In October 2021, first-year law students Erika Basurto (UC Berkeley School of Law) and Raquel Eugenia Grande (UC Hastings College of the Law) were honored as the 2021-2022 Wilson Sonsini Foundation Diversity Scholars at the virtual ChangeLawyers Next Gen Awards. The annual awards event celebrated the latest cohort of scholars, who collectively are first generation, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and others whose lived experiences and identities are significantly underrepresented in the halls of power.

Please see below to learn more about Erika and Raquel, as well as the ChangeLawyers Diversity Scholarship Program.

Erika Basurto

A native of Whittier, California, Erika is motivated to promote equal access to justice after witnessing the various barriers faced by the Latinx community and communities of color more broadly. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from UC Berkeley in 2016. After graduating from college, she worked as a paralegal casehandler at the Legal Aid Society in New York, as a paralegal for the ACLU’s Criminal Law Reform Project in New York, and as a substitute teacher in Los Angeles.

What led you to pursue the study of law?
As a first-generation student of color, I decided to pursue the study of law to promote equal access to justice. In college, as a volunteer for the Centro Legal De La Raza, where I interpreted for Spanish-speaking immigrants facing wage theft, I saw how income, language, and citizenship status limit access to justice. The disproportionate impact of these barriers on my community motivated me to provide legal assistance to low-income communities. As a paralegal at various nonprofits, I assisted in preventing evictions, obtaining asylum, and keeping families together. Along with helping people navigate the legal system, I also worked toward changes in law and policy. At the ACLU, I worked on class action lawsuits in the service of broader bail and indigent defense reform. I will obtain a legal education to continue challenging the many barriers to justice for low-income communities and communities of color. 

How would you characterize your law school experience so far? What’s been the biggest surprise? The biggest challenge?
My law school experience has been challenging, but also exciting. I think the biggest challenge has been adjusting to being a student again after being out of school for a few years. At the same time, I’ve really enjoyed learning about the law, getting involved in affinity groups, and making new friends.

Are there any specific areas of the law that interest you at this stage?
I’m interested in exploring labor and employment. After volunteering at an employment clinic, I’m excited to work with employers and help them avoid labor disputes.

Do you have a sense of what career path you want to pursue following law school?
I plan to pursue a career in Big Law and to promote social justice through pro bono work. I’m also interested in doing a federal clerkship to gain insight into the judicial process.

What does it mean to you to be selected as a Wilson Sonsini Diversity Scholar?
I’m so honored to be selected as a Wilson Sonsini Diversity Scholar. I’m thankful that I can focus on pursuing my academic interests and serving the community. Through the Youth Advocacy Project at Berkeley Law, I have promoted juvenile justice and mentored first-generation students of color who are interested in pursuing a legal career.

What advice do you have for students who are considering law school or a legal career?
I would suggest getting exposure to legal work to see if you enjoy it. I would also recommend traveling while you have the time and building healthy habits to take care of your mental health.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
In my spare time, I enjoy writing poetry, playing sports (especially beach volleyball and softball), and going to the beach.   

“It has been an honor getting to know and mentor Erika through the California Change Lawyers Diversity Scholarship Program. Erika is smart, passionate, and clearly very driven and committed to her work and studies. I know she will be a great addition to the legal community, and has a very bright future ahead. I look forward to continuing to support her on that journey!”
 —Mikaela Burkhardt, Wilson Sonsini litigation associate and mentor to Erika

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Raquel Grande

Growing up as a first-generation Latina student in Los Angeles, Raquel was made aware of the importance of advocacy and access to justice at a young age. Through her personal and professional experiences, she recognized she could be of service to underrepresented individuals through the power of being an attorney. Raquel earned a bachelor's degree in social welfare and gender and women's studies at UC Berkeley in 2014. She has served as a legal advocate at the Jenesse Center, an enrollment and match specialist at Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area, a peer advisor for the Obama Foundation, an outreach lead at the Chicana Latino Student Academic Development Office in Berkeley, a civics teacher and legal assistant at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, and a teacher at Watu wa Maana in Ruiru, Kenya, where she taught English and mentored students who were coping with homelessness.

What led you to pursue the study of law?
What resonates the most is that I saw my mother, an immigrant in this country, navigate family and immigration law largely on her own, and I remember the stress she went through as a single parent. As I reflected on that as I got older, I thought it would have made a difference if she had more support or counsel. As the daughter of an immigrant parent, I took on a lot of responsibilities early on in my life. Once I learned English around the age of nine, I started to help my mom with document translation and understanding the fine print. I had an innate curiosity to understand what everything meant—and what it meant specifically for my mom—so I think that planted a seed in terms of teaching people their rights and responsibilities. Knowing how to navigate these systems can save lives, and the law is involved in every single thing we do.

After Berkeley, I worked in various capacities as a mentor and advocate for underrepresented individuals, survivors of domestic violence, survivors of sex trafficking, and others from marginalized backgrounds, and there were many times I felt limited in these roles. I noticed that people were getting lost in the system, and at times, I knew there were existing resources to help them, but getting access or more people to advocate for them was difficult—and that was really troubling for me.

