Meet Your Student Ambassadors
The Heart of our Community
Pepperdine Caruso Law's student ambassadors represent the heart of our school in different yet profound ways. Student ambassadors are recommended by faculty, staff, and administrators and serve as professional student leaders who connect with prospective students and host law school info sessions. They are leaders in our community, involved, enthusiastic, and having been through this process themselves, are in a unique position to provide insight from their firsthand experience. Pepperdine Caruso Law student ambassadors are a diverse group of academic achievers and represent a broad spectrum of interest areas in legal practice.
Our student ambassadors will share their personal emails to students who attend a virtual info session with them. For questions about the application and admissions process, please contact the admissions office at lawadmis@pepperdine.edu after reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions
Lauren Bashir, 2L
Hometown: Orange, CA
Undergraduate University & Major: California State University, Fullerton, English; Philosophy
Extracurricular Activities: Staff Member of Journal of the National Association of Administrative Law Judiciary (NAALJ), Member of APALSA, Womens Legal Association, and First Gen Law Student Association
Legal Works: Judicial Externship for the Orange County Superior Court, with the Honorable Judge Kimberly Knill
Plans after Pepperdine Caruso Law: I"m still open to exploring different areas of law, but right now I'm extremely interested in pursuing a position in public interest work or perhaps in dependency with County Counsel.
Favorite Thing about Pepperdine: The professors and Career Development Office counselors are all extremely willing to help and are great at making themselves available to students.
Advice for future Pepperdine Caruso Law Students: Be intentional in where you choose to spend your time. Much of law school is self-discipline. Being very aware of what you choose to invest your time in is crucial. That does not mean that you should not have a life outside of school though! Spending time on yourself and with your friends and family is also an extremely important part of success as it gives you a greater sense of perspective.
Susanna Behnam, 2L
Hometown: Pompano Beach, FL
Undergraduate University & Major: California State University, Long Beach, Criminology and Criminal Justice
Extracurricular Activities: Womens Legal Association Event Coordinator, 1L representative; OUTLAW Treasurer, 1L Representative; Criminal Law Society Secretary; Research Assistant
Legal Works: Judicial Externship for the Federal District Court, Southern District of California; Internship at the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office (Trial Support Unit, Human Sex Trafficking Unit, Legislative Advocate)
Plans after Pepperdine Caruso Law: Criminal Law and/or International Law
Favorite Thing about Pepperdine: The professors are so helpful and do their best to make sure you understand and don’t fall behind. The students are also very friendly, which makes for a close community.
Advice for future Pepperdine Caruso Law Students: Stay true to yourself and do what you know works best for you. Don’t get caught up in what everyone else is doing because at the end of the day, you know what’s right for you. Also, get involved! Pepperdine has many incredible communities to offer.
Luke Bradford, 2L
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Undergraduate University & Major: Loyola Marymount University, Finance
Extracurricular Activities: Palmer Center and Straus Center certificates. I'm in the process of becoming a BARBRI representative
Legal Works: Hutchison & Steffen summer law intern/clerk
Plans after Pepperdine Caruso Law: I'm interested in transactional law, corporate litigation, and in-house counsel positions. I studied finance in my undergraduate studies, so basically I am interested in law pertaining to business, real estate, and/or finance.
Favorite Thing about Pepperdine: The people and the events! I met many friends, professors,and connections the first week of school, There are many chances to participate in events that can help you right now in law school and that can also further your career. And most importantly, free food!
Advice for future Pepperdine Caruso Law Students: Take advantage of resources and talk to students who were successful and who are doing what you want to do. Your professors want to help you and they are great resources beyond the classroom.
Abigail Falk, 3L
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Undergraduate University & Major: Lipscomb University, English Writing
Extracurricular Activities: Business & Production Editor of Pepperdine Law Review, Advocates for Public Interest Law, Women's Legal Association, Criminal Law Society.
Legal Works: Nashville Public Defender's Office, Law Clerk; U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Special Litigation Section, Legal Intern; Ventura County Public Defender's Office, Certified Law Clerk
Plans after Pepperdine Caruso Law: Federal Clerkship with U.S. District Court Judge Andre Birotte of the Central District of California (2024-2025 term).
Favorite Thing about Pepperdine: Close professor relationships and ocean views from the library.
Advice for future Pepperdine Caruso Law Students: The worst thing you can get told is "no."
McKenna Fitzpatrick, 2L
mckenna.fitzpatrick@pepperdine.edu
Hometown: Thousand Oaks, CA
Undergraduate University & Major: Grand Canyon University, Communications & Social Work
Extracurricular Activities: Graduate Resident Assistant Pepperdine Housing, Vice President of Volunteer Coordination Public Interest Club, First Generation Club
Legal Works: Moore Law for Children, Open Door Legal Immigration law, Mediation law clinic
Plans after Pepperdine Caruso Law: I would love to pursue human rights work both in the United States as well as abroad.
Favorite Thing about Pepperdine: Professors, my friends and the community and the view!
Advice for future Pepperdine Caruso Law Students: Come to Pepperdine and law school with an open mind, things will be challenging but the more adaptable and with a positive mindset you will be fine!
