Student Spotlight: Laura Eagle On the Pathway to Empowerment
by Melissa Green |
Laura Eagle knows how difficult it can be when life takes unexpected turns. She wants to use her paralegal studies classes鈥攁nd a budding career in the court system鈥攖o empower her family and her community.
Laura Eagle knows how difficult it can be when life takes unexpected turns. When Eagle鈥檚 father passed away several years ago, it was difficult for her family to navigate the many processes they needed to. Things were particularly difficult for her mother, who is from Korea and speaks limited English. 鈥淚 remember thinking, 鈥業 don鈥檛 want to be like this forever,鈥欌�� says Eagle. 鈥淚 wanted to be able to help my mom and my family. I wanted to be able to help people when they can鈥檛 help themselves.鈥�
Eagle was especially motivated by how much attorneys can help, in all kinds of difficult times. 鈥淪eeing people in courtrooms advocating for others is really inspiring to me,鈥� she says. That led her to the paralegal studies associate鈥檚 program at the Justice Center, which she鈥檚 on track to finish this fall. Once she earns her AAS, Eagle鈥檚 plan is to continue on to complete her bachelor鈥檚 degree in legal studies here. And after that? She鈥檚 considering law school. There鈥檚 a long way to go鈥攂ut Eagle has come a long way already.
鈥淚t has been quite a journey,鈥� she says about the paralegal studies program. In addition to participating in mock trials and learning to make oral arguments, Eagle鈥檚 internship at the state鈥檚 therapeutic court paved the way for her current job as an in-court clerk. 鈥淚 was able to network with people who work here, and my supervisor was one of my references,鈥� she says. 鈥淭hat internship gave me a leg up to get this job.鈥�
Working and going to school is a big commitment, but for Eagle it鈥檚 the perfect combination. She explains that the paralegal studies program provides the foundational knowledge she needs for her job, while her job offers new experiences that enhance what she鈥檚 learning in the classroom. 鈥淵ou can learn general concepts in school, but working as an in-court clerk has taught me a lot about Alaskan law and how we do things here. I get to be there for arraignments, changes of plea, trials. I get to see how the attorneys and judges interact. I鈥檓 learning all kinds of new things.鈥�
Eagle says the challenge is worthwhile not only for her career, but also for the people she鈥檒l be able to advocate for鈥攕ome of whom might be facing major life events like she and her family did. 鈥淚 really want to do this because I really want to help people,鈥� she says. 鈥淚 want to be part of changing the world, and the way to do that is to educate myself. This is a set of skills that I can use to help my family鈥攁nd to help the world around me.鈥�
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