Recent Graduate Spotlight: Claudia Chavarria gives hope to young immigrants

Immigration has been a pressing issue dating back to childhood for recent graduate Claudia Chavarria, L’21. Becoming an advocate for her community, Chavarria is a staff attorney with the Released Children Unit at the Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES).

Chavarria primarily works on special immigrant juvenile status visas, adjustment of status cases and asylum cases. In her day-to-day tasks, she prepares applications for special immigrant juvenile cases and adjustment of status cases. A large portion of Chavarria’s time is spent communicating with clients, collaborating on items such as affidavits for asylum cases. 

Claudia Chavarria
Claudia Chavarria, L’21

“It’s important to communicate with them to collect the correct information for their applications,” Chavarria said. “It’s also a matter of continuously reviewing cases to see the best form of relief that’s available to them and constantly communicating and updating them about their cases.”

Chavarria’s upbringing in El Paso, Texas initially piqued her interest in immigration.

“Being from a border city, I would see my friends affected by the immigration changes and that is what ultimately grew my curiosity in my current area of work,” Chavarria said.

Before she arrived at KU Law, Chavarria volunteered at Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for children of El Paso, and the experience solidified her decision to attend law school and focus on immigration law.

“I loved seeing how I could actually change somebody’s life because that’s always something I wanted to do,” Chavarria said. “Many people think the main way you can help somebody is being a nurse or a doctor, but I just didn’t want to be close to blood or anything like that.”

Even though Chavarria’s work is not about physically saving lives, her work grants many immigrants an entirely new life in America.

“It’s incredible seeing someone gain status in the country and what they can do for themselves or their family and any future generations,” Chavarria said. “It really impacts me, and it’s why I enjoy doing this work.”

Chavarria dreamed of being a lawyer as a young girl, even if she was unsure of all the career entailed. When she started looking into law school, the decision to attend KU was an easy one.

“It was a gut feeling that KU was the right place for me,” Chavarria said. “It came back to the attention I was receiving from administration.”

Chavarria had no questions left unanswered and was even able to meet with current KU students from her hometown.

“It was just the sense of community I was receiving even before I accepted my offer to attend KU Law,” Chavarria said. “That support continued after I accepted, and I still wasn’t even in Kansas yet.”

At KU Law, courses in immigration law and asylum played an important role in preparing Chavarria for her current position.

“Asylum and Refugee really helped me because we got to go through real-life cases and analyze how the courts have been making decisions,” Chavarria said.

She was impressed and grateful for Professor David Gottlieb’s dedication to the subject matter.

“Even after the class had ended, our professor was sending us updates about this big case going on,” Chavarria said. “It was really helpful since the updates were about the area I was trying to specialize in.”

Chavarria collected more knowledge and experience during law school as a clerk at Treviño Law Office L.L.C.

Throughout law school and in her current position, Chavarria has always valued her mental health.

“I have great supervisors who prioritize my mental health above all,” Chavarria said. “They advocate for their employees and having that support system around us when things get frustrating … that’s really amazing.”

Chavarria recommends KU Law students put a special emphasis on their mental health and refrain from comparing personal progress to peers’ progress.

“You don’t have to burn yourself out or feel guilty when you’re not working 24/7,” Chavarria said. “Remember no one knows everything. It’s okay if you feel like you’re lost at times. Just find yourself again, be patient and always ask questions.”

— By Sydney Halas

This post is the third in a series highlighting recent KU Law graduates. Check out the first couple of stories about Diana Jarek and Sowensky Lumene.

First-generation team takes on textbooks

A massive portion of time in law school is spent reading, and the material does not come cheap.

The cost of textbooks can overwhelm any law student, but the high prices can be especially challenging for first-generation professional (FGP) students. First-Generation Professionals – a student organization at KU Law that is designed to connect FGP students – is headed by a duo that wanted to do more to support their community.

Having struggled to purchase textbooks themselves, FGP President Leah Hodges and FGP Vice President Joanna Alvarez decided to pave a smoother path for future KU Law FGP students. Together, they created the FGP Library.

FGP students fall into two categories – either the student’s parents did not go to law school but received a non-professional degree, or the student’s parents did not earn any type of college degree.

“I grew up in a low-income household, and I know what it’s like to struggle to afford the requirements of higher education,” said Hodges, a third-year student at KU Law.

