Alumni Spotlight

ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Andrea Garcia

1. Tell us a bit about yourself:

My name is Andrea Garcia. I grew up in the DuPage area and hearing about COD and all the great opportunities there. I am bilingual in Spanish and enjoy listening to music in Spanish, as well as seeing Spanish-language films.

a. When did you graduate from the COD Paralegal Studies Program?

I graduated from the COD Paralegal Studies Program in December 2017.

b. Where are you currently working?

I am currently working at the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services. I am a paralegal in the Individual Rights & Social Justice practice group. We provide free legal services to victims of crime and human trafficking, including crime victim advocacy and representation, immigration benefits, and assistance with crime victims' compensation. We have also launched a new Wage Theft Project that provides representation in labor and employment cases. In addition, our practice group can provide assistance to the immigrant population in accessing public benefits and government services.

c. How did you choose that area of practice?

I have always been interested in the area of immigration law and providing services to the most vulnerable populations. Before starting this career, I was a case worker in the non-profit industry for almost 10 years. I have dedicated my life to working with those most in need in the hopes of making a difference in their lives for the better.

2. What was the most important lesson you learned from the Paralegal Studies Program?

The most important lesson I learned from the Paralegal Studies Program is that no job is too small or unimportant when it comes to being a paralegal! The most important thing a paralegal can do is be a team player and support the attorney(s) in whatever way is needed so that ultimately the client is best served.

3. What class did you find to be the most practical?

I thought the most practical class was the Practicum course because it will help you to learn how to find a paralegal job and what you need to do in order to tailor your resume and look the part. I thought that the Expo was very helpful in getting practice with interviewing and handling on-the-spot questions. I also liked that part of the course is to compose your writing samples in an organized and stylish manner because I found that it helped to bring that for my interview.

4. What advice would you give to current paralegal students?

My advice to current paralegal students is to attend the Paralegal Club events and to get as involved as you can in the program. If you just go to class and focus on the academics, you will get A LOT from the program, however, you can get a whole lot more from the program if you join in on the club events and join LEX. I found attending those events to be very beneficial in learning about different areas of law and what might interest you to go into for your future career.

5. Tell us an interesting story or anecdote that adequately sums up your experience as a paralegal.

I was an officer in the Paralegal Club and met some fellow students who eventually became my close friends. I still have contact with a group of friends from the program and we go out to dinner to catch up on a regular basis. In addition to the great education I received in order to start my career as a paralegal, I was able to gain a group of friends and networking group.

Scott Simpson — Feb 23, 2020 9:20:30 PM

Pamela C. Trattner — Jan 27, 2020 2:46:33 AM

Sara Doherty — Jun 18, 2017 3:15:33 PM

Andre DePalma — Jan 21, 2017 12:12:38 PM

Alex Cummins — Nov 21, 2016 12:27:51 PM

Dennis Anders — Oct 15, 2016 1:17:51 PM

John Persichitte — Sep 5, 2016 11:51:46 PM

Kathleen Hernandez — Jun 21, 2016 1:26:54 AM

Todd Holes — Apr 7, 2016 1:16:07 AM

Kelly O'Brien — Mar 4, 2016 7:16:23 PM

Mahveen Fatima - November 2015 — Jan 13, 2016 4:46:01 PM

Jackie Freeman - September 2015 — Oct 22, 2015 5:45:03 PM