Meet Joslyn Hillberg, a 3L at San Joaquin College of Law and a Communication Studies major from California State University, Stanislaus. Her interest in law began at a young age and helped guide her all the way to the halls of San Joaquin College of Law. Find out how Joslyn’s interest in law has grown after experiencing various classes at SJCL, why she’s so passionate about helping those who need it most and how she’s remained focused on her studies through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tell us about yourself and your road to SJCL.
I’m originally from Turlock and lived there until I moved to Fresno to start law school. I attended Stanislaus State and have always been very academic. I finished college in three years and majored in Communication Studies. Law school has always been the ultimate goal, and San Joaquin College of Law was actually the only place I applied to because I knew it’s where I wanted to go after college. I wanted to stay in the Central Valley and work with the people here in my community. I knew SJCL would be a good fit for me since it’s tailored to help students make connections in the valley.
I’ve always known that I wanted to be a lawyer and I’ve had some wonderful influences along the way. My dad is an attorney back in Turlock where he practices Estate Planning and Probate law. I grew up doing odd jobs in his office. I started out doing simple things like making copies, filing case files, and stamping letters. As I got older, I worked my way up to becoming an actual legal secretary. I worked there through college and was able to observe how he does everything in his business, and especially learned a lot about how he interacted with his clients and was able to help them. He is hardworking and honest, and I never met a person who had a bad word to say about him. That made me want to work just as hard to help people when they need someone to trust and rely on. Working there really solidified my desire to attend law school. Now that I am here, I’ve really drawn on my experiences from working there to help me understand the law and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to complete my clinical units with him. I am interested in practicing Estate Planning in the future, but my interests have also expanded while in law school.
What other areas of law are you interested in?
I came to law school with an open mind and thought that the only area I would surely not practice in was criminal law. So, I was surprised when I took Criminal Law with Professor Cherney during my 2L year and the material completely fascinated me. I felt like I really understood the law and could get into the mindset of arguing for both positions. Professor Cherney was a defense attorney and gave a lot of insight especially into capital punishment cases. After I finished the course, I was so inspired that I continued to pursue my interest by taking a homicide class during the summer and a death penalty course this past fall.
This area of the law has come to be a big interest of mine, maybe because I never truly considered it for myself before. I was surprised to find that my interest leaned towards criminal defense rather than prosecution. I’ve really done a lot of thinking about what “true justice” is and how equality, fairness, and mercy are or are not extended towards those facing our justice system. Professor Cherney’s point of view gave me a great starting point for understanding the power that we have (or will have) as attorneys. People trust us with situations that are incredibly important to them, and sometimes with their lives. That’s a huge responsibility.
Professor Cherney assigned our class many artistic works to consider, both writings and movies, to see how justice is portrayed in the media, which kind of acts like the bridge between the law and laypersons. When considering the death penalty, we watched Just Mercy and Dead Man Walking. The movies really make you become part of the story and I think that’s what people need right now. We can read stories about trials and executions, but it’s a “clean” experience. We’re not buried in the emotions and we’re thinking with our heads not our hearts. I think a lawyer needs to be able to do both. Engaging with these materials reminded me that while serving as representation is very important, we must also be active advocates that can reach the public. These are the people who will be filling our jury boxes, and we should be building that connection that bridges the law, justice, and our communities.
You had the unique experience of attending law school before and during the pandemic - what are some of the differences and challenges you experienced?
I’m in the three year program, and it’s crazy to think that I will have spent exactly one half of my law school career online with Zoom. I gained a lot from the social aspect of it while on campus. I like to get to know people, and I was a part of many clubs. The funny thing is that although I like to get to know everyone, I prefer to study on my own. Yet, I do think it’s beneficial to make connections, and for some people that’s in the form of study groups. It’s nice to be able to ask friends questions and maybe learn something from a different perspective. Zoom classes are so different because now you’re studying on your own and attending class in your bedroom, but it’s especially challenging since you don’t get the same experience that you do in a real classroom. On campus, you could feel the support from the people sitting next to you. We’d encourage each other to stick with our studying and get off our phones. Now, it’s more like you actually need your phone in order to communicate and stay motivated! I have a love/hate relationship with my technology these days. I don’t want to feel completely isolated but at the same time, phones can be distracting.
Did SJCL help you overcome those challenges and provide support when you needed it?
SJCL has done its best to be understanding about these new circumstances and the learning challenges that come with it. I know it’s been tough on everyone, but the admin has worked hard and my professors did pretty well lecturing to a “silent” screen. Class participation has been a little more difficult; now it’s a whole process of trying to unmute yourself and making sure you’re not speaking over someone or wondering if your professor is going to hear you at the right time during their lecture. I thought the professors did well pausing and asking questions more often to get people involved.
How was the transition from going to classes everyday to studying/going to school from home?
It was pretty hard at first, and honestly some days it is still hard. I have had the privilege of being able to be a full-time student and not work during the semester, but some days that has felt less like a blessing since we can’t really leave the house otherwise. Being in my house all day makes it harder to separate “school” and “home” life.
