Rooted in community

Fara Rodriguez ’24 began a path to public service long before she set foot in Washington, D.C. Raised in Santa Ana, California, Rodriguez saw firsthand the systemic barriers her family and neighbors faced in education, healthcare, and immigration. These lived experiences planted a deep desire to influence change. This is a mission she’s now fulfilling as a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) Postgraduate Law Fellow.

“I grew up seeing the inequities in my community,” she said. “Seeing how my family and myself were just navigating different roadblocks there, how broken the systems were, that’s what sparked my interest in policy.”

As a fellow, Rodriguez worked in the Office of Representative Darren Soto and the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary.

Rodriguez didn’t always envision herself working on Capitol Hill. After college, she spent several years as an immigration paralegal, gaining firsthand exposure to the legal hurdles immigrants face. While she valued helping clients directly, she came to believe that systemic reform, rather than case-by-case legal work, was the key to meaningful change. That realization eventually led her to the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, where she pursued a concentration in Capital Lawyering.

Relocating to Sacramento from Southern California was a big step, but McGeorge’s policy-focused offerings, particularly the Capital Lawyering Concentration and hands-on classes, made it worth it.

“McGeorge’s faculty were very supportive,” Rodriguez said. “Professor [Erin] O’Neal helped guide me through the fellowship application process. I still keep in touch with her. The classes that gave me practical skills I now use every day.”

A fellowship that builds a future

The CHCI Postgraduate Fellowship is a nine-month program that prepares emerging Latinx leaders to shape public policy. Fellows spend four days each week working on Capitol Hill, drafting legislation, researching policy, and supporting lawmakers. They also devote one day to leadership training, which is grounded in self-discovery, collaboration, and community impact. The program is highly competitive and provides a platform for Latinx professionals to grow their skills and build lasting networks.

The CHCI Fellowship is one of the most competitive programs in the country, with only seven students nationwide being selected for the fellowship in 2024-25.

Rodriguez’s policy brief on predictive policing and artificial intelligence was selected for publication, and she later moderated a Capitol Hill panel on artificial intelligence’s impact on immigration policy. These experiences helped her speak up about fairness in technology and public safety.

“CHCI is about empowering our community,” she said. “It’s more than just a job. I think anyone who's interested in it should definitely go for it.”

Rodriguez spoke highly about her time at McGeorge, emphasizing the incredible support she received from faculty throughout law school and even after graduation. She credits professors for being especially encouraging, helping her navigate her options and feel confident in her path, even during times of uncertainty.

“I'm very grateful for my education at McGeorge, and I definitely love to represent McGeorge out here,” she said.

As she wraps up her fellowship, Rodriguez remains committed to building a career in policy that centers equity, community, and long-term impact.

“If you help a community that's marginalized, it's like a tide that lifts all boats,” she said. “It’s only going to get better for everyone if you are uplifting this community.”

At McGeorge School of Law, Fara Rodriguez gained extensive hands-on experience through the Prison Civil Rights Mediation Clinic, co-mediating Section 1983 prisoner civil rights cases with a federal magistrate judge, and the Federal Defender Clinic, where she strengthened her advocacy skills in criminal defense. She served as a primary editor for University of the Pacific Law Review, Volume 55, contributing to both the Legislation and Managing Editor departments. Beyond academics, Fara was a member of the Kennedy Inn of Court, Treasurer for Lambda Law Students Association, and an active participant in the Latinx Law Student Association and Womxn of Color Collective, fostering community and leadership.

Read next: Fellow McGeorge alumna Elizabeth Rocha Zuñiga '24 shares how her passion for education equity led her to a CHCI fellowship and work on Capitol Hill.