FGP leadership team labels donated textbooks

FGP students often face cumbersome financial decisions in law school, and some students even cut back on basic necessities to continue their education.

“The average law school textbook can cost anywhere from $150-400, and law students usually take four to six classes a semester,” FGP Secretary Erin Nisly said. “Choosing to buy books over buying food or paying rent are choices FGP students can be faced with.”

Now, the first-generation community at KU Law has a new resource to help manage financial stresses.

The FGP Library offers casebooks, study aids and office supplies. Its success relies on donations from generous upper-level students and KU Law alumni. Students interested in donating to the FGP Library should contact Hodges (lhodges7@ku.edu) or Assistant Dean Leah Terranova, advisor for the First-Generation Professionals.

“The creation of this free library by our FGP student organization leadership is a wonderful example of the work these students do to support their peers’ academic and personal success,” Terranova said.

The library, located in suite 212, is right outside Terranova’s office. Each book has an FGP sticker, and students can sign them out on a Google document for the entire semester. FGP students interested in using the library should contact Hodges (lhodges7@ku.edu) to access the Google document.

The FGP leadership team is proud of the library and wants FGP students to feel comfortable using it.

“My hope is that this library provides some relief for FGPs so that the law school experience is just a tiny bit less stressful,” said Joanna Alvarez, a third-year student at KU Law and FGP vice president. “I also hope that it opens a dialogue between members, so they feel comfortable asking for help from each other if they need it.” 

There is a strong sense of togetherness and pride among the FGP leadership team. Their hope is that mentality continues to grow across the entire FGP community.

“My goal for the FGP student organization is to let first-generation students know that they belong here just as much as everyone else,” Hodges said. “I want our members to know that being first generation is not a weakness, but rather one of our most valuable strengths.” 

–By Sydney Halas

Alumni rally support for Reginald L. “Reggie” Robinson Law Scholarship

Giving Story: Reginald L. "Reggie" Robinson Law Scholarship

A group of KU Law alumni are encouraging their fellow Jayhawk lawyers to support a law scholarship established in memory of the late Reginald L. “Reggie” Robinson, L’87.

Robinson, who earned his undergraduate and law degrees at KU, passed away in September 2020. Over four decades of teaching, mentorship and leadership in the KU community, he served as a law professor, chief of staff for Chancellor Robert Hemenway, director of the School of Public Affairs and Administration, and vice chancellor for public affairs.

Reggie Robinson

The Reginald L. “Reggie” Robinson Law Scholarship was established based on Robinson’s wishes to benefit academically talented female students who express a strong interest in public service. To date, more than 225 family, friends, colleagues and KU alumni have contributed over $160,000 to the fund. Organizers hope to increase the fund to $500,000, which would provide a full-tuition scholarship for a student. Justin Lungstrum, L’00 and Emily Lungstrum kicked off the fundraising effort with a $50,000 gift.

Contributions can be made through Launch KU.

The Robinson family – Jane, Clare and Paige – expressed their gratitude to KU Law alumni and friends for supporting the scholarship fund.

“We are so grateful for the outpouring of support from KU alumni, faculty, staff and friends of Reggie’s from across the country who have given to the Reginald L. ‘Reggie’ Robinson Scholarship. Reggie described his time at KU as ‘terrific’ and said that he ‘loved the law school experience’,” they said.

“To be able to continue his commitment to KU by supporting future KU law students through this fund is such a fitting way to honor him. Having championed women throughout his life, it was his desire to support women pursuing a law degree with an eye toward public service. This is a great way to extend his positive effect on the lives of students for years to come.”

Make a gift to the Reginald L. “Reggie” Robinson Law Scholarship

— By Margaret Hair

Recent Graduate Spotlight: Sowensky Lumene combines law, engineering interests at Microsoft

Sowensky Lumene, L’21, set great expectations for himself as a teenager, envisioning a career in engineering or practicing law.

“I always wanted to go to law school ever since I was a teenager,” Sowensky Lumene said. “It was law school or engineering, and in the U.S., you can do both.”

Lumene, a Class of 2021 KU Law graduate, landed a position at Microsoft in Redmond, Washington as an intellectual property associate, combining his interests of engineering and law. Lumene officially began his journey with the company in August 2021.

Sowensky Lumene

“I’m still in the learning process now, but a lot of what I’m learning is how to harvest invention from Microsoft engineers,” Lumene said.

Microsoft provides the opportunity for Lumene to not only learn from in-house attorneys but attorneys at other firms in the area as well.

