Driven by a lifelong desire to help others navigate conflict and access justice, Sarha Rasheed (LLM 2017) found her calling in alternative dispute resolution after earning her Master of Laws (LLM) at USC Gould. Inspired by courses in international arbitration and dispute resolution, she returned home to help build ADR capacity in an emerging legal system, co-founding an ADR center, training legal professionals, and advancing mediation reform. In this Q&A, she reflects on how USC Gould helped her rediscover her purpose, shaped her global perspective, and prepared her to create lasting impact through access to justice and dispute resolution.
What sparked your interest in learning about law?
Ever since I was young, I have been drawn to work that allows me to help people and give back to society. As a child, I did not fully understand the many dimensions of the legal profession. I simply knew that I admired work that allowed people to support others during difficult moments and help them resolve conflict.
As I grew older, I began to understand that law was one of the most powerful ways to do that. It was not only about statutes, courtrooms, or arguments; it was also about people, relationships, fairness and finding a way forward when things become difficult.
That desire to help people navigate conflict and access justice is what first drew me to law. Over time, the form of that interest evolved but the motivation behind it remained the same: to use the law as a means of service, problem-solving and meaningful contribution. Today, I feel that I have found the clearest expression of that purpose through my work as a full-time ADR practitioner, where I am able to help people and institutions resolve disputes in a more constructive and humane way.
What made you pursue your degree, and why at USC Gould?
Before coming to USC Gould, I had completed my undergraduate legal studies through the University of London, which gave me a strong foundation in a legal system closely connected to the one in my home country. While that education was invaluable, I knew I wanted to broaden my perspective and understand how law functioned in a more global context.
The United States had always held a special place in my life. My parents spent a significant part of their lives here, I have family in the U.S., and I had been in and out of the country for many years. Because of that connection, I was naturally curious about the American legal system and the way law operated within such a diverse and dynamic society.
Pursuing my LLM in the U.S. was also deeply personal. I was the first woman in my immediate family to move to another country to pursue a graduate degree, and it was something my parents had always dreamed of for me. Their belief in my education and independence gave me the courage to take that step.
USC Gould stood out because it offered exactly the kind of environment I was looking for: academic excellence, a strong international outlook and a diverse community of students, faculty, and professionals. Its location in Los Angeles made it even more meaningful. Los Angeles is a city that reflects innovation, diversity, creativity and possibility, and I knew that studying law there would expose me to perspectives far beyond my own.
Choosing USC was therefore not only about pursuing an LLM. It was about stepping into a global learning environment, honoring the dreams my parents had for me, challenging my assumptions, expanding my worldview and growing into a more thoughtful and purpose-driven legal professional.
How was the transition to USC Gould?
Moving to a new country was not entirely unfamiliar to me, as I had been connected to the United States for many years. The real transition was learning how to live independently, manage my own routine and adapt to a new academic environment.
USC made that transition much smoother. From the beginning, there was a sense that international students were actively supported in finding their place. The orientation, academic guidance, access to faculty, student resources and the warmth of the Gould community helped me settle in with confidence.
Living close to campus with other LLM students also created a strong sense of community. I spent long hours studying in the library, but some of the most meaningful parts of the experience happened outside the classroom. After a full day of studying, I would return to an apartment shared with friends from different countries, backgrounds, and legal systems. Those conversations made even an unfamiliar routine feel comforting and familiar.
What I appreciated most was that USC created an environment where I felt both challenged and supported. The academic expectations pushed me to grow, but the community made me feel grounded. Whether it was through classroom discussions, faculty engagement, student activities, or simply being surrounded by peers navigating the same journey, USC gave me a sense of belonging.
Looking back, USC helped me become more independent, confident and resilient. It gave me the comfort of community while also giving me the space to grow on my own.
What is the most memorable experience from your USC studies?
When I joined USC Gould, I imagined a fairly traditional legal career. Like many law students, I thought I would pursue corporate law, work with major companies or law firms, and follow a conventional path of legal success.
But somewhere along that journey, I realized that I had drifted away from the reason I chose law in the first place.
During my time at USC, courses such as International Arbitration and Contract Drafting and Analysis encouraged me to think more deeply about the role lawyers can play in resolving disputes. At the time, mediation and alternative dispute resolution were not widely discussed in my home country. Arbitration had some presence, but mediation was still emerging. Through my studies, I began to see dispute resolution not merely as a technical legal process, but as a powerful way to improve access to justice, reduce conflict, and create more humane systems for resolving disputes.
That realization changed the direction of my career.
When I returned home, I came back to a justice system facing enormous pressure, with approximately 2.6 million pending cases and only around 3,400 judges serving the country. Those numbers were not just statistics to me. They represented people, families, businesses, communities and institutions waiting for resolution.
I began to see ADR not as an alternative on the sidelines, but as a necessary part of the justice system.
