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 Southwestern Law School, 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. 

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