Cherly Valdez

Cherly is a 1L at UCLA School of Law. As a legal studies major at UC Berkeley, she learned how successful litigation can set legal precedents that influence court decisions and gradually shape the legal landscape by establishing new rights and protections. Her interest in the law grew as she came to see courts and lawyers as powerful instruments of social change. Through her experiences, Cherly became increasingly aware of the limitations of current immigration law and the inequities those limitations can produce for families living in uncertainty. She hopes to contribute to changing that culture by advocating for greater fairness, dignity, and stability. Law school will prepare her to become a lawyer who can help defend, address, and shape laws that promote justice and certainty.