Alejandra Anzueto

My name is Alejandra Anzueto. I was born and raised in Guatemala, Central America. I obtained my degree as an Attorney in Universidad Francisco Marroquin in Guatemala City. I have been living in the United States for two years. 

I moved to the bay area in June of 2005 and chose to apply to UC Hastings because of its reputation and its distinguished faculty. Moreover, UC Hastings ranks among the nation’s top law schools. I considered it a great opportunity.

The LLM program at UC Hastings provides you with flexibility in selecting your classes. As a student I tailored my curriculum according to my needs and interests. I chose to focus on transactional and international law and have selected my classes accordingly. I also had the opportunity to attend great courses in Dispute Resolution and Arbitration and Mediation, which complement the transactional background in a very good way. Some of the courses I took included Corporations, International Business Transactions, International Trade Law and Policy, International Negotiation and Dispute Settlement and International Commercial Arbitration. 

My experience at UC Hastings was very enriching. I learned a great deal and challenged myself and the knowledge I had. Coming from a Civil Law country, it is challenging to come face to face with a totally different approach to law, but the effort certainly pays off. I believe that my knowledge of law is getting firmer and broader, which can prove to be very helpful in the current globalized world. 

Meeting people, not only faculty but also classmates, has also been very rewarding. As an LLM student I had the opportunity to meet people from all over the world as well as American students that have made the whole experience so fulfilling. 

All of these factors will prepare me to achieve my goals better. When I return to my country I will have a broader perspective on Law that will help and provide me with new tools to work more efficiently new areas. Today, I believe there is a great demand for professionals with knowledge of other legal systems. Law has stopped being a local profession. The market has taken a new different international level, thus it provides a demand for attorneys with diversity in their background and knowledge. 

I must also mention that the city where UC Hastings is located was also a determining factor I considered when applying. San Francisco is a very diverse and rich city. This is a city that welcomes immigrants like few cities do. It is home to several universities and colleges, and that gives a very lively, renewed and young atmosphere. It has been easy to call San Francisco home.