Mary Lou Reyes

Personal Statement

LSAC Account No. 35019514

Personal Statement for Law School admission

My upbringing in a disadvantaged family is what first drew me to the field of law. I have several instances where as a family, we could not access the legal system due to low social-economic status and illiteracy. Firstly, at the age of five, a drunk driver slammed into me, leaving me in a coma. However, since my parent were not educated enough to know they could sue him, nothing was done. My father, an undocumented worker with little money and no insurance, had to take extra jobs to pay for my medical bills. Also, in 2018, I lost my mother due to a doctor giving her someone else’s medicine. Although this was a clear case of malpractice, my father and I did not have many avenues to seek help, and due to tort reform, we could not seek appropriate justice for my mother. I have also lost my father recently, who suffered COVID-19 from a nurse being symptomatic and through Parkinson’s. I have witnessed many small injustices befell disadvantaged people in my community. I hope to become a lawyer to work with families suffering through similar tragedies to ensure they receive the justice they deserve. I believe a law program at your institution will be a crucial underpinning to the realization of my dreams.

Witnessing the small injustices that were prevalent in my community has also solidified my interest in this profession. As both a Latina from a lower socioeconomic background and a lifelong paralegal, I have seen far too often how our legal and healthcare system can leave marginalized communities behind. I have watched wealthy attorneys take advantage of immigrants who could not understand their situation. Not because they are not intelligent, but because of language barriers and the same lack of access to education that plagued my father. This has made me question how the law, which clearly defines the fundamental belief that all people are equal before the legal system’s eyes, could not be applied more equitably across the nation. I am committed to fighting for the rest of my life to remove these injustices.

Academically, I have always been a very determined and hardworking student; hence I believe that the bachelor’s program at your institution will be a definite step. Through hard work and diligence, I successfully completed my high school education, where I graduated with excellent results. I have also worked through college and have become a successful paralegal. My engagement in legal practices has led me to having perspectives from working on both sides of a case. Consequently, this has helped broaden my vision of what the legal system is supposed to represent in the citizens’ hears. Besides, these experiences have exposed me to the complexity of the legal system in diverse subspecialties of Law, and I hope to receive more training in the legal field. I believe that these skills will contribute significantly to the success of my future legal career.

I wish to utilize my passion and extensive background knowledge in Law to become a practicing lawyer who can aid in promoting justice while exemplifying the utmost integrity during the litigation processes. I believe that this graduate program shall enable me to build on my existing knowledge and give me a more profound understanding of the entire field of Law. My professional and personal experiences as a paralegal have equipped me with the commitment, competence, and initiative necessary to succeed in the school of Law. I strongly believe that Texas Tech University School of Law, with its distinguished and helpful faculty, will equip me with the supplementary skills needed to pursue my professional goals.