Hi everyone! My name is Yaz Kaveh and I’m a 3L here at Gould. I’m from Petaluma, a small town in Northern California, but I moved to Los Angeles about six years ago to attend UCLA for undergrad and haven’t left Southern California since.
I took two years off after undergrad to gain some work experience before starting law school. I worked as a legal coordinator for the film development/sales arm of Endeavor, an entertainment conglomerate based in Beverly Hills. I loved being involved in various entertainment transactions at work, which made me even more confident in my decision to pursue law school.
When applying to law school, USC was always at the top of my list. Not only does Gould offer plenty of opportunities for students interested in media and entertainment law (it’s ranked as one of the nation’s top Entertainment Law programs), but the sense of community here is unmatched. Due to its small class sizes, amazing faculty, fun school events, and the Trojan Network (it’s real), I knew the second I set foot on campus that Gould was the perfect match for me.
At Gould, I've been involved in various student organizations. During 2L, I was president of the Entertainment Law Society, the networking chair for the Honors Scholar Program, a Peer Mentor, and an editor on the Southern California Law Review. Getting involved in the law school really brought me closer to the students and faculty here, while allowing me to take full advantage of the Trojan Network by connecting me with countless alumni.
During my 1L summer, I worked as a legal intern with the Retail Marketing team at Apple, which I applied to thanks to Gould’s Career Services job portal. For my 2L summer, I was a summer associate at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP in Los Angeles, where I plan to return as a corporate associate after I pass the bar exam. I landed that job through Gould’s on-campus interview (OCI) process, and I had plenty of support from Gould’s Career Services Office as well as students who went through OCI the year before me and were eager to help. That’s the kind of community we foster - collaboration and support on so many levels.
Though I can sometimes be very indecisive (there are just too many fun things to do in LA), picking Gould as my law school was one of the easiest and best decisions I ever made! Some of the best years of my life have been in law school, with many thanks to the incredible friends and opportunities I’ve found through USC. If you have questions about Gould or anything else I mentioned, feel free to email me at [email protected], I am happy to speak with prospective applicants. Fight On!
Hi everyone! My name is Nick Bornstein, and I am a 3L from the small town of Fairfax, Calif. just north of San Francisco. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology at George Washington University in Washington, DC and minored in German, which led me to do an immersive and language-intensive study abroad program in Freiburg, Germany during my junior year.
I had a wide range of work experience before starting at Gould, including interning for Congressman Jared Huffman and at the American Psychological Association during college. After graduation, I did business and technology consulting at the National Institutes of Health for two years. Feeling motivated to push and challenge myself personally and professionally, and work in an area where I felt I could make a tangible and positive difference, I made the ambitious decision to pursue a legal education.
Always a California kid at heart, returning for law school at USC truly felt like a full-circle moment. From the testimonials of friends gushing about the community, faculty, and school spirit, to the famous Trojan Family network that looks after its own, I knew USC was the school for me before I even set foot on campus. The perfect year-round Southern California weather and the gorgeous campus were just a few bonuses!
During my summer after 1L, I clerked at ATHLAW LLP, a boutique sports law firm founded by a Gould alum in downtown Los Angeles that represents retired NFL players in disability claims stemming from traumatic physical and cognitive injury. It truly was an opportunity that wouldn’t have been possible without the Trojan network and Gould’s Career Services Office. This past summer, I had the chance to work in-house at Fox Corporation in Century City within Fox’s Digital Business and Technology legal team. I gained extensive hands-on work experience in all aspects of transactional law. I had the incredible chance to work under, and learn from, brilliant attorneys, resulting in a palpable sense of development of my legal skills
This coming year I am excited to serve as a JD Student Ambassador and on the executive board of the Peer Mentor program, which helps incoming 1Ls navigate the inevitable changes and adjustments of beginning law school. I am also thrilled to be a student mediator within Gould’s renowned Mediation Clinic.
Gould is definitely the right place for me. The network of peers, professors, administration, and alumni allows each student to thrive in any field they wish to pursue. Genuine and collaborative, I truly feel that the Gould community and student body’s first priority is to help, encourage, and support each other. I am so happy and thankful that I joined the Trojan Family. If you have any questions about USC Gould, feel free to contact me at [email protected].
Hi everyone! My name is Lauryn Roberts and I’m a 2L here at Gould. I am originally from San Francisco, CA but grew up predominantly in the suburbs just outside of New York City. Prior to coming to USC, I studied Economics, Art History and English at Howard University.
I first realized I wanted to become an attorney in high school. My high school experience was somewhat atypical in that I attended boarding school in Andover, Mass. where I had the unique opportunity to live amongst students from all around the world. That exposure opened my eyes to what it means to have a worldview and incited my interest in better understanding the ways in which our society has evolved and continues to evolve.
Through my education, experiences in the greater Washington, D.C. community and studies abroad, I realized the legal system is an entity that regulates and guides global markets, governments, and individuals alike. I began to see lawyers as advocates and analysts who could affect change on any level. For law school, I wanted to attend a place where I felt welcomed and valued while building a foundation for my legal career, which is why I chose to pursue my JD at USC.
