From 'Suits' fan to LLM graduate: An international student’s story

By Elise Llamas Drinkwater, ASU News
May 8, 2026

This spring, Osama Kandil is graduating from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University with a Master of Laws — and he came a long way to get to this point.

Originally from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Kandil moved across the world for the opportunity to further his legal career and strengthen his expertise in international and comparative law.

As an international student, Kandil expected to have a different experience than his peers. What he found to be true was the opposite. While studying for his final exams, he noticed that everyone was the same — just a busy student cramming for finals, advancing their legal profession one semester at a time.

Kandil also found meaningful work with his peers through the school's clinical programs, through which students get to provide legal help to real clients in real cases.

"(I) could see how people struggled with actual legal problems, and how the clinic aims to help,” Kandil said.

Impactful moments like these helped an international student find community and camaraderie in a place far from home.

Now graduating and preparing to move back to Saudi Arabia, Kandil is looking forward to finding work at an international law firm, where he can put his legal knowledge into practice and use his bilingual communication skills in Arabic and English.

Note: Answers may have been lightly edited for length and/or clarity.

Question: What was your “aha” moment when you realized you wanted to study the field you majored in?

Answer: Ironically, it was when watching “Suits.” I liked the power and aura they brought into the room. Harvey Specter is my role model.

Q: Which professor taught you the most important lesson while at ASU?

A: It was Professor Mike Selmi, and during spring break, he left us with one last piece of advice: “You are not behind. No one is studying this spring break. This is one of your last few chances of having an actual break. So, enjoy it.”

Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?

A: It might seem like a long journey, but it’s over before you expect it. I was a different person two years ago, before my program started. And I was so nervous about things that now seem not so important. Yesterday, I started attending ASU; now I’m looking for jobs.

Q: How has this degree helped you in your professional journey?

A: Everyone from even before I started this degree was greatly pushing me to go. I’m not through my program, but I can see I am in the market as a lawyer with a foreign degree in law.

This story originally appeared on ASU News.