Class of 2026: JD Grad Diana Paola Vega German Reflects on Her Arizona Law Journey

Name: Diana Paola Vega German 
Degree: Juris Doctor 
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona (born in Cumpas, Sonora, Mexico) 
Undergraduate: University of Arizona  

What inspired you to pursue a law degree? 

Growing up, I always knew I wanted to pursue a career that would enable me to help my community and, in some way, give back to those who have most supported me in my journey. My passion for helping others has always been a guiding force in my life, whether it be deciding what I pursue professionally or what I do in my personal life. A law degree makes me feel like I will be the advocate my community deserves and will empower me to serve as a voice for those who are not always heard in the legal system.  

Law is also unique and has played an important part in my personal and professional growth. As a law student and advocate, I have learned more about myself than ever. I have learned how much passion, determination and tenacity I have. It also offers me a daily challenge that I welcome. It allows me to engage in something ever-changing, ever-challenging, and to collaborate with colleagues who are as committed to justice and diversity as I am.  

A legal career has always been the bridge I need to help my community while doing something I enjoy and feel fulfilled by. My desire to grow, to challenge myself, and to always help those who need it most is best served through advocacy.   

As an attorney, I want to share my voice and education with those who may not be able to have them. I am aware that it takes more than one person to change the world, but I hope my legal education can help me change a small piece of the world for those I help. 

Why did you choose Arizona Law? 

As an immigrant born in Sonora and raised in Sonora and Tucson, Arizona, it is important to me to stay close to my roots and help those in my community. The University of Arizona is home. Arizona Law is home.  

As a first-generation student, I knew I wanted to attend a law school with a welcoming, strong community. I wanted to feel close and supported not only by faculty but also by my peers, who would most likely become family to me. We spend so much time together, stressing, crying, laughing, joking, reminiscing and complaining. I knew I wanted to be in a community that would not only support that but would encourage me to do it. I wanted to be in a community that lifted me rather than brought me down, that understood my interests, and that would support me in pursuing what I wanted.  

I always believed I could accomplish whatever I set out to do. I needed a law school that would also encourage and support that outlook. Arizona Law has been amazing, offering me great opportunities through certificate programs, clinics and organizations that have allowed me to pursue my passions and interests. The variety of things I can do, study and learn is a great asset. More than that, Arizona Law understands that a well-rounded attorney requires experience in the classroom, in court, in networking situations, and in dealing with issues we may not like or feel comfortable with.     

Which class, professor or experience most changed the way you think, not just about the law, but about life? 

I had amazing professors throughout law school who helped shape me as a student, professional and person. However, a few stand out in my law school journey. I often think about the professors who shaped my outlook on the law, as well as the type of attorney and person I want to be in the profession. Professors Judge Harrington, Sylvia Lett, Eunice Lee, Bryan Schwartz, Lynn Marcus, Shefali Miclzarek-Desai, and Diana Newmark, to name a few, have added to my growth and to whom I want to be as an advocate. I not only learned trial, writing and client-attorney advocacy skills, but also how each interacts with students, colleagues, peers, attorneys and clients.  

I have also received personal and professional nurturing from administrators like Ruben Fierros and Chris Gast. The support and dedication they both bring to the law school and the student population are admirable and appreciated. Part of being a law student and attorney is having the support and relationships required to be successful. There was no shortage of life and professional lessons that I learned from all of them, and I will surely take all their wisdom, advice and examples of professionalism with me wherever I go.    

What is the hardest thing about law school that nobody really warns you about, and how did you get through it? 

One of the hardest things in law school that no one warned me about was how hard it would be to adapt to a new way of learning and studying. Everyone talks about the stress, the time management, and how balancing life, work and school can be difficult. However, no one talks about how hard it will be to find the right or preferred way to read, study, learn and take notes during a lecture, especially for students who have not had trouble getting good grades in the past.  

Readings, learning and studying in law school are so different from anything else that we do throughout our educational careers. What may have worked in the past may not work in law school.  

To get past that obstacle, I made sure that, as a 1L during my second semester, I talked to many 2Ls and 3Ls who had already been through the same journey  and asked for examples of how they studied, read, took notes and completed study guides and outlines. Then, I decided to try out many of the options until I found one that worked for me and applied it to the rest of my law school career. The earlier students know they have to adapt to what works in law school, the better the outcome they will get. 

If you could go back and whisper one thing to yourself on the first day of 1L, what would it be?