Elaine Chen
3L; Admissions Ambassador
Hometown:
Diamond Bar, CA
Professional Interests:
Civil Rights; Employment and Labor Law; Public Interest
Student Organizations:
Asian Pacific American Law Students Association
Clinic:
Workers Tenants Law and Organizing
Pro Bono:
Witness for Justice (W4J) Immigration Court Observation; Reproductive Rights Media Research
Housing:
Off campus
Meet Elaine:
Hi everyone! My name is Elaine, and I'm a 3L here at UC Irvine Law. Prior to attending law school, I took a few gap years to work in different areas of the legal industry - mainly immigration and in-house. I ended up choosing UC Irvine Law because of its robust public interest opportunities, and thanks to all the experiences I've built during my time here, I developed a strong passion for workers' rights! This past summer, I was fortunate enough to be a Peggy Browning Fellow with Legal Aid at Work, a nonprofit specializing in employment law for low-income workers across California.
In my free time, I love to dance, tend to my small garden, and spend time with the amazing friends I've found here! As a first-generation law student, I was super nervous coming into this new environment - thankfully, I was able to meet those with similar backgrounds as me, and I don't know what I would do without such a great support system.
My advice to any incoming law student is to not be afraid to put yourself out there, and don't be afraid to try different practice areas! Whether it's taking a class in a field you don't have experience in, or trying a new pro bono project, UC Irvine Law has lots of ways for you to explore different career paths and decide what you really want. I'm happy to chat if you have any questions or want to connect!