For Jazmin Tapia, the decision to pursue a legal career was not rooted in ambition. It was born from experience. Raised in Philadelphia after immigrating from Michoacán, Mexico, she saw early on how confusing and intimidating legal systems could be, especially for families with limited resources or language access. “Even small things like translating a document or explaining a form could make a huge difference,” she said. “Those moments made people feel seen.”

Today, as a Drexel Kline School of Law student, Tapia brings that early awareness into every class she takes and every community initiative she leads. Whether organizing legal clinics, mentoring peers, or advocating for families navigating special education systems, her approach remains grounded in care, clarity, and action.

From Paralegal to Law Student

Before starting law school, Tapia spent nearly a decade at Sachs Law Group, where she rose from receptionist to senior paralegal and office manager. That professional experience confirmed what her personal story had already taught Jazmin: That understanding the law is not enough. “You have to be able to explain it,” she noted. “To guide someone through it without making them feel small or left behind.”

Encouraged by colleagues and alumni she had once trained with, Tapia eventually enrolled in Drexel Kline’s law school pipeline program. The experience gave her an early look at legal coursework and a much-needed confidence boost. “I was nervous,” she added. “But that summer program gave me a glimpse of what law school could be. For the first time, I felt like I could actually do it.” That sense of belonging continued once she became a full-time student. “From day one, they knew my name,” she recalled. “It didn’t feel like I was just filling a seat. I was part of something.”

Putting Knowledge into Practice

That blend of lived experience and legal skill quickly turned into action. Tapia did not wait to apply what she was learning. As pro bono coordinator for the Immigration Law Society, she proposed and led legal workshops at the Mexican Consulate in Philadelphia. Drawing on her established relationships, she helped design events where students, under attorney supervision, walked attendees through green card renewals, naturalization applications, and know-your-rights resources. “We didn’t want to just do intakes and send people away,” Tapia said. “We wanted them to leave with something done, something concrete.”

Tapia continues to lead hands-on legal efforts and build student coalitions to reach communities often left out of the system. She coordinates with groups like the Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA), the National Lawyers Guild (NLG), and the Student Organization for Legal Issues Concerning Drug-Use (SOLID) to bring Spanish-speaking volunteers, resource tables, and student training sessions into every event. “Everyone has a role,” she explained. “And we’re learning from each other along the way.”

Even small gestures—like personally providing food and water when the budget did not allow it—reflect Tapia’s belief that justice is built on care. For Tapia, justice includes the planning: making sure volunteers were fed, clients had water, and no one felt like an afterthought. Welcoming people, she believes, is not a bonus. It is where justice begins.

Grounded by Community

Tapia says the Drexel Kline community is a crucial part of how she continues to grow academically and personally. With guidance from mentors like Dean Danielle Boardley, Dean Kevin Oates, and Professor Nancy Kraybill, she navigated law school coursework and life’s unexpected challenges. “They’ve helped me find my way forward more times than I can count,” she acknowledged. “They remind me that growth doesn’t have to look perfect.”

When she took a leave of absence to manage family responsibilities, those mentors ensured she had a path back. “They helped me protect my future, not give up on it,” she recalled. That same perspective informs how she approaches her current work — especially her work related to advocacy for children with disabilities. After securing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for her daughter with autism, she saw how daunting education systems can be for families without legal knowledge. “Even with my background, it was hard,” she declared. “So, I think a lot about the parents who don’t have anyone walking with them.”

A Vision Rooted in Experience and Action

Tapia envisions a future firm that blends paid work with pro bono service. Her focus on immigration, child advocacy, and criminal law mirrors the needs she sees in the communities she serves through her coursework and involvement in Drexel Kline’s Pro Bono Legal Service Program. She is documenting processes so others can continue the work after she graduates. “We’re making sure this doesn’t end when I graduate,” Jazmin pointed out. “It should keep growing.”

At every stage, Tapia makes space for others. She mentors classmates, shares her story with prospective students, and reminds those from nontraditional paths that they belong in legal spaces, too. “You don’t have to come from a certain background to do this work,” she emphasized. “In fact, what you’ve lived through might be your greatest asset.”

Jazmin’s advice is steady: “Start where you are. Ask questions. Don’t wait for perfect circumstances. They may never come. But the people who need you? They’re already waiting.”