Expanding Access

Penn Carey Law believes that an outstanding legal education should be broadly accessible as well as highly innovative and interdisciplinary. Thanks to the support of dedicated alumni and friends, the Law School has built a robust financial aid program with an array of merit- and need-based scholarships. With one of the most comprehensive financial aid programs in the country, the Law School is dedicated to helping students achieve their dreams.

It’s hard to narrow it down to one moment, but the most meaningful part of my Penn Carey Law experience has been the relationships I’ve built, both with classmates and faculty. Coming from a small town and a first-generation background, I wasn’t sure what to expect entering law school. But what I found was a community of people who are not only brilliant but also generous and collaborative. Whether it’s working through tough concepts together, helping each other prep for interviews, or just catching up between classes, those everyday moments have grounded me. They’ve made Penn feel not just like a place where I study law, but a place where I belong.

My favorite class has been National Security Law with Professor Finkelstein. It stands out not only for the substance—analyzing presidential war powers, surveillance, and the First Amendment in national security contexts—but also for the unique opportunities it offers. We had the chance to present our work to U.S. Department of Defense officials and engage directly with top practitioners and scholars in the field. Professor Finkelstein brought in a range of real-world experts: people shaping the very law we studied. It’s the kind of hands-on, policy-facing experience that’s rare in law school.

Growing up, I never saw law school as a given; it was a distant possibility at best. This scholarship turns that possibility into something real and sustainable. Receiving this scholarship affirms that students from working-class or first-generation backgrounds belong here just as much as anyone else. That sense of inclusion matters deeply to me. Financial aid allows me to fully engage in my education without being defined by its cost, and it gives me the freedom to pursue work that reflects my values, including public service, advocacy for others, and meaningful engagement with the Penn Carey Law community.

After law school, I hope to build a career as a litigator, where I can use the law to solve complex problems and advocate for clients. I’m especially interested in work that sits at the intersection of private practice and public impact, whether that’s white-collar or regulatory litigation, or meaningful pro bono work. Before law school, I worked in the state court system, where I saw firsthand how the legal system affects people’s lives, especially in high-stress situations like custody disputes and protection hearings. That experience deepened my commitment to pursuing a career that combines strong advocacy with a responsibility to the broader community. Long term, I want to be the kind of litigator who brings that same care and clarity to high-stakes cases and public service.

My most meaningful experience so far has been the opportunity to handle an actual case as a student counselor in a legal clinic. Aside from the insightful seminar lectures in class, I get to actually apply what I have learned through my client meetings and interactions. This experiential learning allows me to have an in-depth understanding of the law while further developing my advocacy and interpersonal skills. Moreover, as a student counselor, I get to see firsthand how the American legal system works and the best practices in litigation and advocacy.

I love all my classes, and I cannot really pick a favorite! I find myself getting giddy every time I come to class. I like how my professors share their knowledge and engage us to be more critical. Last semester I took international Climate Change with Professor William Burke-White; I am taking International Climate Change with Professor Willian Burke-White; Health Care Fraud: Prosecution and Investigation with Professor Paul W. Kaufman; Transnational Legal Clinic with Professors Sarah Paoletti, Liz Bradley, Margaret Kopel, and Jenn Bulcock; and Jurisprudence of Sport with Professor Mitchell Berman.

It has been my dream to further study the legal profession, but I also recognize that pursuing this dream comes with a cost. When I was completing my law school applications, I realized that the combined estimated cost of the tuition and the living expenses in the U.S. required me to either use a significant amount of my savings or apply for loans. Fortunately, I received a scholarship from Penn Carey Law, which was one of the main reasons why I chose the school. Aside from the opportunity to receive an excellent education, the scholarship helped me bridge the financial gap I was facing. It was an answered prayer that allowed me to finally fulfill my dream.

Upon my return from my studies in the U.S., I intend to re-enter the Judiciary as the Spokesperson of the Philippine Supreme Court. I plan to use my new learnings to ensure that legal concepts, procedures, and updates are conveyed to the public in a comprehensive yet digestible manner. My long-term plan is to become a judge who can promote legal literacy and simplify the law using the skills and approaches that I have learned from my LLM degree. Likewise, as education plays an important role in shaping society, I plan to be part of academia so I can pass on my knowledge and passion for finding effective ways to catalyze positive change and social progress.

I have enjoyed learning alongside students and professionals from an incredibly diverse array of academic backgrounds. Discussing cases with classmates who grew up in other countries, have worked for years in their chosen profession, or are early in their college education has broadened my perspective in ways I was not expecting.

Navigating the Regulatory State has been my favorite class so far. I was dreading it and took it to fulfill a requirement, but the professor made the material so engaging that every class was filled with lively discussion.

I likely would not have pursued this degree without scholarship support. I have a large amount of student debt from medical school, and this degree is not commonly pursued by physicians in training, so there was not an established source of institutional funding. I am incredibly grateful for the scholarship that made it possible for me to enroll.

I plan on using what I learn to educate physicians on the many ways the law impacts the delivery of medical care. Specifically, I hope to guide physicians engaged in malpractice lawsuits through the technical and emotional journey of malpractice litigation.