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Andrea Vasquez was drawn to IU McKinney for her LL.M. because of the school’s strong international legal community. She completed the Corporate and Commercial Law LL.M. track.

Where are you from originally?

“I’m a foreign attorney originally from San Pedro Sula, Cortés, Honduras, a country known for its gorgeous white-sand beaches, Mayan ruins, and having one of the world’s largest reefs.

Where did you do your legal studies?

I did my bachelor’s in law at the Universidad Tecnológica Centroamericana of Honduras, home of Jaguars just as IU Indy.

What made you want to become a lawyer?

From an early age I’ve always known that I wanted to become a lawyer. Justice and service have been the bedrock of my drive and passion for this profession, it is the privilege and talent that an attorney holds to defend people’s rights that instilled in me the desire to take onto that task. Naturally, it is my aspiration to become a trial attorney (I happen to have a knack for arguing in a non-aggressive manner) and to be of service to the community not only through litigation, but with genuine compassion to alleviate people’s legal concerns. Finally, my father, who’s also an attorney and my mentor, has guided me through my life and career. His influence propels my aspirations as a lawyer since I look up to him as an example of both life and career.

What were you doing before you decided to pursue a Master of Laws degree?

I was a recent law school graduate and licensed attorney. I had been promoted from court clerk to judge (conciliation court) and I was taking business/corporate law online courses. Essentially, I was constantly preparing myself in every aspect to achieve my short-term goal at the time: to be admitted to a recognized master’s program in the United States of America.

What made you decide to pursue an LL.M.?

Competition and mastery. It doesn’t get easier out there and a bachelor’s degree isn’t enough anymore—specially in my country where you pursue a bachelor’s law degree straight after high school. I knew that as a young attorney with some degree of experience I needed something more that would distinguish me from the majority, an LL.M. would undoubtedly help me to build a strong foundation of knowledge that would prepare me to meet the market’s expectations and make a difference in my craft as an attorney.

What made you decide on IU McKinney for your graduate degree?

A variety of factors. McKinney’s Corporate and Commercial track is robustly designed to specialize as a lawyer in corporate and commercial law that’ll allow you to enter the international legal market and pursue a career beyond country frontiers. Moreover, the school’s location has been an invaluable asset for networking with all law firms, government offices, businesses, and corporations downtown. To conclude, they have a strong international community, for both LL.M. and J.D. programs. As an international student, this was a compelling factor as I was about to venture into a new academic pursuit away from home, family, and friends, it was important to find a program were I could have familiarity.

What's your experience been like at IU McKinney?

It has been everything I thought of and more. Law school can be exhausting and overwhelming, and having a dedicated support system is crucial to stay afloat. IU McKinney provided me with advisors, counselors, and professors that sincerely care for their students and will help them to succeed at McKinney and in their life pursuits. Furthermore, speaking from an international student’s point of view, McKinney has shown me hospitality and given me a sense of belonging.

What's your favorite thing about Indianapolis?

I’m a city girl at heart, but I enjoy my dose of nature every now and then to breathe and relax; thus, the Canal and White River Park are my two favorite spots downtown Indy to decompress. As to food, I must say that as a true Sampedrana I cannot live without fried chicken and “The Eagle” has, hands-down, the best fried chicken downtown.