Through referrals from the Trojan Network, I spent this past summer working at a boutique entertainment firm in Beverly Hills, where I learned all about the business of talent representation and the entertainment industry from a legal standpoint. This experience solidified my interest in entertainment law and also helped me realize my aspiration to become a litigator. Thus, next summer I will be working at a big law firm here in Los Angeles, where I will explore various litigation matters, including those within entertainment.
At Gould, I am honored to be the president of the Black Law Students Association, a member of the Hale Moot Court Honors Program, a teaching assistant for Vice Dean Donald Scotten’s undergraduate course, and a JD Student Ambassador. Through my involvement on campus, I’ve been able to work with and get to know some of the most amazing, intelligent, and kind people, further solidifying that Gould was the right place for me. If you have any questions or want to hear more about what it’s like to be a law student at Gould, please feel free to contact me at [email protected]!
Hi everyone! My name is Soleil Montemurro and I’m a 3L at Gould. I grew up in Morro Bay, Calif. before moving to Solana Beach, Calif. I studied abroad in Paris during my freshman year and transferred to USC, where I received my BA in Psychology, with a minor in Psychology and Law.
In undergrad, I was the Panhellenic delegate for Kappa Kappa Gamma and director of Wellness and Athletics on the Panhellenic Council. I also was on the USC Cheer team and competed at college nationals! Before coming to law school, I interned for the City of Solana Beach and at a labor law firm.
I always knew I wanted to go to law school, so I applied early decision to Gould during my senior year of college. As a 1L, I made friends for life and found opportunities to be involved as the 1L representative for Law Students for Better Health, Criminal Law Society, and the C. David Molina First Generation Professionals program. Law school has a steep learning curve; luckily, USC Gould strives to help its students succeed and I received a plethora of help through supplemental resources, academic success courses, and mentorship. Additionally, my professors took the time to meet with me outside of class and hold study sessions before exams.
For my 1L summer, I extended for the Los Angeles Fire Department’s independent assessor, where I learned about the complexities of legal issues in government employment. As a 2L, I was a Peer Mentor helping shepherd 1L students. I also co-founded and was president of the Fashion and Beauty Law Society; president of Law Students for Better Health; secretary for the Student Bar Association, and a staff editor on the Southern California Law Review. During my 2L summer, I worked in the labor and employment group at the Quarles & Brady LLP San Diego office.
Although I originally planned to become a district attorney, I quickly came to love labor and employment law because it involves drama, it is constantly changing, and it incorporates both transactional and litigation work. If you are unsure of your legal interest, do not worry – law school is part of that discovery journey. The benefit of a JD education and degree is its versatility. This year, I’m so excited to be the president of the Student Bar Association and a senior editor for the Southern California Law Review. I look forward to interacting more with the community at Gould and making a difference.
My favorite memory at Gould is orientation, where I met my friends. We’ve been inseparable since. A common thread at Gould is being part of a giving community. I love interacting with the student body and making a difference at Gould! I’ve never been a part of a community so actively involved in growing leadership and professional opportunities, with a high level of alumni and student involvement. The Trojan family is strong and has helped me succeed in job interviews. I have made so many amazing friends and memories; coming here was the best decision! If you have any questions about USC Gould School of Law, please reach out to me at [email protected]. Fight on!
Hi everyone! My name is Michael Salamy, and I am a 3L here at Gould. I grew up in San Diego, CA, and I majored in mechanical engineering at University of California, Berkeley for undergrad.
I wasn’t always planning to go to law school, but after I interned with a medical device startup that was eventually acquired for its patent portfolio, I knew I wanted to become an intellectual property (IP) attorney.
USC Gould has been the perfect school for me. There are significant opportunities for those interested in IP law, with or without a technical background. During my 2L year, I joined the Intellectual Property and Technology Law Clinic (IPTLC), where I drafted an amicus brief on behalf of members of Congress for a copyright case, filed trademark applications, and advised students from USC’s world-renowned film school.
I also participated on USC Gould’s team for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s National Patent Application Drafting Competition. I received significant training from our coach, an experienced patent attorney. We won our regional competition (beating my alma mater, Berkeley), and then flew out to the USPTO headquarters in Washington, DC for the final round, where we finished in second place among 54 law schools. This year I am the team captain, and I am leading our research into how attorneys can utilize artificial intelligence.
USC’s Career Services office has been extremely hands-on and proactive in helping me secure summer jobs. After my 1L year, I worked at a small IP firm in Palo Alto, CA and after my 2L year, I was a summer associate at Knobbe Martens in San Diego, where I am excited to return after I graduate. I received that job through USC’s on-campus interview program, and I was well-prepared thanks to the Career Services office reviewing my resume, connecting me with attorneys, and scheduling mock interviews.
Of course, Los Angeles has no shortage of activities. From comedy shows, to last-minute concerts by my favorite artists, to beautiful beach sunsets, there is always something fun to do. And that is not to mention the myriad of social events that the law school organizes, including tailgates for home football games.
Coming to USC has been one of the greatest opportunities of my life, and I hope you have the chance to experience it too! Please feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] if you would like to talk more. Thank you, and Fight On!