Mason Folse, 2L
Hometown: Bloomington, IL
Undergraduate University & Major: Pepperdine University, Integrated Marketing Communication
Extracurricular Activities: President of SBA, Trial Team; Palmer Fellow
Legal Works: Judicial: Externship for the United States Bankruptcy Court, Central District of California
Plans after Pepperdine Caruso Law: Great question! Definitely litigation, likely corporate.
Favorite Thing about Pepperdine: The community, the extra-curriculars, and the view!
Advice for future Pepperdine Caruso Law Students: Make a genuine effort to learn your classmates' names!
Tristen Hashman, 3L
tristen.hashman@pepperdine.edu
Hometown: Encino, California
Undergraduate University & Major: University of California, Los Angeles, English Literature
Extracurricular Activities: Student Mentor
Legal Works: Disaster Relief Law Clinic, Legal Intern at Abrams and Taheri, LLP, Research Assistant for Professor Alan Nissel, Summer Associate at Wilshire Skyline, LLC, Prof. Nissel's Real Estate Firm.
Plans after Pepperdine Caruso Law: I plan on working in a real estate firm in California for a year or two after graduating, and then possibly moving on to open my own firm either in California or Florida or to focus solely on real estate development.
Favorite Thing about Pepperdine: The kindness of the faculty and staff, and the endless support of your fellow students.
Advice for future Pepperdine Caruso Law Students: Be the best "you" that you can be, and take heed not to compare yourself to other students you may believe to be more intelligent than yourself. Have absolute faith in yourself and take pride in your initiative to enroll yourself into law school. Be sure not to procrastinate, and approach your professors with any qualms or worries you may have about your understanding of course material and/or simple life advice.
Doyeon Kim, 2L
Hometown: La Cañada, CA
Undergraduate University & Major: University of Southern California, Psychology
Extracurricular Activities: Dispute Resolution Law Journal, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association Social Director (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023), Student Ambassador (Spring 2022), Criminal Law Society, First Generation Law Student Association, Women's Legal Association, Intramural Volleyball
Legal Works: Legal Intern for the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Plans after Pepperdine Caruso Law: After graduating from Pepperdine Caruso Law, I hope to pass the California Bar THE FIRST TIME and work for the government, such as the District Attorney's Office or the Department of Justice. Although I don't know exactly what I want to do yet, I hope my future career will allow me to pursue my passion for public policy, international diplomacy, and alternative dispute resolution.
Favorite Thing about Pepperdine: Being able to go to the beach with my friends!
Advice for future Pepperdine Caruso Law Students: Study hard, but also make time for friends. Developing good relationships in law school is invaluable both personally and professionally.
Connie Lee, 2L
Hometown: Arcadia, California
Undergraduate University & Major: UCLA, Sociology
Extracurricular Activities: Dispute Resolution Law Journal, Secretary of Spanish Conversation Club, Certificate in Dispute Resolution, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association
Legal Works: Summer Law Clerk for Bet Tzedek , Employment Rights Project Clinic for Bet Tzedek
Plans after Pepperdine Caruso Law: I would like to practice employment law in hopes of helping workers learn more about their rights under the law.
Favorite Thing about Pepperdine: The faculty and the view of the ocean on the back patio!
Advice for future Pepperdine Caruso Law Students: Don't be afraid to ask for help! Pepperdine has such an amazing faculty and they're always open to helping their students if and when they need it.
Ava Rezaee, 2L
Hometown: Eugene, Oregon
Undergraduate University & Major: University of Washington, Political Science and minor in Spanish
Extracurricular Activities: Moot Court Board, Vice President of the Iranian Law Student Association, 1L Student Mentor, Member of the Law Student Well-Being Taskforce
Legal Works: Judicial Externship for the Federal District Court, Central District of California, Law Recruiter, LawLifeCoach, Legal Intern, Malcolm Law
Plans after Pepperdine Caruso Law: Take the California Bar Exam and then possibly a judicial clerkship.
Favorite Thing about Pepperdine: From my classmates to my professors, staff, and even all the way down to the security guards at the entrance gate, everyone is so kind, warm, and quick to lend a helping hand whenever needed. I also love the panoramic ocean view. Everyday is a better day because of that!
Advice for future Pepperdine Caruso Law Students: As the saying goes, "comparison is the thief of joy." In law school, it's really easy to constantly compare your grades, achievements, and job offers to your classmates. Try your best to not compare yourself to anyone. Instead, focus on your own progress and goals, and celebrate your achievements as you go along.
Andrew Snively, 2L
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Undergraduate University & Major: Park University, Finance
Extracurricular Activities: Veterans Legal Society; President, J Reuben Clark Legal Society; Vice President
Legal Works: Legal Intern, Coast Guard JAG, Alameda Unit; Law Clerk, Bremer, Whyte, Brown & O'Meara
Plans after Pepperdine Caruso Law: Return to active duty military service as a JAG officer
Favorite Thing about Pepperdine: All the relationships I have built with both my fellow students and my professors.
Advice for future Pepperdine Caruso Law Students: Get to know your professors. They really care about you! And make sure to experience different aspects of the law, even if you really think you know what you want to concentrate in. You may be surprised at how much you love something unexpected.