Anthony Garibay ’27 has a lot on his plate: He’s the operations manager at a medical supply company, he’s married, and he’s taking care of his father, who is recovering from a stroke.
He’s also in his second year as a law student in LMU Loyola Law School’s Hybrid JD Evening Program.
Going to law school had always been an unattainable dream, he thought – until he discovered Loyola’s hybrid evening program that would allow him to pursue his studies without neglecting his responsibilities.
“Being an older graduate and already living on my own with rent and bills to pay, to be able to leave my job to pursue a JD full-time was not an option for me,” Garibay said. “That’s where Loyola’s evening program caught my attention and really provided the opportunity to pursue my goal, without needing to sacrifice my obligations to others.”
Garibay works 40 hours a week and attends classes on a hybrid schedule: Monday evenings in-person and Wednesday evenings virtually. The schedule sets students up to graduate in four years.
For Garibay, the program’s mix of modalities – in-person lectures, live online lectures that can be rewatched or viewed on-demand, various educational platforms and tools – makes the program not only accessible to students balancing full-time jobs and responsibilities but also aids in the learning process.
“You have the whole arsenal of technology at your fingertips,” he said.
Garibay also intends to participate in the Justice for Atrocities Clinic, one of Loyola’s 20-plus live-client clinics that allow students to gain experience assisting with real cases. This year, the Loyola Social Justice Law Clinic (LSJLC) launched two new clinics specifically designed for hybrid students: the Workers’ Rights Clinic and the California Appellate Clinic. Other clinics, including Justice for Atrocities, will begin offering hybrid evening courses.
He said the faculty have been the “biggest surprise and asset” of the program. It’s clear that they genuinely enjoy teaching hybrid evening students and respect the challenge these working professionals are taking on by going to law school.
“They know that we are hardworking and dedicated and we bring something to the table. We bring our experiences,” he said. “I think they really enjoy what we contribute to the discussion and lectures.”
The Hybrid JD Evening class has a culture of “we’re all in this together,” Garibay said. Students are helpful in class and understanding of each other’s responsibilities outside of class, and regularly plan social events to celebrate the end of midterms and finals.
Garibay’s goal as a lawyer is to contribute to “the communities that I am a part of and have helped me get to that point,” he said. With a year and a half of law school under his belt, he’s already well on his way.
For students looking to balance a law degree with a demanding career, Loyola’s Hybrid JD Evening Program provides the best of both worlds: a top-tier legal education without sacrificing professional or personal aspirations.
The priority application deadline for the Hybrid JD Evening Program is April 15. Learn more and apply.
