2L India Alfonso says she applied to law school specifically to help people with their problems. Now, as student director of the Pro Bono Initiative‘s Rainbow Law recurring legal site, she’s already begun doing just that.
Strengthening communities both inside and outside Utah Law
“Volunteering has taught me valuable soft skills and has allowed me to apply what I’ve learned to real situations. It’s so satisfying to help people understand more about the legal system so they feel better prepared to navigate it,” she explains.
Alfonso enjoys furthering Rainbow Law’s reach, answering questions about LGBTQIA+ legal issues, like employment, name and gender marker changes, family law, and estate planning.
“As a student director, I get to engage with the community in a new way. In addition to interacting with clients, I work with the Pro Bono Initiative team and other organizations to plan pop-up events for the community so we can broaden our impact beyond our recurring sites,” she says.
She says the Pro Bono Initiative is by far her favorite part of law school, and she is especially proud of Utah Law’s collective effort to serve the community during the Utah State Bar pro bono challenge with BYU Law School.
“It was amazing to see so many students dedicate time to providing free legal advice to people in need to support the challenge. The friendly competition pushed myself and others to sign up for as many pro bono opportunities as possible, which was a great way to connect with attorneys, other volunteers, and clients,” Alfonso recalls. “The most rewarding part about participating in the Pro Bono Initiative is dealing with the difficult situations where there isn’t a great outcome for the client—because clients are often happy that someone listened to them and are grateful to be treated with compassion and respect. Even in those challenging moments, people are grateful for the work that we do.”
Since her 1L year, Alfonso has also been part of the Pride Law Caucus (PLC) and now serves as its secretary. She originally became involved in the organization after attending her first student organization fair.
“I enjoyed the social event and the informational panel with queer attorneys in the Salt Lake area and was interested in getting involved to help the club grow. I had the opportunity to join a leadership position as a 2L, which allows me to develop more opportunities for students to engage with PLC,” she says.
The Pride Law Caucus held three social events during the fall semester—an opening social, game night, and showing of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show”—and is planning more events in the spring, along with educational networking events.
“Our attorney panel usually gets the most attendance, with roughly 20 students,” Alfonso says. “PLC offers a fun and safe space for allies of the queer community, but it’s also a space for everyone to gather and celebrate different identities. Everyone at the law school is welcome to join—people don’t need to identify as LGBTQ+ to be part of it.”
Finding her footing at law school
Before starting her 1L year, Alfonso wasn’t sure what to expect from her law school experience.
“I heard horror stories about law students at other schools hiding books from others or refusing to share notes if someone missed class. But the exact opposite has been my experience at the S.J. Quinney College of Law. Everyone is very supportive and is happy to share notes, outlines, or job information with other students,” she says. “The College of Law has created a very collaborative and supportive learning environment.”
With the goal of working in criminal defense after law school, Alfonso enrolled in the Post Conviction Clinic this fall and says it was an incredible opportunity.
“This clinic allowed me to get hands-on experience meeting a client and representing their interests. Anyone who is interested in practicing criminal law—either as a defense attorney or a prosecutor—should take the clinic to learn what to be mindful of during their trial or appellate practice,” she says.
Though she still has more than a year left until graduation, Alfonso is looking forward to her future work and hopes to become a public defender in the Salt Lake City area.
“Criminal defense work appeals to me because it requires advocating for people who might have no other person in their life who is in their corner. I also enjoy exploring constitutional issues from the perspective of an individual while also recognizing the broader impact on society when someone’s rights are violated,” she says. “I’ve come to appreciate how diverse legal practice is. General patterns and processes may be consistent, but each individual case is unique and presents a new challenge. The law itself is also constantly changing which means there is always something new to learn.”
Read more about the Pride Law Caucus and other student organizations.