An Affinity for Leadership and Service
“But I was 100% sold after that,” he recalls. “Everyone was so friendly and down-to-earth, and Dean Chemerinsky’s speech was so moving that it nearly had me in tears.”
Andrews always revered people who could command a room and communicate effectively, and wanted to grow those skills — making law school a logical destination. “Those who don’t know the law are at the mercy of those who do,” he says. “I also wanted to learn to wield it to help others.”
An Affinity for Leadership and Service
“But I was 100% sold after that,” he recalls. “Everyone was so friendly and down-to-earth, and Dean Chemerinsky’s speech was so moving that it nearly had me in tears.”
Andrews always revered people who could command a room and communicate effectively, and wanted to grow those skills — making law school a logical destination. “Those who don’t know the law are at the mercy of those who do,” he says. “I also wanted to learn to wield it to help others.”
“Assisting indigent veterans in securing benefits, especially those who are unhoused and facing significant stress, has been incredibly rewarding,” says Andrews, the first in his family to graduate from college and become a military officer. “Contributing to and strengthening the law school’s veteran community has also been deeply meaningful. Being able to pay forward the kindness and guidance I received as a new student from 3Ls and recent graduates is a fulfilling way to give back.”
Andrews is also co-president of Christians at Berkeley Law, which welcomes students for biweekly fellowship, Bible studies, spiritual support, social activities, and networking events with other graduate student groups — and has almost doubled its attendance from last year.
Throughout his campus endeavors, Andrews sees students eager to learn about groups they’re unfamiliar with and working to bridge divides. Last fall, Military Veterans at Berkeley Law co-hosted an event with the school’s Queer Caucus to discuss groundbreaking litigation focused on LGBTQ+ veterans who were dishonorably discharged under the controversial Don’t Ask Don’t Tell regulation.
“Community is essential in a law school environment,” Andrews says. “It encourages the exchange of diverse ideas and perspectives — each enriched by the students’ unique backgrounds — and creates a space where preconceived notions can be challenged, promoting understanding and building connections between different communities and identities.”
“Similar to joining the Air Force, I was motivated by the chance to do impactful, service-oriented work,” he says. The experience gave him a firsthand understanding of the vital role lawyers play in advocating for those in need and reinforced his desire to pursue a meaningful legal career.
Now shifting his professional focus toward plaintiff-side law, Andrews hopes to specialize in employment or class action work and aims to “develop strong trial skills, hold corporations accountable, and have the opportunity to scale my income based on the value I provide.”