That conviction eventually led me to co-found an ADR center from the ground up under the leadership of a retired judge, at a time when mediation law was still developing. What began as an idea became an institution recognized by both the government and the judiciary. My work involved building systems, developing rosters, supporting case referrals, working with judges, engaging with policymakers, training mediators, sensitizing lawyers, and helping corporations and institutions understand the value of mediation and arbitration.
A significant part of that work was also business development and stakeholder engagement. In an emerging ADR jurisdiction, it was not enough to simply create an institution; we also had to create awareness, trust, and demand. That meant engaging with corporations, chambers, law firms, industry bodies, and other stakeholders to demonstrate how ADR could be a commercially practical, credible, and efficient way to resolve disputes.
I also contributed to policy conversations on mediation and arbitration reform, co-authored training materials, helped develop mediation advocacy training for lawyers, and accredited mediator training programs, and trained more than fifteen hundred professionals, including judges, lawyers, and mediators.
Looking back, USC did more than educate me. It helped me rediscover my purpose. It reminded me that law is not only about the career you build for yourself, but also about the systems you help build for others.
What is something that you’ve enjoyed during your time as a student outside of your studies?
I am a foodie at heart, so one of my favorite parts of living in Los Angeles was exploring the city through its food. L.A. has such an incredible mix of cultures, and I loved discovering new cafes, restaurants, and hidden food spots across different neighborhoods.
Some of my fondest memories were simple ones: studying from cafes, trying cuisines I had never tried before, going out with friends after long days at USC, and slowly getting to know the city one meal at a time. For someone who loves both food and travel, Los Angeles felt like a place where I could experience the world without having to leave the city.
Those moments became a very special part of my USC experience. They gave me friendships, comfort, and a sense of adventure outside the classroom, and made my time in Los Angeles feel full, warm, and memorable.
How did your degree from USC Gould give you an advantage in your career, and what do you plan to do next?
My USC Gould degree has given me far more than an academic qualification. It gave me a global perspective, the confidence to think beyond traditional legal pathways, and the courage to pursue work that aligned with my purpose.
When I arrived at USC, my academic focus was business law, and like many lawyers, I initially imagined a more traditional corporate legal career. However, the courses I took at USC, particularly in international arbitration, contract drafting, and dispute resolution, opened my mind to the importance of ADR in a way I had not fully understood before. USC helped me see that dispute resolution was not simply an area of legal practice; it could be a powerful tool for access to justice, institutional reform, and social impact.
After graduating in 2017, I returned home with a deeper understanding of how important it was to apply what I had learned in a more developed and diverse legal environment to an emerging jurisdiction where ADR was still taking shape. Although I initially worked in corporate legal roles and law firms, I continued to feel that something was missing. I wanted my work to connect more directly with access to justice, conflict resolution, and systemic change.
That search eventually led me fully into alternative dispute resolution. I trained as an accredited mediator, continued developing my understanding of arbitration, and began working seriously on how ADR could be strengthened in an emerging jurisdiction.
Over the years, I helped co-found an ADR center from the ground up, contributed to discussions on legal and policy reform, worked with the judiciary on mediation awareness and case referrals, trained judges and lawyers, developed mediation advocacy programs, supported mediator capacity-building, and engaged with corporations, law firms, chambers, and institutions to create greater awareness of ADR.
Looking back, USC was the place where that interest was first sparked and where I began to understand the true potential of ADR. Without that exposure, I may not have found the area of law that now feels like my professional home. It helped me understand that meaningful legal work does not always fit into one box, and that sometimes the greatest impact comes from building something that does not yet exist.
I am proud of the role I played in helping build ADR capacity in an emerging jurisdiction. Now, I feel ready to carry that experience into my next chapter, to grow in a more developed ADR market, particularly in the United States, while continuing to serve the field that has become my professional home.
What advice do you have for students who may be interested in following a similar path to yours?
My advice would be to pay attention to the reason you chose law in the first place.
It is easy, especially as law students and young lawyers, to measure success by the most conventional markers: the biggest law firm, the most recognizable title, or the path everyone else seems to be following. There is nothing wrong with those paths if they genuinely excite you. But if they do not, give yourself permission to explore a different way forward.
Some of the most meaningful legal careers are built in spaces that are still developing, still misunderstood, or not yet seen as the obvious choice. For me, that meant returning home and working in alternative dispute resolution at a time when the field was still emerging. It meant contributing to a justice system facing millions of pending cases and limited judicial resources. It was not always easy, but it was deeply meaningful.
At the same time, I have also learned that purpose can evolve. There may be a season where you give back, build, and serve, and another season where you allow yourself to grow, learn, and step into a new professional chapter. For me, that next chapter is bringing the experience I gained in an emerging ADR jurisdiction into a more developed dispute resolution market, particularly in the United States.
So my advice is simple: be curious, build relationships, do the work, and stay open to unexpected opportunities. Do not put yourself into boxes created by other people’s expectations. The most powerful careers are not always the most traditional ones; they are the ones that allow you to use your education, values, and voice to create something that matters.
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