While at the Jenesse Center, a nonprofit domestic violence intervention organization, I worked in an in-house legal department alongside behavioral and mental health professionals. The organization’s holistic approach to disrupting intimate partner violence shaped me to be an advocate that recognizes the value of trauma-informed and culturally sensitive legal advocacy. Seeing that reinforced that law school was the next logical step for me.

How would you characterize your law school experience so far? What’s been the biggest surprise? The biggest challenge?
I've been surprised at the community I've found in law school. I'm grateful to have a support system of new friends and colleagues. I'm one of only about six Latinas in my cohort of around 70 students. Finding people who understand and make space for underrepresented identities is essential, and I'm fortunate to have formed new friendships with people who advocate for diversity and have closer lived experiences to mine. This new network has been instrumental in keeping my motivation up and has helped me continue to push forward when things get difficult.

It's also been challenging to learn how to learn again, after being out of school for a while—for example, relearning my study habits and what works for me. Sometimes the experience feels stimulating and affirming, but the workload can feel insurmountable at times. As a first-generation student, it can be daunting and isolating, but I'm motivated by the ability to disrupt the legal space and knowing that I belong here in law school; I was accepted for a reason and I'm needed here. The support I've received from Wilson Sonsini, the Bar Association of San Francisco, and others has been affirming in my journey and commitment to law school.

Are there any specific areas of the law that interest you at this stage?
I am interested in employment law. This semester, I wrote a brief and presented an oral argument on a hostile work environment case for a class, and I really enjoyed working on it. In some ways, it ties back to growing up and witnessing my mom working in stressful conditions. I would encourage her to speak up or unionize, but as a single parent and immigrant, she feared losing her job and our family’s only source of support. Although there are workplace protections for employees, some people cannot access or aren't comfortable using those protections.               

I'm also taking a property law class this semester and I'm particularly interested in the ways that public agencies interact with businesses and corporations. These are just a couple of areas I'm exploring and see myself possibly working on in the long term.

Do you have a sense of what career path you want to pursue following law school?
It's both a blessing and a curse to be interested in so many things. I hope to be a well-versed attorney who can speak to different areas of the law, but right now I'm taking the time to explore and keeping an open mind. I think a lot of the time attorneys end up in a practice they didn't necessarily anticipate, but for whatever reason, certain decisions led to an opportunity and they landed where they were supposed to be—I'm holding onto that reassurance.     

What does it mean to you to be selected as a Wilson Sonsini Diversity Scholar?
To me, it feels like Wilson Sonsini has my back—that they recognize I have talent, skills, grit, perseverance, and all these traits that are needed in the profession, especially for underrepresented people in the profession. It's a vote of confidence, and it tells me that the firm believes the profession needs more people like me. I envision myself learning from diverse attorneys, like Cristina Mora, my mentor at the firm, and I think by recognizing me as a scholar, Wilson Sonsini understands the importance of that, too. I carry this recognition with a lot of pride.

What advice do you have for students who are considering law school or a legal career?
Talk to attorneys. I know that’s easy to say, but it’s actually really difficult for some first-generation students, because we do not always have attorneys in our lives. I would encourage students to reach out to a range of law students. I’d also encourage diverse applicants to research pipeline programs like the UCLA Law Fellows, which gave me support, mentorship, and a strong alumni network. Also, reach out to local law schools for informational interviews and research what the programs have to offer you. Law school applications and admissions are a competitive process, but it's a reciprocal relationship—you should also ask what they can do for you during your time there. Don't be afraid to go on LinkedIn and talk to people on there, too—that's what I did when I was considering law schools and it ultimately led me to choose UC Hastings. There are people out there who care and want you to succeed.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
I enjoy solo traveling and always recommend people do it at least once in their lifetime. It's so nice to reconnect with self and go to a new place to just figure it out. Before law school, I was an avid runner and have done several half marathons. It's a great experience and tests your mental and physical endurance. I enjoy spending time at the beach, going to national parks, and camping; I've also hiked a couple of active volcanoes, which was pretty fun! I like listening to podcasts—Ear Hustle produced out of San Quentin Prison is among my favorites—and going to art walks and community events with friends. And I love spending time with my family and my cat, Pepper.

“It is a privilege to serve as Raquel’s mentor as part of the Wilson Sonsini Foundation’s commitment to diversity in the legal field. Raquel is compassionate, smart, humble, and inspiring. I am excited to see where her legal career will take her and the communities she will lift along her journey.”
—Cristina Mora, Wilson Sonsini litigation associate and mentor to Raquel

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The 2021 Next Gen Awards, held on October 14, 2021, recognized the newest cohort of ChangeLawyers scholars. Supported through contributions from law firms and other donors, the ChangeLawyers’ Diversity Scholarship Program provides financial support to diverse students who are starting their first year at an ABA or California accredited law school with a commitment to practicing law in California and who have a financial need and a desire to make an impact in the community. The Wilson Sonsini Foundation has provided support for the program since 2008.

To learn more about California ChangeLawyers, please visit http://www.changelawyers.org.