategy. She plans to use her background in her future work in the digital media and gaming space. 

鈥淎t the end of the day, I am someone who grew up loving interactive media, cultural expression, and community storytelling,鈥� Hypolite said. 鈥淚t is exciting to be working toward being part of the legal side of shaping that world.鈥