Learning about the law

Law Day explores career options and hot topics

By Natalie Garcia
The Collegian

Knowledge of the law can be helpful, whether you are running from it or working to enforce it.

With events Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the USU, students have the opportunity to mingle with law professionals and drop-in for a guest speaker. Students will also be able to participate in a debate on the controversial California bill proposed that would allow students who are undocumented immigrants to receive state-funded financial aid for college.

“We have a two-folded purpose: to inform the student body about law school and encourage and promote support for minority students in law school,” said Esmeralda Santos, one of the organizers of the event and president of Chicanos in Law on campus.

She highlighted the networking lunch sponsored by Phi Alpha Delta, an international law fraternity, as particularly beneficial activity for students curious about a career in law.

“It’s really neat to give students the opportunity to speak one-on-one with law professionals in the community,” Santos said.

The other events throughout the day offer students information about different fields of law, what students can do with a law degree, the application process to get into law school, the LSAT and financial aid, she said.

An event that should draw some attention is the lunchtime debate in the Free Speech Area regarding financial aid for undocumented students. The debate is funded and organized by the Political Science Association and the Political Science Department.

“Our intent in funding it was to highlight to students the role of law and politics in their lives,” said political science professor Yishaiya Abosch, the debate’s moderator.

Michael Adams, the president of the Political Science Association on campus, expects students to take notice.

“I think this is going to be the biggest turnout of all the events,” Adams, who organized the debate, said “It’s a hot topic right now.”

Before the debate, the director of financial aid, Maria Hernandez, will outline the current state of financial aid and what would happen if the bill passes. Also, there will be a brief discussion led by a Chicano and Latino Studies professor, Carlos Perez, about the history of immigration in the United States. A question and answer period will follow the debate as well.

All the events are free and open to all students.

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