Ciarra Chavarria Completed Her Second Year Of Law School From University Of Chicago Law School. She Participated In Many Student Groups And Activities Like She Was Co-President Of The Latino/A Law Students Association (LLSA).

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Ciarra Chavarria: 3L at University of Chicago Law School
[By Heather Jung]
Ciarra Chavarria just completed her second year of law school and will be graduating next May with the rest of the class of
2008. Unlike many of her classmates, Chavarria had never really thought about attending law school until the year before she
started at the University of Chicago Law School.
“I made the decision to attend law school client, I will not necessarily be working According to Chavarria, her participation
after I returned from a year of teaching against the other side—both sides ultimately in student groups and activities has played
English in Beijing,” Chavarria said. “What have the same goal. Another important a major role in her law school career. This
I saw there in terms of the law and politics reason for my choice to be a transactional past year, she served as co-president of the
was so interesting, and it made me realize lawyer is my desire to have an ‘international’ Latino/a Law Students Association (LLSA),
I knew very little about how the law worked flavor to my law career. It may mean using an organization whose goal, according to its
in my own country. My interest was sparked, my language skills (I speak Spanish, French, mission statement, is “to create and foster
and I began to explore law schools. It was a and Chinese with varying proficiency), an environment in which Latino students,
late decision, but the best one I ever made.” traveling, or just interacting with other as well as the Law School community, can
people and cultures. I want to go where I will discover and develop a deeper understanding
Chavarria says that, as cliché as it is, her get the most opportunity for this, and I think and appreciation of the Latino cultural
favorite aspect of law school is the challenge the transactional side of being a lawyer will heritage and issues that face Latinos residing
and the opportunity to learn new things. provide me with that,” Chavarria said. in the United States.” Chavarria and fellow
Since she was an English major during her co-president Andrea Forton established
Q. What do you do for fun?
undergraduate studies at Austin College, she several goals for the organization, not the
A. I love to read, so although it’s not often, I
had no background in the law or anything read whenever I get a chance. least of which was to make it a more active
related to the law, such as economics organization. In order to boost attendance,
Q. What CD is in your CD player right now?
or finance, so everything was new and they had guest speakers at their meetings,
A. A mixed CD of Chinese pop songs!
unfamiliar to her. Despite the daunting task quarterly service projects, social events,
ahead of her, Chavarria immersed herself in Q. What is the last magazine you read? and bar reviews. Chavarria says that she is
the task at hand and has found that she loves A. I haven’t read a magazine in a while only slightly exaggerating when she says
studying the law. (unless you count browsing the checkout the benefits of getting involved in student
line magazines), but I do read the Wall activities are “immeasurable.”
Chavarria is not entirely sure about what she Street Journal every morning.
plans to do after graduating. This summer “First, the people. I met several of my
Q. What is your favorite TV show?
she will be working as a summer associate best friends in LLSA [when I joined] last
A. I don’t have a TV in my apartment, but
for Dewey Ballantine in New York, but beyond year, and I also got to meet 2Ls and 3Ls
when I catch shows in a friend’s apartment
that all, she knows is that she would like to or, now, online, I like to watch Ugly Betty who I probably would not have otherwise
do transactional work. or Heroes. met,” said Chavarria. “I also had a great
2L mentor who really helped me adjust to
“I think that some people are wired for Q. Who is your role model? law school and who I am still good friends
A. I can’t choose only one-my role models
litigation and some people are wired for with. Second, being in a student association
are my parents. They are incredible people
transactional. Being able to see a deal gives you something else to do besides law
and parents, and they have taught me so
through from beginning to end in a relatively school. Law school takes up a huge amount
much about the world and life in general. I
short amount of time appeals to me. I also only hope that I can follow their example. of time, of course, so it’s nice to have
like that while I will be advocating for my something else to do that is not necessarily
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law-related. It gives you a chance to be a According to Chavarria, the people who ON THE NET
more interesting person.” have influenced her the most during her law
school career are not professors, prominent University of Chicago Law School
She also says that one of her favorite law attorneys, or classmates, but are the same www.law.uchicago.edu/index.html
school memories so far was participating in people who have influenced her throughout
the University of Chicago Law School’s “Law her life—her parents. LLSA
School Musical,” an annual production that www.law.uchicago.edu/Life/llsa.html
spoofs every day law school life, including “They have always been encouraging and
professors and students. supporting, pushing me to do my best Austin College
and make the most of the education I am www.austincollege.edu
“The musical is written, staged, directed, fortunate enough to be receiving. Every
choreographed, and performed entirely time I talk to them, my dad reminds me to
by University of Chicago law students,” focus and work hard, and I never forget it. I
Chavarria said. “I had a very small part, definitely owe what I’ve accomplished so far
‘Hippie Girl,’ but it was a blast.” to them,” Chavarria said.
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