Dean Scott H. Bice - USC Gould School of Law - University of ...

As these profiles demonstrate, the Fall 1999 entering class is no exception. . .for it is the strength of these individuals together which will shape and define thedistinctive personality of the Class of 2002.Ashleigh Aitken. . . Age 29BA, Secondary Education/History Education Boston College (1997)Capitol Hill AideWashington Furies Women’s Rugby Team MemberDaniel Lopez Gonzalez. . . Age 26Ed.M. Harvard University, H.D.P. (1998)Mental Health Clinician for ChildrenChristina Y. Lee. . . Age 23B.A., Philosophy and Political Science, University of Michigan (1999)Peer Educator“I now focus on a law degree as an instrument toround out my policy experience and as a way to betterprepare me to serve in government."Born and raised in California, Ashleigh’s readiness totackle life and its challenges quickly led her to adiverse variety of educational and professional experiences.Following college, where she distinguished herselfboth academically and on the sports field as a 1996USA Rugby Collegiate All-American, she enthusiasticallyplunged into the world of secondary education.After teaching high school in Boston and London, sheheaded to Washington D.C., where she thrived for twoyears as a Capitol Hill staffer for Minority LeaderRichard Gephardt. She explains: "I have become wellversed in the legislative aspect of government, and Ihave tracked bills from committees to final passage. Byworking with Members and listening to their stories,the public policy issues that I had studied became personalized.I now focus on a law degree as an instrumentto round out my policy experience and as a wayto better prepare me to serve in government."The choice of USC Law School was a natural one forAshleigh, who has two brothers who are graduates."I found myself increasingly frustrated at workingclosely with children to lessen the anxiety and fearthey cope with everyday but being unable to changethe legal and economic structures at the root of theirproblems."A native Californian, Daniel comes from a family withits roots in rural Mexico. At a young age, he foundhimself challenged to find the resources and strengthnecessary to navigate the confusing labyrinth of economicand social difficulties within his community.After high school, he worked two jobs while attendingcommunity college to supplement his family’s incomewhen his mother became ill.Daniel has worked extensively in a variety of education-basedsocial programs. He has been a guidancecounselor for prospective college students at UC Riverside,a vital cog of Harvard’s Research Team on Literacy,a network support counselor at the MassachusettsPrevention Center and also served as a mental healthclinician for elementary age children at Harvard.These experiences convinced Daniel to take a proactiveapproach to bettering the welfare of the disadvantagedvia policy change. He sees legal advocacy as theroute for creating social equity.Daniel made USC his first choice due to its balanceof tradition and innovation, as well as its outstandingand diverse faculty."I would like to understand the legal institutions of thesociety in which we live and what remedies the lawoffers for social ills so that I am able to advocate forthose who request assistance."Christina’s decision to pursue a legal career stemmedfrom attending a community service learning projectknown as Alternative Weekends at Freedom House, atemporary refugee shelter for people seeking politicalasylum. Moved by the story of a young Tibetan, whoworks in substandard conditions for meager wages inManhattan restaurants in order to provide for his familyback home, Christina began to rethink her ownlife’s goals and priorities.As a Chinese American growing up in New Jersey,she has long reflected upon the issues of discrimination,racism and sexism. "I see how poor, inner city,minority communities, and women who are survivorsof domestic violence and sexual assault, for example,are victims of the institutions in which we live," sheexplained. "It seems to me that the law, which governsthese institutions, is at least initially responsible and Iwant to understand how issues that begin as social disputesbecome legal questions and are resolved by legalreasoning." She hopes to utilize her legal training tobegin to address some of these issues.The Class of 2002Over 3,800 Law School applications werereceived for 200 available seats. 3.5 was theaverage undergraduate GPA, with a medianLSAT score of 165 for admitted students.Women . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54%Minority Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34%Number of UndergraduateColleges & Universities Represented . . . 64In California . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Out of State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4536 USC LAW • SPRING 2000USC LAW • SPRING 200037