Student Testimonials
Jessica Covington
"I knew from age 12 that I wanted to go to law school,” says Jessica Covington, a University of Michigan graduate and the current president of the Caruso School of Law’s Student Bar Association. “I had the lofty dreams that I wanted to help people and be an advocate."
In her work with the Pepperdine Legal Aid Clinic, Covington is making her childhood dream a reality. As a law clerk, she assists individuals in expunging their criminal records in order to secure employment and start a new chapter in their lives. She also assists families with child custody and visitation rights. According to Covington, Pepperdine helped her to make service a priority. “Service is such a huge part of the Pepperdine mission,” she says. “And I feel thankful that these individuals let me into their lives, and allow me to help them. The opportunity to learn drew me to the clinic, but the service aspect keeps me coming back.”
Pepperdine’s proximity to Los Angeles was also a draw to Covington. Ultimately she would like to pursue a career in entertainment, building on her interests in music and television. She recently completed an internship with a leading talent agency, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.
Covington describes the Pepperdine community as almost like a second family. When Covington was struggling with the demands of school, she credits a Pepperdine faculty member for helping her to move forward. “I thought I was going to leave, but this faculty member said to me: ‘We’re on your side. We want you to be here,’” says Covington. “It made a huge difference.”