When Mara Aldajani ’24 walked across the stage to receive her JD degree from the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, it wasn’t just a personal achievement. It was the highlight of a lifelong journey powered by strength, sacrifice, and a desire for change.

As an associate attorney, former part-time student, Palestinian American, mother, and immigrant, Aldajani’s story is one of finding strength in her identity and purpose in helping others.

Born in Kuwait and raised in the Sacramento area since she arrived in the U.S. as a child in 1992, Aldajani has had a deep connection to her communities her whole life. Aldajani attended and graduated high school in Sacramento and eventually earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from CSU Sacramento State. But it was the injustices she witnessed, mainly against immigrants, that reminded her of herself and ignited her choice to study law.

“I saw so many people fall through the cracks of a system they didn’t understand,” Aldajani recalls. “I wanted to be someone who could help fix that, even if just for one person at a time.”

McGeorge School of Law became the place for her to pursue that dream not only because of its location in her adopted hometown, but because of its diverse student body, flexibility and community. As a mother, Aldajani needed a program that would support her unique needs, and McGeorge did that for her.

“The part-time program just seemed like it was made for me. They worked with my schedule, were very flexible and gave me room to be a mom, and still be challenged in the classroom,” she said.

During her time at McGeorge School of Law, Aldajani dove into opportunities that allowed her to make a difference. Through the Immigration Law Clinic, under the guidance of Professors Blake Nordahl and Julie Davies, she helped refugees and asylum seekers. She chose to focus on the many clients who spoke Arabic. She often translated for clients, offered emotional support, and built trust with those who had lost so much.

“These clients didn’t just need legal help from myself or classmates. They needed someone to listen and someone who could understand,” she said. “Professors Nordahl and Davies didn’t just teach us the knowledge we needed to know; they taught us how to be ethical and compassionate attorneys.”

The Refugee Interprofessional Community Engagement Program, known as RICE, was another life-changing experience. The RICE Program is a collaborative initiative involving McGeorge School of Law and the Social Work program at the University of the Pacific’s Sacramento Campus, in partnership with the UC Davis School of Medicine. As an immigrant herself, Aldajani saw the program as a way to give back. She visited clients in their own homes, helping with everything from setting up basic life necessities such as electricity to explaining how the public systems worked.

“It gave me an inside look at everything that is happening as well as what is lacking. These families needed help navigating life, not just the legal matters,” Aldajani said. “It was an honor to be trusted with that and such an eye-opening program McGeorge offered me.”

Even after graduating from law school, Aldajani says she still receives phone calls from former clients who need her help, and she never hesitates to lend a helping hand.

After considering several job offers, she joined RTGR Law LLP, a workers’ compensation firm based in Oakland, California. The firm’s hybrid work environment allows her to balance her legal career with motherhood, and their strong mentorship program gives her the support she needs as a new attorney.

“I needed a place where I could keep learning. I found that here at RTGR Law LLP,” she said. “And the people I work with have extensive experience in the field, and I wanted that for myself.”

Outside the classroom and legal clinics, Aldajani was also a leader on campus. As vice president of the evening class for the Student Bar Association during the 2023-24 academic year, she wasn’t sure if she could manage the time commitment. Once she decided to take the position, she immediately got to work, meeting weekly with students, advocating for their needs and leading a campaign to provide year-round access to feminine hygiene products in campus bathrooms.

“It may seem small, but it’s not,” Aldajani said. “I believed these products were a necessity to have in all bathrooms on campus for female students. When the faculty and dean supported us, I knew I was doing something right.”

One of her proudest academic achievements was in Civil Procedure, which was one of her favorite classes at McGeorge, even though it was her most difficult. Learning it over Zoom during the COVID era made it even harder, but she stuck with it and earned an A- after a full year of hard work.

“This was one of the first classes I took at McGeorge. It tested me, but after an entire year to finally grasp the subject, I was able to pass and I was so happy,” she said.

For incoming 1Ls and prospective students, Aldajani offered advice.

“Be organized, stick to your schedule and delay gratification. Even if you struggle early on in the semester, just keep going because it happens to all of us. Have that faith in yourself and trust me, it gets better. I was out of school for a few years, and I doubted myself, but I made it. You can too,” she said.

As a Palestinian-American, Aldajani deeply appreciated McGeorge’s commitment to diversity and freedom of expression.

“Here at McGeorge, they encourage us to speak our minds,” she said. “Many other law schools that I know of don’t grant that privilege, but McGeorge does. They protect their students and allow us to practice this freely. Also, when I’m asked about where I went to law school, I’m proud to tell people I graduated from here.”

Aldajani looks back on her law school journey not just with happiness, but with appreciation. McGeorge didn’t just prepare her for a career. It helped her discover her voice, purpose, and community that empowered her to serve others.

“I believe this school changed my life,” Aldajani said. “Now, I get to help change lives too.”