Grad student to prep for law school after completion of double major

Editor's note: This story is part of a series of profiles of notable spring 2022 graduates.

Arizona State University student Gabriela Galaz plans to graduate this May with a double major in political science and Spanish with aspirations to become an attorney. 

“I felt having a background in political science and Spanish will help me be best prepared for this type of career while still allowing me to keep my options open,” Galaz said. 

“My degree in political science will help me understand the legalities and policy aspects while my degree in Spanish will help me effectively communicate with a wider range of clients and communities.”

Through the School of Politics and Global Studies, Galaz studied American politics, international politics, ethics and more. These courses helped in her pursuit of greater knowledge of the legal system. 

With this broadened understanding, Galaz was able to receive hands-on experience during her time at ASU, interning and working for several law firms, including as a legal assistant at Moore Law Firm. 

Galaz says she was able to grow and develop as a professional during her time with the firm. As a legal assistant, she sat in on intake meetings, sent correspondence, ordered medical records and police records, and also conducted client communication. It was during this experience that she knew she wanted to pursue a career in the legal field after being exposed to immigration law.  

The completion of this internship opened more doors for Galaz, and she now works for Snell & Wilmer as a part of the probate and trusts practice group. This opportunity allows her to expand her knowledge in various fields of law that she can pursue in the future. 

“I am very excited to be a part of a firm like Snell & Wilmer, which prides itself on professional development and helping its employees grow,” Galaz said. 

As Galaz approaches graduation, she reflects on the first time she sat in a political science class at ASU. 

“It had been the first time in all my years of schooling that my classes actually made sense to me and kept me engaged. I realized I genuinely enjoyed the material we were learning, as well as my class discussions, especially since this had been my first real exposure to people from all kinds of different backgrounds and beliefs,” Galaz said. 

Galaz plans to work in a full-time position for Snell & Wilmer as she takes a gap year from school to prepare for law school. Ahead of graduating, she answered some questions about her time at ASU.

Question: Do you have a favorite professor from the School of Politics and Global Studies? If so, who and why?

Answer: One of my favorite professors was Professor Ripley. I always enjoyed his classes, as they were very engaging. His global politics class was also my first exposure to international politics, which was super interesting and maybe an interest I pursue in the future. 

Q: What advice would you give to freshmen coming to ASU in the fall? 

A: If you are given the opportunity and are able to, I recommend joining the Early Start program. Participating in this program was one of my best decisions, as it helped me ease into the college transition and made me more aware of what resources were available.