“I work on patent prosecution as well, but it’s only for learning purposes,” Lumene said. “I would never actually file them. I just get to learn from other attorneys that are outside of Microsoft.”

When his training phase is complete, Lumene will determine whether to seek patents on inventions for the company. He looks forward to the future and more responsibility.

“I think that will be really cool – it’s like, ‘Hey, I say let’s pursue a patent on this,’ without having another attorney there,” Lumene said.

Lumene did not always plan on working in patent law. As a teenager, he had a passion for public defense.

“That’s what I really wanted to do,” Lumene said. “Defend criminals that couldn’t afford to hire an attorney. Well, I wouldn’t say criminals, but people who are accused.”

Ultimately, the father of three decided going into patent law would likely lead to a more lucrative career than public defense.

“Things change when you have a number of kids,” Lumene said with a chuckle.

He feels confident in his choice to support his family. They were always at the forefront of his mind and the deciding factor in Lumene attending KU Law.

“My wife is from Kansas. We needed to be there. The goal is to eventually get back to Kansas,” Lumene said.

The charm of the Midwest proved not only to be beneficial for Lumene’s family but also for his overall law school experience. He reminisced on the kindness his professors showed him over a demanding three years.

“All of the professors were willing to help you out,” Lumene said. “Even if they were a professor that never had you as a student, they’re still super willing to help you understand what you’re working on.”

A professor that taught a crucial course for Lumene’s law education and future career is Crissa Cook. He has a special appreciation for her Patent Practice course.

“It’s practical if you want to go the patent route. It was a really good class that made a huge impact on my experience here,” Lumene said.

Lumene obtained more practical experience during his 2020 summer internship at Carter, DeLuca & Farrell LLP in New York, cultivating a solid understanding of the patent application process and patent prosecution.

Additionally, Lumene participated in Jessup International Moot Court, Student Intellectual Property Law Association, Black Law Students Association and Traffic Court during his time at KU Law.

For now, Lumene continues to learn from his mentors at Microsoft and is thankful for the company that encourages him to work hard but not miss out on his children growing up.

“My job allows me to spend time with my family and at the same time work and learn,” Lumene said. “It’s just a really good work-life balance.”

Lumene has one piece of advice for KU Law students in their future careers and in life.

“Humbly seek feedback, whether it’s from your partner or manager or whoever,” Lumene said. “And not just seeking it out and doing nothing about it, but actually implementing it. I think that could take you a long way.”

-By Sydney Halas

This post is the second in a series highlighting recent KU Law graduates. Check out the first story in this series about Diana Jarek.

My top five (non-law school) study spots

As a non-traditional student and soon-to-be first-generation attorney, transitioning to law school presented a host of new challenges. During the first semester of my 1L year, one of my biggest areas of growth involved “finding my lane.” Not only had I been working for a few years after undergrad, but I also didn’t have a very good idea of what a successful law school experience was supposed to look like. While there are ways to all but guarantee an unsuccessful law school experience, I fully believe there is no one right way to approach law school.

Early in my law school career, I would often look at what my peers were doing as a metric of whether I was doing enough. While observing your classmates can be a good way to gauge if you’re on the right track, I wouldn’t recommend taking what your peers say or do as law. Most law students have little to no idea what they’re really doing; some are just better at faking it than others.

Cortez Downey

Seeing classmates highlighting every other line in their casebooks or hearing them express how many hours they spent studying in the law school that week can make you question whether you’re getting enough done. But the truth is that productivity looks different for everyone. Similarly, everyone has a different idea of the perfect work environment. I’ve discovered that I’m most productive when I do my studying outside of the law school. I’ve found a few gems in Lawrence that have made preparing for class (and exams) a less anxiety-inducing experience. Here are my top five (non-law school) study spots:

1. Perkins Restaurant & Bakery

Pumpkin doughnut muffins

In undergrad, I liked studying at Perkins because it was open 24 hours, and since it was never too crowded, the staff never seemed to mind refilling your coffee if you stayed for hours at a time. The Perkins in Lawrence isn’t open 24 hours, but they offer free Wi-Fi and large booths with electric outlets. Plus, the staff is friendly and keeps the carafes coming. In the fall, their pumpkin donut muffins are unmatched. Friendly reminder to tip your wait staff. 🙂

2. Java Break

Java Break is a good spot for a variety of caffeinated beverages, and Wi-Fi is included with your purchase. They also offer some baked goods, paninis and even a cereal bar. There are a few booths that are nice for group study, but depending on the time you go, the prime booth seating can be limited. Parking can also sometimes be a challenge depending on the time of day.

