Class of 2026: JD Grad Nick Flores Bet on Himself and Found His Place at Arizona Law

Name: Nicolas (Nick) Flores 
Degree: Juris Doctor 
Hometown: Douglas, AZ 
Undergraduate: University of Arizona 

What inspired you to pursue a law degree?  

I didn’t come to law school straight through the traditional pipeline. I had a stable career working for a Fortune 500 company where I helped organizations and businesses improve how they managed their people, processes and systems. Through that work, I started to see how closely business decisions overlapped with legal issues like contracts, risk allocation and organizational structure. Law felt like a way to channel everything I’d learned about people, business and relationships into something that had a deeper impact. For me, choosing law school wasn’t about starting over; it was about choosing growth. 

Why did you choose Arizona Law?  

The smaller class size and being a third-generation Arizona Wildcat made it personal, but more than that, it gave me the space to be myself. Many of my accomplishments and personal relationships in my life came from the University of Arizona, so the decision to come back for my JD was an easy one. 

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

Law school itself has probably been the experience that changed the way I think the most. Before choosing to attend law school, I wasn’t sure if it was something I should pursue at this stage in my life. It had always been a goal of mine, but one I wasn’t sure I’d ever actually follow through on. Going through the process has reminded me that it’s never too late to bet on yourself and chase something meaningful. 

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

No one really warns you how constant law school feels. There’s always something to do, so you end up moving from one thing to the next without ever stopping to recognize what you’ve actually done. It can feel like you’re behind even when you’re not. I got through it by trusting my process and giving myself permission to step back when I needed to, instead of feeling like I had to be “on” all the time. 

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

Relax. You don’t have to prove anything. Just be yourself and everything else takes care of itself. 

How has earning this degree changed you as a person — not just as a legal professional? 

Law school pushed me to be more disciplined, but more importantly, it reinforced the importance of staying true to myself in environments that often reward conformity. I’ve become more confident in my perspective, more comfortable trusting my instincts, and more focused on building meaningful relationships rather than chasing validation. Earning this degree didn’t just shape how I think as a lawyer, it clarified the kind of person I want to be. 

What will you miss most about law school?  

The people and the everyday interactions. It is the conversations before class, the shared stress during finals, the small moments that don’t seem important at the time but end up meaning a lot. It’s rare to be surrounded by that many driven people all figuring things out at the same time. 

What area of the law are you most interested in practicing, and why?  

I’m interested in transactional work, particularly in the sports and entertainment space. My background in business and my passion for music and athlete development naturally led me there. I enjoy building things, structuring deals and working directly with people to help them grow something meaningful over time. 

What are your plans after graduation?  

After graduation I plan to move to Nashville and begin building my legal career with a focus on transactional work and intellectual property. Long term, I want to work in the music and entertainment space, helping artists and creatives navigate opportunities, structure deals and protect their careers. I’m especially interested in providing practical, business-minded guidance in an industry where that’s often lacking.