Personal Statement of Interest
__________ School of Law
Office of Admissions
__________ University
Personal Statement of Interest
__________ School of Law
Office of Admissions
Becoming an attorney was never a professional path that I considered as a young girl growing up in Armenia. I spent the first 17 years of my life in a beautiful and ethereal Eurasian country that has the distinction of possessing a rich and diverse cultural history that predates to ancient times. In 2010, my family and I made the difficult transition of immigrating to the United States (U.S.). Suddenly, I was an Armenian teenager living in the fast-paced and cosmopolitan New York City, quite different from my native land. Quickly, I realized that I had to adapt and embrace a foreign culture and make it my own. At first, I considered this an adverse situation as I lacked the necessary English skills needed to succeed in the U.S. Nevertheless, my fluency in Armenian and Russian languages assisted in learning American English.
While it seemed a daunting situation, I realized that in order to thrive in the US, my first attainable objective was learning English. I enrolled in ESL classes at Kingsborough Community College to achieve this first milestone. My initial success in learning the language aided in the transition for applying to college. In 2011, my undergraduate journey led me to excel at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice where I majored in English. I felt that it was essential to focus on an English degree to keep improving and enhancing both my linguistic and critical thinking skills. Succeeding as an English major also provides the necessary foundation to stand out in law school, as the program’s curriculum affords students an optional concentration in law.
After only five years after my US arrival, I graduated with honors from John Jay College of Criminal Justice with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. My college experience was a thrilling and unique one. I take great pride in knowing that I endeavored diligently for every academic achievement by studying 15 to 18 credit hours every semester. Graduating from college has greater individual significance, as I combined intense studies with a busy work schedule. However, being diligent and industrious with both studies and work represented a period of enormous pressure that was complicated with personal difficulties. As I was taking six classes and working full-time, I requested one official withdrawal (W) from one of my courses. Throughout my undergraduate education, I have only one” W” on my academic record. However, withdrawing and retaking the class during the following semester was the correct decision as my grades and overall GPA did not suffer.
When I commenced my college studies, I grasped how to combine them with my strong work ethic. Serendipitously, I started my employment at the Goldin and Rivin Law Offices as an 18-year old clerical worker. My first office tasks were essential, as I began as a document scanner. As I learned quickly, I received successive promotions. Currently, I am one of the firm’s senior paralegals that handle complex litigation cases. My hard work and dedication advance my career toward the desired vocation of public work.
Adapting to the American culture forged my decision to become an attorney. Navigating through many obstacles proved to be difficult in those initial months, for I had no one to help or guide me. Basic information such as understanding street and college addresses or comprehending the public transportation system were challenges I had to conquer. However, I did spent many long nights and stressful days trying to find the right personal path for my life. Often, I felt that the stress and hindrances would have diminished if I had received proactive and useful guidance. Therefore, I felt appreciative and grateful when I did obtain any advice. Eventually, I realized that I wanted to provide that support that aids desperate people who feel all doors are closed. My goal is to be an advocate for the populace that cannot afford private counsel. As a public defender, my intention is to minimize the pain and suffering they would otherwise experience without the benefit of free, legal advice.
As a senior paralegal, I participated in positive advocacy work. For example, one of my co-workers suffered a devastating fraud experience. She paid an exorbiant amount of money to rent an out-of-state apartment while living in New York and lost substantial funds. Although I called the bank on her behalf, it proved useless even though she had a secure deposit. Since it seemed a hopeless situation, our firm intervened and called the State Attorney General to request assistance. Thankfully, my co-worker received a call from the Office with a case number. The Attorney General helped investigate the matter and she received compensation. As I was an active participant in the fraud complaint, the experience encouraged and motivated me that defense was my life’s purpose. Assisting my colleague gave me the confidence to become a proponent in protecting the civil liberties and rights of individuals. Acceptance into the ________ J.D. Program is a benchmark that drives my advocacy career forward.
