McGeorge School of Law professor Erin O’Neal understands the power an in-person connection can hold when empowering students to pursue a career in law.

O’Neal, who is the director of the Pacific Legal Advantage program for University of the Pacific undergraduates, fosters these career-building connections by bringing in some of the country’s top legal voices to share their experiences with students, from the former Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court to members of the California Legislature, including State Assemblymember Matt Haney, who will join the McGeorge School of Law for the annual Capital Center Legislative Leaders Speaker Series Feb. 25.

The Pacific Legal Advantage program also coordinates events and provides resources and education for prospective law students, no matter their major or background.

“The program is directed at undergrads who are interested in exploring the possibility of law school,” O’Neal said. “It is for students who have decided that law school is for them, and also for students who are thinking about the possibility and may not have lawyers in their family or people who can advise them on that path. That was my experience, and that's part of why I'm so motivated to work with students in this program.”

Pacific Legal Advantage spans everything from deciphering legal jargon to shadowing a local attorney, and primes students to be familiar with legal concepts before they enroll in law school, so they can begin their legal education with a solid foundation.

“Thanks to the leadership of the Pacific Legal Advantage’s current and former directors, McGeorge Professors Erin O’Neal and Dan Croxall, University of the Pacific is able to offer a distinctive and comprehensive pre-law curriculum, positioning students to excel in law school and pursue their dream careers as lawyers who are changemakers,” said McGeorge School of Law Dean Michael Hunter Schwartz.

A key component of what makes the Pacific Legal Advantage program unique is its networking opportunities. O’Neal has curated a lineup of expert guest speakers who share their experience through moderated discussion and question and answer sessions with students.

“I bring people who are using their law degrees in different ways to talk with students because I do think that the law degree is a very versatile professional degree that is useful in a variety of career paths. Emphasizing that to students is helpful because it's hard to know how it plays out in the real world when you are initially contemplating the possibility of law school,” O’Neal said.

In October, former Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court and current President and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California Tani Cantil-Sakauye visited McGeorge as the speaker for the Capital Center’s annual Policy Perspectives Speaker Series. Students were able to ask questions and engage in meaningful conversation with Cantil-Sakauye.

“The Pacific Legal Advantage program has provided me with so many amazing and unique opportunities. One of the most influential of these experiences was the privilege to hear former Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who shared with us her experiences as well as invaluable insight,” said Lily Ulrich ’29.

O’Neal often brings in speakers who are alumni to showcase first-hand what Tigers are capable of achieving.

“It's that idea, if you can see it, you can be it, that people who were undergraduates at Pacific can talk about and share their experience both in our program and navigating the law school application process. They can also share how the curriculum has been useful for them once they got to law school and beyond.”

O’Neal said Pacific Legal Advantage aims to support students no matter where they choose to continue their education.

“It's a fantastic program, and I love getting to know students who are interested in thinking about law school,” O’Neal said. “I remember that feeling myself, of trying to navigate the law school application process on my own. I think the more we can provide PLA students with information and skills that will be helpful, the better prepared they will be for the rigors of law school if they choose to pursue a law degree. The chance to help Pacific students navigate that path, prepare them with relevant coursework, workshops, and the opportunity to get to know lawyers makes our program really unique.”