Ms. Vanessa Zapata is a first-year law student at the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois Chicago. Ms. Zapata aspires to build a career in immigration law, focusing on family-based immigration and defense, where she can advocate for individuals and families navigating complex. She plans to use the HLSF scholarship to continue her legal education while pursuing opportunities in immigration-focused nonprofit organizations or defense-oriented legal work. This summer, she plans to build on her existing legal experience by working in a setting aligned with her interest in immigration advocacy and defense.