There was one student group at Loyola Law School last year that seemed busier than any other. From panel discussions to a reception with diplomats to holiday get-togethers, the International Students Association (ISA) never ran out of ideas for engaging their members.
The ISA is the only student group run by and for international students at LLS, and its aim is to not only bring students together but also address their unique challenges and prepare them for their post-graduation careers no matter where they are in the world.
“I want them to feel like ISA is their family in the U.S.,” said ISA president Tatevik Asilbekyan, LLM ’24. “I want them to have each other not only now, but also later after finishing the university.”
LLS welcomes dozens of international students every year, with most in the LLM program for foreign-trained attorneys. In addition to the regular law school workload and responsibilities, these students also have to manage their visas and the challenges of living in a new country, often isolated from family and friends.
Asilbekyan helps students with questions about their visa requirements and has organized events both on and off campus. Events have included a panel discussion with Los Angeles Superior Court judges, a webinar on passing the bar, a professional headshot photo shoot that doubled as a fundraiser, and a Christmas dinner for students and their families at a local restaurant.
Lisa Bei ’24 said as a JD student she’s inspired by the LLM students in ISA. They are all already practicing lawyers and have decades of experience to share.
“They show me that, yes, we can do it,” Bei said. “They’re extremely resourceful.”
The networking opportunities for members of the ISA have already paid off for Daniel Gall LLM ’24. He said since joining the group, his LinkedIn account has grown exponentially, and he even attended an American Bar Association conference in Hollywood thanks to connections he made through ISA. “It’s like a chain of circumstances leading you to success,” he said.
Shashini Gunawardhana LLM ’24 said her favorite events were a panel discussion about advancing a legal career in the U.S. (featuring Professor Laurie Levensen and LLS donor Gary Dordick) and a Women in Law panel, which helped her see what a legal career in California could be like. She’s been inspired not only by the panelists, but also by her fellow international students at LLS, who have encouraged her to pursue her dreams.
“Each discussion or a conversation with any one of them would always add something new to the table,” Gunawardhana said. “Each discussion would end by paving an opportunity to see the world in a brand-new way.”