A husband and kids 220 miles away in Las Vegas. A rewarding job at a top plaintiffs law firm in downtown Los Angeles, where she is often tasked with coordinating big trials. Sherry Young-Layo ‘27 was not sure how getting her law degree to pursue her dream career as a trial attorney would fit in — until she learned about the Hybrid JD Program at LMU Loyola Law School.
“I love my job, I love my team, and I didn’t want to give up my job to go to law school,” Young-Layo said.
But the Hybrid JD Evening Program offered a way for her to advance her career without giving up time in the evening with her kids or her already-successful career. The program requires students to be on campus just one night a week, allowing them to continue working or managing other responsibilities during the day. Most graduate in four years.
“I love Loyola because I have so many coworkers that are from Loyola, and I just respect them,” Young-Layo said. “It’s a great school with a good reputation.”
Young-Layo’s professors, including Lauren Willis and Michael Serota, have demonstrated a real passion for teaching, thoughtfully developing course materials that help students learn challenging material and making themselves available for office hours at night and on weekends.
“Professor Serota is a ball of energy, and you can tell that he is 100% engaged in the subject that he’s teaching. And he’s super passionate about criminal law,” she said.
But one of the highlights of her first year was in Professor Robert Brain’s contracts class, when Young-Layo asked him to autograph the textbook he authored, “Sum & Substance Quick Review: Contracts.”
“His inscription says, ‘May your life be filled with offers and acceptances, but not refusals,’” she said. “Every time I open that book to study is so special because of his inscription.”
Once she graduates and officially becomes an attorney, Young-Layo plans to return to litigation, where she’s already thrived as a clerk and trial paralegal.
“I like the energy of trials. I feed on the excitement of it,” she said. “There’s something that’s very special in working the case up from start to finish, so there’s no question that litigation is going to be the right path for me.”
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 has been extended to May 1. Learn more and apply.
