JD Student Spotlight - Mailinda Hoxha

What made you decide that you wanted to go to law school?

I attribute my decision to attend law school largely to the injustice my father faced while living under a communist regime in Albania. Hearing secondhand stories of the persecution he and other close relatives endured exposed me to the cracks within government policy and sparked my interest in understanding them further. Before my senior year of college, my father and I returned to the now-overgrown buildings where he had served seventeen years as a political prisoner. I watched him stand in front of the room where he had been forced to sleep for years after being charged with propaganda crimes—charges for which he never received a fair trial.

I don’t think everyone gets to witness someone come out on the other side—mostly because often, there’s no one to help them get there. That moment made me realize I wanted to go to law school to effectuate change, with the goal of offering legal expertise to marginalized and persecuted communities one day.

Why did you choose Seton Hall?

I chose Seton Hall after hearing several of my close college friends speak highly of their experiences here. They specifically highlighted the dedication of the professors and the networking opportunities that Seton Hall provided. I also appreciated its proximity to New York City—being a New Yorker myself—and felt that its atmosphere fostered hard work while encouraging balance.

How did your experiences before law school shape your employment decisions in law school?

Before law school, I gained experience in immigration law from both corporate and private practice settings, which influenced my employment decisions while in law school. While working as a business immigration analyst, I learned a great deal about the corporate side of immigration and collaborated with colleagues on case strategy. After about two years, I transitioned to a smaller firm, where I focused primarily on criminal defense and immigration removal defense.

Gaining experience on both “sides” of immigration law gave me a comprehensive understanding of the practice area—which, ironically, encouraged me to branch out! Because I already knew I was passionate about immigration, I wanted to take time in law school to step outside my comfort zone and explore something new.

Can you explain a little bit about what you did in your 1L summer?

During my 1L summer, I worked as a legal intern at the Detention and Deportation Defense Initiative (DDDI), a state-funded program that provides pro bono immigration counsel to indigent New Jersey residents in removal proceedings. As an intern, my responsibilities ranged from communicating and meeting with clients to conducting research on country conditions, immigration law, and the effects of government action on communities. I also drafted briefs and motions for immigration court and prepared applications for relief from removal, including asylum applications.

I really appreciated how dedicated the DDDI team—led by Dr. Glykeria Teji and Professor Lori Nessel—was to ensuring each intern got the most out of the experience by assigning a wide variety of tasks. I was fortunate enough to meet some of my clients throughout the process and even accompany them to immigration court. It was a powerful opportunity to connect with clients and gain a practical understanding of the entire immigration process.

Why did you decide to take another job in the immigration field?

I wanted to take another job in the immigration field to understand what an attorney’s role is in a client’s immigration process. Until that point in my career, I had supported clients as a family relative, friend, paralegal, and analyst—but I had yet to fully experience the attorney’s perspective. Doing so gave me insight into what the day-to-day looks like for a first- or second-year attorney in the field, which I found incredibly valuable for making informed career decisions.

You chose to work for a non-immigration firm in your 2L summer. Why was that?

I think law school is the best time to gain legal experience in a variety of practice areas. While I had a wonderful summer working for DDDI, I wanted to broaden my legal experience and see if I could spark new interests before officially stepping into the profession.

I had enjoyed the business aspects of my previous positions, so I started considering roles in business litigation. During my 2L summer, I worked for a smaller business litigation firm in New York City, where I applied what I had learned in my Business Associations course and gained first-hand experience in a new legal practice area.

What was that like? What kind of work did you do there?

Working in business litigation was very different from immigration law—which was exactly why I wanted to experience it. I believe it’s essential for both career and personal development to continue challenging yourself, especially as a legal professional.

During that summer, I drafted shareholder derivative complaints, conducted due diligence investigations, and reviewed documents for various projects. Learning how to identify potential legal claims and develop arguments in the context of business litigation gave me valuable insight into both corporate structures and the law itself.

The experience helped me clarify what I enjoyed about the legal field and what kind of environment I might want to work in post-grad—whether that’s an office, a courtroom, or both. It helped me answer the same kinds of questions many law students wrestle with during these formative years.

How have your employment experiences in law school changed your view of the type of employment you’re now seeking post-grad?

My employment experiences have significantly helped refine my idea of what I’m looking for post-grad. Shortly after finishing my 2L summer, I began working as a law clerk at McComber, McComber & Luber, P.C., where I’ve since expanded my experience in employment litigation.

By working in a variety of practice areas and environments, I now feel more confident in pursuing a post-grad position that aligns with both my interests and skillset. It can be hard to figure out whether a small, mid-sized, or large firm is the best fit—or which practice area suits you best—so getting as much exposure as possible has really helped me navigate that journey.

Do you have an idea of what you’d like to do post-grad? What types of job opportunities are you looking for?

Right now, I’m leaning toward business immigration and employment litigation, but I’ve also discovered a new interest in probate law! I’m also open to opportunities in public interest and ultimately hope to secure a position that offers strong mentorship and the opportunity to further develop my litigation skills.

Hands-on advocacy is very important to me, so I’m especially interested in plaintiff-side firms specializing in immigration, business, or probate litigation. But honestly, I’m excited to see where the future leads!