Alex Nasca: Georgetown Law '26

Alexandra Nasca is a 2L at Georgetown University Law Center after transferring from The University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) School of Law. She graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Elementary Education and Teaching from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign after transferring from Illinois Wesleyan University. At UIUC she was part of the James Scholar Honor's Program and president of her sorority. After her undergrad, Alex completed a Master of Arts in Elementary and Middle School Administratorship/Principalship from Concordia University Chicago. This summer, Alex will be a transactional summer associate in the Washington DC office of Eversheds Sutherland (an international Big Law firm).

What made you decide to be a lawyer?

I'm actually a second-career law student.. I started my professional career as a teacher teaching third, fourth, fifth, and sixth graders for seven years. Around year four of teaching, I started feeling the itch to do something different. . I first tried to navigate within the profession to scratch this itch. . I went back to school to get my administrative degree in principalship and administration. For this degree I took some courses in law and ethics and really enjoyed them. That got me thinking that maybe I wanted to be a lawyer. When COVID hit, teaching became a very different experience with online classes, and it felt like teaching would never be the same again. So, I decided it was time to pursue my JD. For now, I'm working in the private sector.

With your experience as a teacher, have you found any skills that transferred into your current work as a law student or any legal internships you've had?

Communication and working with different types of people have definitely carried over. In law school, I'm one of the older students, so being able to navigate social dynamics and work with diverse groups is important. Organization and the ability to grind through tough situations are also key. As a teacher, you're not working for yourself, but for the kids, and that's similar to being a lawyer—you're working for your clients. The service-centered mindset I developed in education has transferred well to law.

Whether you're in transactional work or litigation, you're always part of a team working toward the same goal. I was also the president of my sorority, which was more of a social experience, but it helped me learn how to work with different types of people and handle challenging situations. Leading over 200 girls taught me to publicly speak, address difficult issues, and have tough conversations. While these weren't explicitly legal or educational organizations, those experiences still prepared me for law school.

With your transition from education into law, do you find that the aspects you liked about education are also what you like about law, or has your mindset towards your career completely changed?

There are definitely similarities. I enjoy working with people and collaborating toward a common goal, which is something I liked about teaching and is also present in law. However, my mindset has shifted a bit. I initially wanted to work with kids, but now I think I might prefer working with adults. My experience in getting an administrative degree, where I worked with adults who worked with kids, shifted my perspective.

What are the benefits to coming into law school with career experience, rather than going straight from undergrad?

Having been in the professional world for a while, I know what's expected of me in a work setting. I've experienced the grind of long hours, which makes me prepared for the challenges in law school and later in my legal career. Also, I'm comfortable having hard conversations and working through challenges with other professionals, which is a valuable skill in law. Additionally, having gone through graduate school, I already know how to study, which is different from undergrad. Law school studying requires a different mindset, and my teaching experience also helped me understand how to study effectively. Employers appreciate seeing someone who's had diverse experiences and can bring those skills to their current work.

How has your studying routine changed from undergrad to law school?

In undergrad, I was in education, so my focus was more on writing papers and doing projects rather than taking tests. In law school, especially in my first year at UIC, there's a heavy emphasis on testing, including multiple choice and essays. I transferred to Georgetown, which is more focused on written exams rather than multiple choice, so the format is a bit more familiar to what I did in undergrad. The first year of law school is very test-driven, as they're trying to determine if you're fit for the rest of the program. The second and third years tend to be a bit lighter in that department

How did you handle transferring from one law school to another, especially considering the impact on OCI, summer associateships, and the network you had built in Chicago?

I never planned on transferring, but when my father became ill, I chose to stay in Chicago for my first year of law school to be close to him. Unfortunately, he passed away during my first semester. After things settled, I did well in my second semester and felt my grades warranted a transfer. Georgetown offered more resources, particularly through its connection to DC. I transferred in time to participate in OCI, which was a great opportunity because Georgetown has a more extensive OCI program, especially with its proximity to DC. As a result, I secured a summer associate position at a Big Law firm in DC. The OCI process was invaluable for networking, and I got to meet many interesting people, even in brief interviews.

How does UIC's law school culture and career focus differ from Georgetown's?

UIC has a strong focus on public interest, with many students going into fields like immigration law and human rights law. Georgetown, on the other hand, offers more connections to big law and other sectors. While I appreciate the public interest culture at UIC, transferring to Georgetown was an opportunity to broaden my exposure to different types of legal work. Both schools have their unique strengths, but Georgetown's location and resources in DC are definitely a big draw for me as I move forward in my legal career. Georgetown also has a big transfer community, which has made the transition easy.

