Hometown: Brooklyn
Career Plans: Staff Attorney, Brooklyn Defender Services, Family Defense Practice
Recipient of Dean’s Merit Scholarship, Lark-Barranco Scholarship, and John P. O’Boyle Memorial Scholarship
What is the most surprising thing you learned at Brooklyn Law School?
I was surprised by how engaged and supportive my professors were. They truly went above and beyond—from when Professors Ted Janger and Susan Herman invited us to their homes for dinner to when Professor Cynthia Godsoe asked me to co-author an article.
What law school accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am extremely proud of my Family Law & Policy Fellowship Paper “Replacing Foster Care with Family Care: The Family First Prevention Services Act of 2018,” which was recently published in the Family Law Quarterly. [Garcia, a Marsha Garrison Family Law and Policy Fellow, won second prize in the prestigious Howard C. Schwab Memorial Essay Contest for her article.]
What is your most memorable law school moment?
Attending and volunteering at BLSPI’s Annual Auction, which benefits the organization’s fellowship program in public interest law. I worked tirelessly with the BLSPI auction chairs to make this event a success and watching it all come to fruition was a huge accomplishment.
What did you like about going to law school in Brooklyn?
I enjoyed being surrounded by such passionate and motivated individuals who inspired me each and every day.
What advice would you give to an incoming law student?
Remember to take time for yourself because self-care is important.
Your last semester of law school was disrupted by a global pandemic, with New York City at the epicenter. What was the biggest challenge you faced and how did you deal with it? What have you learned about yourself, your law school, and your hopes for the future?
The biggest challenge that I faced was working from home as a Pro Bono Scholar and then as a Staff Attorney at Brooklyn Defender Services. I had to adjust to virtual Family Court appearances and learn how to build relationships with my clients while maintaining social distance. I continue to remain in frequent communication with my clients to make them feel supported during this difficult time. By protecting parents’ rights, I hope to do my part to transform the family regulation system into a system that actually helps families rather than punishing them.