By Alex Ballard
Fighting for Civil Rights is one of the main reasons I pursued practicing law at Arias Sanguinetti Law Firm. I did not enter my career knowing that I wanted to be Plaintiff’s Trial Lawyer pursing Civil Rights cases, but looking back it seems almost obvious that this firm and area of expertise were destined to be my pursuit.
After completing my undergraduate studies at Chapman University and receiving degrees in Economics, History, and Political Science, I moved to Las Vegas to attend law school at the University of Nevada Las Vegas – Boyd School of Law.
As a 1L, I worked as a Law Clerk for a legal aid organization, focusing on education advocacy for students with disabilities in the foster care system. I furthered my litigation experience as a 2L, clerking in the Litigation practice group of a mid-size business/commercial firm. Though these were amazing experiences that I’m grateful to have had, somewhere, deep down, there was always something missing. During law school, I spent two years as a member of my school’s mock trial team, and I realized that the place I could make the most impact was inside a courtroom as a Plaintiff’s Trial Lawyer. My desire to make an impact and bring justice for those who have been wronged brought me to Arias Sanguinetti.
In May 2022, I began working as a Law Clerk in our Las Vegas office. Throughout that summer, I worked full-time on Personal Injury and Medical Malpractice matters alongside Partner Gregg Hubley, Senior Associate Christopher Swift, my fellow Law Clerk Emily Grable, and the entire Vegas office team. I researched a variety of legal issues, drafted motions, reviewed deposition transcripts, assisted with trial preparation, and all the while gained a greater understanding of the intricacies of civil litigation.
In our Las Vegas office, I was able to bring my passion for education advocacy to our firm because we represent students with disabilities who have been abused in the Clark County School District. While our clients’ stories are heartbreaking, it is a solemn reminder of the necessity of our firm’s work to hold those in power accountable for abusing vulnerable kids.
I stayed on with the firm throughout my last year of law school, learning more and more each day. As I grew in my career, the firm noticed my passion for the advocacy work that we do and offered me a position as an Associate Attorney in our Los Angeles office. I was honored to accept the position and finished my last year of law school with vigor, knowing there was a position for me at an amazing firm.
After graduating from law school in May 2023, I made the transition to our LA office. Here, I have built upon my knowledge of various practice areas, including Civil Rights. Whether clients have died while incarcerated or been victims of excessive force by law enforcement, we are here to stand up for clients’ civil rights when government entities fail to act lawfully.
Our firm handles mass torts and complex cases, and whether we are representing individuals abused at juvenile halls or those who have faced racial discrimination in the workplace, we are committed to tackling systemic issues. Learning from attorneys who have had major success tackling class actions, mass torts, and other complex cases means that I will be able to best advocate for our clients in the future.
Arias Sanguinetti is a firm that believes in fighting to get our clients justice. Upon my admission to the CA State Bar, I am ready to continue fighting for those that have been harmed by those entrusted to protect us.