However, there's also a significant private sector presence at Georgetown, largely because many students graduate with significant debt and are drawn to big law to pay that off or explore whether it's the right fit for them. Personally, I'm leaning towards staying in the private sector because I've already worked in the public sector for so long.

Given your experience in building a new networking community in DC, what advice would you give to students looking to expand their networking skills?

I'm still navigating networking here in DC. Back in Chicago, it was easier because I was born and raised there and had established connections. I worked at a firm that was integrated into the Italian Bar Association and had a strong presence at UIC, so networking came naturally. In DC, I've joined clubs like the Georgetown Law Softball Club and the Corporate Law and Finance Organization, which help me meet people. I think networking will continue to get easier for me as I meet more people and expand my circle. I've only been here a couple of months, so it's a work in progress. My advice would be to start with social and professional groups that interest you and build connections from there.

Having gone through the law school application process twice—once for UIC and then for Georgetown—were there any mistakes that you made the first time around that you were able to address the second time?

When I applied to transfer to Georgetown, I made the mistake of casting too wide a net when I only truly wanted Georgetown, Northwestern, or Notre Dame. I wish I had spent more time focusing on the schools I really wanted to attend, knowing that applying to multiple schools can be costly and stressful.

Can you talk about your LSAT preparation? What materials did you use, and how did you study for it?

For the LSAT, I started with Kaplan's book, but it took a bit of trial and error. I eventually found that the LSAT Demon preparation program worked best for me. It's an interactive program where you can purchase live tutoring sessions and access tons of practice questions and tests. Once I got into a study routine and stuck with my plan, I started to see improvement.

When I started my personal statement, I made the mistake of rushing through it, trying to checkboxes and get it done. But I soon realized that the best way to approach a personal statement is to give it time. I suggest spending a week reflecting on what you want to say. Think about it aloud, talk to yourself, and try to figure out what makes you unique and how you can connect with the admissions committee. The key is to make sure your personal statement shows what you bring to the table.

So, my advice is to not rush it. No personal statement written in 20 minutes is going to make you stand out. Also, don't embellish or make things up to sound better. Be genuine. If they don't want you for who you really are, then that school isn't the right fit. It's important to check in with yourself periodically and update your personal statement, even if you're not applying to law school or a job. It's a good way to track your growth and see where you are in life.

What is one piece of advice you would give to undergrads or high schoolers considering law school?

The best advice I can give is to really think critically about why you want to go to law school. It's not a decision to make lightly. Law school is expensive, time-consuming, and emotionally taxing. It's not just a way to "open doors"; it's a life commitment. You need to be sure that you're ready for the hard work and the mental and emotional toll it takes.

Also, don't rush into it. You don't have to go straight from undergrad. It's totally okay to take time, explore other paths, or work in a different field before committing to law school. I'm 31 and a second-year law student, and I don't feel I'm too old. In fact, I think waiting until you're sure about your decision can actually be a huge advantage. If necessary, take the time to explore other careers, gain some life experience, and really reflect on whether law is the right path for you. . If you do that, you will approach law school with more purpose, maturity, and a clear sense of direction. It can make a huge difference in how successful you are—not just professionally, but in how you navigate the pressures and challenges of the profession.

Yes, I really want to emphasize one point that I think is crucial: law school is challenging, there's no doubt about it, and it does take a toll—mentally and emotionally. But I don't think it has to be overwhelming or all-consuming if you approach it with the right mindset. There's this common stigma around law school where everyone assumes it's just stress and burnout, and that you have to sacrifice your entire well-being to get through it. But that's just not true.

You can absolutely prioritize your mental and physical health while still excelling in law school. The key is balance. It's about making time for yourself—whether it's going to the gym, playing an intramural sport, reading for fun, or just taking a walk. You have to make time for those things and not let law school take over your life. I really wish more people understood that you don't have to lose yourself in the process. Keep those interests, hobbies, and passions that were part of your life before law school. It's essential to maintain that balance.

I think we need to change the narrative around law school and the legal profession. It doesn't have to be a miserable, all-consuming grind. You can have a fulfilling, balanced life outside of school and still do well. So, I guess I would just encourage anyone considering law school to really think about how they can manage their time and energy, and remember that preserving your well-being is just as important as doing well academically. Law school doesn't have to ruin your life if you make the conscious choice to take care of yourself along the way.