The LEO Corner - Edward Yanez

You were selected as a Legal Education Opportunity (LEO) Fellow. Can you share what attracted you to the LEO program and how it has supported your transition into law school?

For first-generation college students like me, the corporate culture in some firms can be intimidating. The LEO and SHL events with alumni allowed me to learn how to network with established attorneys in any field.

I applied to LEO because I was a Mellon Mays Fellow and sought a similar community of emerging professionals. My graduate research experience showed me that the inherent challenges of any academic program can be mitigated by surrounding myself with colleagues whose company I enjoy.

As a second-year law student, what has been the most significant learning experience or challenge you’ve encountered so far, and how has your background (including your LEO experience) helped you navigate it?

Learning how to balance my study sessions with volunteer roles has been excellent preparation for my transition into a legal career. The LEO peer mentorship program taught me effective time management strategies from 3L students who successfully balanced academics with internships and extracurriculars. LEO also gave me the opportunity to pass on this knowledge by serving as a peer mentor for first-year students.

The LEO program often emphasizes community and support. Can you discuss how the LEO community has played a role in your law school experience?

LEO connected me with lawyers who have conquered the same professional challenges I now face. My LEO mentor helped me overcome imposter syndrome during 1L because she had also been a non-traditional student and understood my experience. The 2L and 3L students played a crucial role in helping me anticipate the academic challenges of the first year. Overall, exposure to this supportive network helped me effectively strategize for future professional success.

Your résumé showcases a diverse background, including military service and experience at the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office. Can you discuss how specific skills or experiences from these roles have proven valuable in your law school studies or legal internships?

My experiences as a U.S. Army EOD included high-value target acquisition with Special Forces and presidential protection duties under VIPPSA. The Special Operations community is full of attorneys in non-lawyering roles who leverage their JD skillset to obtain the most competitive assignments. Working alongside two U.S. presidents and providing diplomatic support taught me that resilient coalitions are created through handshakes—because the strongest professional relationships are built in person.
The Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office (PCPO) summer program exposed me to the daily work of lawyers across the criminal justice system. There was no such thing as a typical day at the PCPO. The homicide units were composed of seasoned, veteran attorneys who set the standard for professionalism and were comfortable working individually against teams of opposing counsel. The Special Victims Unit also attracted some of the highest-performing lawyers, eager to make a direct impact on their communities. Prosecutorial internships can be an excellent way for motivated law students to immerse themselves in real-world litigation at every level, from preparing trial evidence to witnessing plea bargaining between prosecutors and defense attorneys.

You had a significant experience writing a legal brief for a homicide case at the Prosecutor’s Office. Can you elaborate on that experience and what you learned from it?

This assignment familiarized me with writing a time-sensitive legal brief for a specific court. My undergraduate studies emphasized editing as an essential component of persuasive writing because it enables better organization of thought and strengthens argumentation. I still view editing as a crucial, ongoing process that allows me to add specificity to my arguments.

I worked at the PCPO under Professor Barrera’s supervision, who helped me refine my legal writing through comprehensive guidance and robust feedback. He taught me that familiarity with how specific judges prefer arguments to be structured is integral to impactful legal writing.

You’re currently involved with the Student Diversity Internship Program at Schenck, Price, Smith & King, LLP. What are you hoping to gain from this experience, and how does it align with your future career aspirations?

I enjoyed interning for Schenck Price. The firm attracts accomplished attorneys with established client relationships because it focuses on delivering exceptional client advocacy. I was exposed to a wide breadth of legal specialties, including environmental law and medical malpractice defense. I was also introduced to client billing. This internship allowed me to narrow my legal interests while highlighting the critical lawyering skills I need to develop in law school.

Your academic background includes advanced degrees in International and Public Affairs and a strong undergraduate record. How do you see your interdisciplinary background informing your approach to the study and practice of law?

My master’s degree from Columbia’s SIPA taught me to feel comfortable applying my skillset to new fields. My assignments included working directly with a Latin American president by providing feedback on a speech he delivered at the United Nations General Assembly.

My capstone project involved collecting primary sources from U.S. and Mexican national archives to better understand how multiculturalism shaped the U.S. My published research with Oxford University’s History Society relied exclusively on vintage letters and antique journals to challenge modern literature portraying Antebellum Texas as a lawless borderland region. I dispelled long-held claims perpetuated in canonical history texts by critically reevaluating primary sources—an approach I now apply to my legal writing by critiquing my adversary’s interpretation of key cases to form stronger counterarguments.

You have a passion for mentoring military veterans. How do you envision incorporating this interest into your legal career or using your legal skills to support the veteran community?

My Special Operations experience taught me to view a JD as an acquired skillset that can amplify the impact of my existing projects. I previously served as the acting commander for a Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Connecticut and currently serve on the scholarship committee for the Special Operations Association, a MACVSOG and JSOC alumni group. After law school, I envision advocating for veterans by applying the legal field’s high standard of professionalism to non-lawyering roles on nonprofit boards.

What advice would you give to prospective or incoming law students, particularly those considering the LEO program or who come from non-traditional backgrounds?

Success does not have to come at the expense of our cultural identity. Pursuing a JD is inherently rigorous, but these challenges are often compounded by the unique obstacles non-traditional students face.
I am proud that my father was once an undocumented immigrant who began his career in the U.S. as a seasonal farmworker. I embrace this familial history because it gave me a growth mindset. When you inevitably feel like an imposter in a suit, take comfort in knowing that your position was earned through years of working late and making personal sacrifices—and that effort is already paying off.

Looking ahead to your remaining time in law school and beyond, what are your key goals and aspirations in the legal field?

My training as a bomb technician taught me to focus on refining the fundamental skills of my profession and to avoid chasing titles or accolades. My goal is to treat lawyering the same way—by becoming a strong legal researcher and writer through continual refinement of my craft.

I aspire to be the kind of professional who mentors the next generation of lawyers. I want to create lasting change in the legal field by advocating for the profession itself. I believe the best way to do this is by volunteering for projects that prepare non-traditional law students for academic success. We need diversity of thought to keep legal debate from becoming an echo chamber.