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June 3, 2025

2025 Public Service Program Graduating Student Awards

Each year, ������Ƶ proudly honors graduating students who have shown exceptional dedication to public interest work throughout their time in law school. The 2025 Public Interest Law Service Award recipients—Diana Aguilar, Jennifer Alvarez, Anthony Gilmore, Daniel Golub, and Desirae Ibarra—stand out for their deep commitment to serving others and using the law as a tool for equity and advocacy. Their reflections offer a window into the values that shaped their legal education and the kind of lawyers they aim to become.

Diana Aguilar ’25: “A voice for people who are often overlooked”

Diana Aguilar’s legal journey began long before law school. “Growing up, I only saw lawyers on TV or when family members were appointed one when they were facing challenging situations,” she says. “That experience has driven me to be a source of comfort for my clients, whether at the clinic, during my externships, or in my future practice.”

A first-generation student from Boyle Heights, Diana immersed herself in public interest opportunities: educating youth through Southwestern’s Street Law Clinic, advocating for special education accommodations in the Children’s Rights Clinic, and representing dual-status youth through the Children’s Law Center and Alternate Public Defender’s Office. She also volunteered with Teen Court, supporting restorative justice initiatives.

“The most rewarding part of public service for me is being able to give a voice to people who are often overlooked or underserved, especially those facing tough legal challenges during incredibly difficult times,” she says. “I want to make sure that everyone, no matter their financial situation, has access to an attorney who genuinely cares and shows up for them. That’s the kind of lawyer I strive to be.”

Jennifer Alvarez ’25: “Advocate for underserved communities”

Jennifer Alvarez arrived at Southwestern determined to use her legal education to support immigrant communities. She quickly became a leader on Law Review, in Moot Court, and as Co-Chair of the Public Interest Law Committee, but it was hands-on legal work that most defined her experience.

“My favorite involvement during law school was participating in the clinics,” she says. “The Immigration Law Clinic and the Appellate Litigation Clinic gave me the opportunity to work directly with clients and learn how to advocate for underserved communities at all levels of the legal system.”

Jennifer, a first-generation student from Central California and the daughter of Mexican immigrants, also clerked for Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project and externed for the U.S. District Court. Each role built on her desire to combine legal excellence with real-world impact.

Anthony Gilmore ’25: “A solution or a perspective they hadn’t considered”

As a part-time evening student, full-time professional, and father, Anthony Gilmore found public service opportunities that resonated deeply with his life experience. His work in the juvenile division of the Public Defender’s Office stood out.

“Anytime I’ve had the chance to mentor youth has been a highlight,” he says. “It’s an incredible feeling when you can offer them a solution or a perspective they hadn’t considered.”

For Anthony, service meant more than representation, it meant connection. His commitment to legal aid, indigent defense, and impact litigation was shaped by a desire to meet people where they are and offer guidance when it matters most.

Daniel Golub ’25: “Try new opportunities whenever they present themselves”

Daniel Golub took a deliberate, exploratory approach to public interest law. A part-time evening student with interests in eviction defense, tenants’ rights, and public defense, he used every opportunity to test where he could be most effective.

“I would advise students to engage in as much public interest work as possible during their time in school and try new opportunities whenever they present themselves,” he says. “Even though a student might have an idea about what area of law or specialty they want to practice once licensed, by having experience in a variety of public interest fields and work they will be able to better know what work suits them and what does not, what clients they are best motivated by, and what practice they would like to be a part of.”

Daniel clerked for the L.A. County Public Defender’s Office, participated in Loyola’s Project for the Innocent, and was recognized as a “rising star” for his work in Southwestern’s Eviction Defense Clinic. He also led student chapters of the National Lawyers Guild and the American Constitution Society, always keeping service at the center.

Desirae Ibarra ’25: “Someone to stand in their corner and fight for them”

Desirae Ibarra has spent her legal education building community, amplifying voices, and standing up for indigent clients. A first-generation college and law student, she held leadership roles in the Mass Incarceration Awareness Law Society, the Black Law Students Association, and Law Review, while also serving as a Dean’s Fellow and research assistant.

“The most satisfying aspect of public service for me is helping people who need it the most,” she says. “I enjoy providing representation for those who need someone to stand in their corner and fight for them.”

Desirae externed for the Honorable Karen Stevenson of the U.S. District Court and served nearly 500 hours at the Public Defender’s Office. After the bar exam, Desirae plans to continue her work as a public defender, committed to ensuring her clients receive the advocacy and justice they deserve.

From clinics to courtrooms and across a range of community settings, these five graduates have used their time at Southwestern to put the law into practice in meaningful ways. Their reflections show what public service looks like in action—meeting people where they are, taking on real-world challenges, and committing to work that makes a difference.