Cereal bar

3. Watson Library

If I’m studying on campus or in the evening, I like to study at Watson because there’s nearby parking available after hours just down the hill across the street from the library. My favorite spot in Watson is on the fifth floor, where the International Collection is located. There are comfortable oversized lounge chairs and large tables for group study. The space is always very quiet, plus browsing the featured literature offers a nice study break.

4. Anschutz Library

If I’m studying on campus during the day or between classes, I prefer to study at Anschutz since it’s so close to Green Hall. In my experience, Anschutz is typically busier and noisier than Watson, but Anschutz also has a few more great study spots: in the basement, somewhere among the stacks, etc. The lighting in Anschutz seems a little brighter than the lighting in Watson (I prefer slightly dimmer lighting, which is why Watson ranks higher for me).

5. Lawrence Public Library

Studying in the Lawrence Public Library is a nice reminder that there’s a lot going on in Lawrence beyond the law school and the university. The public library features study rooms available for use and large tables for group work. Also, the lighting is bright, but not overly so. There’s usually parking available in the nearby parking garage.

Studying at the law school is a great option for some students, and studying at home works for others. What ultimately matters is that you find what works for you—there’s no one right way to be successful in law school.

–By Cortez Downey, a 3L from Edmond, Oklahoma and a KU Law Student Ambassador

How not to go broke buying textbooks

I am not sure about you, but I always feel anxious to get back to school after a prolonged break. Although it is one of my life goals to become a person who can fully embrace the art of il dolce far niente, the anxiety devil that lives on my shoulder begins to poke my “feel guilty about relaxing” button with its pitchfork after only one day of binging movies. One of the ways I try to assuage these lack-of-productivity jitters is by shopping for my textbooks.

Buying textbooks is a simple way to feel productive while still giving yourself a needed break. But buying textbooks can also be a fraught and costly process, especially if you wait until the last minute. Below are some of my favorite places to score textbook deals, and while it is always better to start early, these tips and sites should work even if you are the procrastinating type.

Doug Bartel
  1. Check Facebook for upperclassmen selling books

Upperclassmen typically publish a list of books for sale on each class’s Facebook page a couple of weeks before the semester begins. I have found some of the best deals on these lists because the prices are set by your fellow law students who understand how financially burdensome buying textbooks can be. Tip: Don’t be afraid to make a post specifically asking for a book before the list is published.

  1. Honey extension

Honey is a Chrome extension that helps you find the best deals on the internet. For example, if you’re buying a textbook from Amazon, Honey might pop up a message to tell you that it found that same book for a much better deal on a different website. Honey also scours the internet for coupon codes and applies them so that you don’t have to. Thanks to Honey, I routinely receive discounts and free shipping. Honey doesn’t usually work on the websites of small businesses, but it will for any large online vendor.

  1. Public library

While the public library likely will not have the legal casebooks you need, I find the library helpful when a professor requires secondary sources. For example, in my Federal Indian Law course this semester, Professor Watts required us to read an expert’s book containing opinions about several cases we read. We only needed the book for a few class periods, so instead of purchasing the book, I rented it from the public library and saved $25.

  1. Ask professors if an older edition might work

Some professors are very flexible about which edition of the required textbook you may use. If a professor is flexible—you would know this by asking them directly and not relying on what you have heard from your friends—you could save hundreds of dollars. Although publishing companies will periodically release new editions of the casebooks, there are often very few substantive changes in the book.

  1. Knetbooks/Chegg/Amazon rental

If I plan to rent a book, I will rent it from one of these three sites. They have the best customer service and return policies. Tip: When searching their websites, use the ISBN, not the title.

  1. Thriftbooks

Thriftbooks deals epitomize the adage, “The early bird gets the worm.” Occasionally, you can find the casebook you need on Thriftbooks, but there will only be one or two copies available. In other words, you will compete with law students from across the country for those few copies. The prices on Thriftbooks are mindbogglingly low. I have never spent more than $30 on a book from this site. If you are unfamiliar with Thriftbooks, think Half Priced Books but all online and with a better search engine.

-By Doug Bartel, a 2L from Olathe and a KU Law Student Ambassador