When I went to campus, part of my motivation was to “dress for success.” It made me feel like I had at least one part of my life under control. Getting dressed up would motivate me to feel like I could start my day and conquer any obstacle. Once things moved to school at home, dressing up didn’t seem like a necessity. But, I figured out by the second week or so that if I didn’t get ready for my classes the same way I would have before, I was not motivated to study. Home was not school! I needed to get dressed and go sit in a different room with my casebooks and act like I was in school again. So, while my routine changed in that I could wake up later and didn’t have to make that commute to school, I still had to incorporate some sort of daily routine to feel like there was a semblance of normalcy.
How did you reduce the mental stress of being in law school during a pandemic?
Being able to have zoom study sessions with people in my circle made me feel less isolated. Even though we do most of our studying on our own, we’ve made more time to call each other and check in -- sometimes about school and other times just about life. I’ve also gotten better at taking structured breaks from studying. That’s where separating my school and home life is really important. If I take a study break and start doing chores or something, I want to finish what I’m doing and put off my reading. Instead, I’ll take a little time to rest my mind without doing something too distracting and “homey.” When I’m not studying, I try to keep up with other hobbies. I’m learning to sew and also improving my cooking, things like that. I’m also lucky in the sense that I have a boyfriend who is also a law student. We aren’t in the same classes, but he’s going through the same thing and understands the frustrations of the school year. We keep each other accountable and he helps me remember that this is an overwhelming time for everyone and that nothing can stop me from achieving my dreams, including a global pandemic.
How do you maintain a good work/school/life balance?
I’m a very visual person, so I have to segregate my areas. I have one place that’s solely dedicated to studying and the rest of the house is for other things. If I study somewhere that’s “home” per say, it’s not quite the same for me. To get that work/life balance, I’ll study at my desk and then I’ll come out to the kitchen and cook. I’m not trying to study in my kitchen while I’m cooking because I know I won’t fully have my mind on what I need to be doing for school. That being said, it’s definitely a nice change to be able to walk to my kitchen for dinner instead of trying to find somewhere to eat near the school. I try and keep my school life and home life separate, so that I can fully enjoy each one instead of just getting overwhelmed by the sum of it all.
How was your experience with extracurriculars during law school before and after the pandemic?
I think clubs and organizations are a good way to get yourself out of the study hole. I didn’t join every single club my first year and I wouldn't recommend it because then you’d be giving all your time to social events when you need to make studying your focus. But, being a little social creates a good balance. I have been a student rep on the SBA for all three years, and have been a member of DTP since 1L year as well. I’m also part of the Christian Legal Society. I think being involved is a good way to make connections outside of study partners. You get to know students from different years and even get to interact better with the school’s administrative team and professors, who are all so instrumental in making the law school experience a great one.
What’s something you’ve learned so far in law school that no one told you about before?
I guess I knew this already but it still shocked me how much dedication is needed. You can love reading and arguing, but there’s always going to be a time when you just don’t want to do it anymore. I studied Literary Rhetoric in college which was good prep for law school because of the amount of reading and analysis involved. I’ve always loved reading so law school seemed like a perfect fit. Then I got here and there was so much more involved than I expected. I feel like I don’t actually know what studying was before law school! And, it’s tough sometimes when you just don’t want to do it anymore. It can get overwhelming fast. But, I think that anyone can come to law school and the key to their success will be how dedicated they are. Passion and a love of reading will get you far, but your dedication is what’s going to get you through it. You have to remind yourself what your goals are, what you want to accomplish in life, and how finishing law school is going to get you there. Then you can accomplish anything.
What does life after law school look like for you?
I’ve always wanted to practice law in order to help people. For a long time, my specific target group was the elders in our community. I’ve felt as if they were a more forgotten segment of our society. I was very close to my grandparents and I got to see firsthand how their friends were taken advantage of or unprepared for their passing. They were of a generation that was very kind and trusting, trying to get by in a world where people are not always nice to them. I wanted them to get the care and compassion that they deserve. I’m still very passionate about that area of law, which is why I’ll probably end up settling into a practice that specializes in elder law and estate planning. My increased interest in criminal defense and capital punishment laws may inspire work in that area before I settle down, or at least provide ample avenues of research and advocacy opportunities.
What advice do you have for people who are interested in going to law school but hesitant because of the uncertainty in today’s world?
If you can, talk to people who’ve gone to law school, or preferably are in law school. Law students can really give someone who’s interested in law a good perspective. Law students have a bright light inside of them and are still fueled by the passion that got them this far. Law school is tough and being a lawyer isn’t easy, but it’s going to be so worth it. I feel driven because I want to help people and I want to make a difference in my community. I know that other people may feel that too but not know how to start down the path that will help them make that difference. Finding an inspiration in current law students helps others who are hesitant but considering law school to make the decision and just go for it. That’s why talking to current law students, especially during this pandemic, would be very beneficial. Other lawyers are awesome, but our experience is unique because we’re the only ones who really know what it’s like going to law school in the middle of a pandemic. We’ve got some pretty inspiring tales to tell!
Want to learn more about San Joaquin College of Law, attend a virtual student forum or set up an appointment to discuss your law school future? Contact our Assistant Director of Admissions, Francisco "Javier" Rosas today!