Class of 2024: MLS Grad to Contribute to Expanding Access to Justice for Arizona Families
“From a young age I was told I would be a great lawyer, jokingly, because I liked to argue. However, it only took one teacher in high school to tell me that I would make a great lawyer because I stood up for myself and my friends to make me realize that maybe this is what I am meant to do,” said Andrea Evangelina Moreno, who will be receiving her Master of Legal Studies (MLS) degree this spring.
Moreno took the first step towards her legal education by choosing the University of Arizona for a BA in Law, then decided to jump into the Accelerated Master's Program (AMP) to earn her MLS.
“As I made my choice and studied law for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees, it truly became my purpose. Not only did I genuinely find the content interesting but being able to help people felt great,” said Moreno. “Learning the language of law is a tremendous advantage and opens a lot of doors. I plan to use these opportunities to continue to help those in need.”
Moreno will be a Legal Paraprofessional after graduation and focus on family law to make legal services more accessible to the greater Arizona community. She would like to help individuals with divorce, paternity and child custody issues.
“There are so many people in Arizona who are self-represented in family law matters because they are unable to afford an attorney,” says Moreno.
It was during her time in the Default Family Law Clinic that solidified her decision to focus on family law and made the most significant impact on her legal education.
“I could learn all the materials well by taking the classes and studying, however, nothing truly prepares you for the challenges of the job until you experience it,” said Moreno. “Having to take this experiential learning course has thrown me straight out of my comfort zone and has made me more confident in my abilities.”
Looking back on her accelerated legal education, Moreno wishes she would have allowed herself to slow down, prioritize self-care and enjoy the college experience more. An activity she did make time to enjoy, one of her fondest extracurricular activities, was joining the DIA Clones, a dance team at the University of Arizona.
“They made me rediscover my love for dance and it was also a great way to de-stress, especially after exams,” said Moreno. “It allowed me to meet so many different people I probably would never have run into otherwise, it widened my worldview.”
Moreno is already thinking about returning to law school to earn a JD but first plans to work as an LP and help make legal services more accessible.
“The Legal Paraprofessional license is still very new, every person planning to pursue it is guaranteed to make a difference in the legal field,” said Moreno. “Expanding Arizona residents’ access to justice is the main purpose of the creation of this program and I hope to contribute greatly to this goal.”