Victor Sosa '28 is pursing a JD in the evening division.
Why do you want to attend law school?
"I have wanted to attend law school since I was a little kid. I thought that the lawyers I saw on TV were super cool, and whenever my teachers would ask me how I envisioned my future, I would close my eyes and see myself in a suit, holding a briefcase. Of course, a child's dream doesn't always come to fruition without a little bit of hard work, and unfortunately for me, even though I had the capability of working hard, I chose not to work for that dream. My teenage years were spent surviving rather than trying to progress. I worked almost full-time while maintaining pretty good grades in high school. It was not until a teacher saw my potential that I decided to stop just surviving in my life and pursue my dream of thriving in life. That teacher helped me build a resume and taught me the many avenues of professionalism. With her help, I landed a union job with great benefits. At that job, I became a union steward and started to give a voice to individuals who didn't have a voice. I fought and still fight for workers' rights, and I'm in constant negotiations with the company to further benefit the well-being of all workers. So, why law school? Like the many individuals who fought for me and pushed me to be a better person, that is who I am. Everyone needs an advocate who can help them navigate situations and provide sound advice when they feel their whole world is crashing down. So, just like I do for my coworkers, I will be that advocate."
Why did you choose UConn Law?
"I chose UConn law, probably when I was 13. We had career days in middle school, and they would ask what we wanted to do when we grew up. Of course, I wanted to be a lawyer and go to UConn. Growing up, I didn't have a lot of stability in my life. My family struggled to make ends meet, and we moved around a lot. I found comfort in school since that was the only consistent thing in my life. I always wondered how I could make all the struggles in my life stop at the time. It wasn't until later, when I was much older, that I realized why we had to endure such hardship. At that moment, I realized I wanted to change the world. To make any change in your life, you start by making your bed in the morning. So, if I want to change anything, I should start in my backyard. Connecticut is my home, and I have no plans to leave. So, they are stuck with me. Of course, it is a bonus that UConn has a fantastic labor law professor and author. So, obviously, that was included in my decision-making process. But, ultimately, the decision to come here was a no-brainer. UConn's atmosphere is unmatched. They take pride in their community and even emphasize the importance of collaboration. The students don't compete with one another; instead, they help one another. I was privileged enough to meet many of my fellow law students because UConn encouraged it and made a platform where we could. So, again, why UConn? Because UConn is my home and now my family."
How do you want to use your law degree?
"I am currently a union shop steward. As a steward, I file formal grievances with the company to negotiate resolutions based on our collective bargaining agreement. I have been on multiple trips to our international union and even had the chance to visit one of the only institutions that teaches labor law to our members. I plan to educate myself in labor law further and continue fighting for workers' rights."
What was your path to law school?
"My path to law school was complicated. I originally studied engineering since that was relevant to my job out of high school. But the love for the law still lingered in me. That is why I was attracted to the union when I got my job. I quickly learned that engineering was not for me, and I reclaimed my childhood dream of becoming a lawyer. I switched from engineering to study English and political science. I figured my stewardship would fulfill my craving for debate and negotiation, so I used my English degree to hone my reading and writing skills. I also recently graduated from CCSU, so I am coming straight from undergrad with a full-time job. Many people ask me where I find the time to do all this. I usually say that when you truly find your passion and love what you do, there is always time."