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SWLAW Blog

Maria Figueroa

Online J.D. Student Maria Figueroa Reflects on Parenting, Purpose, and Law School in ABA Journal

May 20, 2026

For Maria Figueroa, a 2L Online J.D. student at ��̽��, law school has been a family journey.

In her February 2026 ABA Journal essay, “How to Manage Family Expectations During Law School,” Figueroa candidly describes the challenges of pursuing a legal education while raising children and working full time. The essay offers practical advice for students with similar responsibilities while capturing the emotional negotiation that happens when one person’s dream requires the entire household to change.

Topics

May 19, 2026

Southwestern Alumni Land Top Honors on 2026 Southern California Super Lawyers Lists
March 13, 2026

��̽�� Announces New Biederman Scholars, Top Honor in Entertainment, Media & Sports Law
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Southwestern Leaders Again Named Among Most Influential People in Legal Education
January 13, 2026

SCALE Student Julianna Montano Named a Law Student of the Year by National Jurist
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More Awards & Honors

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Leichtman–Levine Gift of $2.5 Million Strengthens Southwestern’s Online J.D. Program
January 12, 2026

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September 11, 2025

9th Circuit Judge Consuelo Maria Callahan Named Southwestern’s 2025–2026 Distinguished Jurist-in-Residence
July 17, 2025

��̽�� Awarded $1.35 Million DOJ Grant to Empower Youth in Los Angeles’ Juvenile Justice System

More Press Releases

March 14, 2023

Dean's Fellow Digest Issue #46: Mapping a Southwestern Student’s Route to Landing a Job as a Criminal Law Attorney in the Local Public Sector
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Dean's Fellow Digest Issue #45: The Importance of Finding Friendship in Law School
February 11, 2022

Dean's Fellow Digest Issue #44: Practical Ways to Minimize Distractions and Maximize Productivity
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Dean's Fellow Digest Issue #43: Managing Timing and Stress Around Assignment and Paper Deadlines
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Dean's Fellow Digest Issue #42: Office Hours: Maximize Your Learning and Career Goals!
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Dean's Fellow Digest Issue #41: Mapping a Southwestern Student’s Route to Big Law Part 4 - A Non-Traditional Yet Classic Route to Big Law: Networking

More Dean's Fellow Digest

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National Jurist Spotlights Micheal Rubio and Southwestern’s Online J.D. Program
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Southwestern Professor Meera E. Deo Leads First National Study on Disabled Law Students
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Katrina Petty Turns Passion into Practice in the Entertainment & The Arts Legal Clinic
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Legal Clinic Leaders Series — Graham Outerbridge
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SCALE Student Spotlight: Nadya Bayliss '24, on Embracing Challenges and Advocating for Change

More Future Students

March 10, 2022

Ten 2021 Graduates Selected for Prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates Fellowship
September 20, 2021

Game-Changing Yoka-Panish 1L Fellowship

More Job Talk

March 13, 2026

��̽�� Announces New Biederman Scholars, Top Honor in Entertainment, Media & Sports Law
May 7, 2025

Southwestern Recognizes Top Entertainment Law Students as 2025 Biederman Scholars
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More Entertainment & Media Law

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Southwestern Celebrates Juneteenth 2024
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��̽�� celebrates Pride Month!
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More Diversity

April 28, 2026

Faculty Appearances: March Highlights
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2025-26 Faculty Summer Research Projects
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Faculty Appearances: February Highlights
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Faculty Appearances: January Highlights
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Professor Meera E. Deo Keynotes AALS Conference on Women in Legal Education
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Faculty Scholarship Spotlight: Professor John Tehranian

More Faculty Scholarship Spotlight

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Jamal Greene Reconsiders the American Founding at 2026 Montgomery Foundation Lecture
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April 16, 2025

Stephen Vladeck Delivers 2025 Montgomery Lecture on Supreme Court Power and Accountability
April 14, 2025

The 16th Annual Public-Service Program Award Luncheon — April 17, 2025
February 12, 2025

Southwestern Law Brings Top Legal Scholars Together for Critical Discussions on LGBTQIA+ Rights, Legal Education, and Global Speech Regulation
September 13, 2024

2024 Bison Day of Giving

More Events