It’s 6 a.m. in Los Angeles, and Timothy Brewster is catching a flight — again. One weekend, he’s competing in a volleyball tournament on the East Coast, the next, he’s representing Team USA in an international beach volleyball championship in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Life as a professional athlete is fast-paced and unpredictable, but no matter where he lands, come Monday evening, Brewster is back in downtown Los Angeles attending class in person at LMU Loyola Law School. Juggling a legal education with a full-time athletic career might seem impossible, but for Brewster, the Hybrid JD Evening Program at LMU Loyola Law School makes it all work. And he even manages to wedge in real-world legal experience through his work with the Loyola Justice for Atrocities Clinic (LJAC), which operates on the same flexible hybrid model.
LJAC provides students with hands-on training in international law and human rights, a field Brewster has found particularly rewarding. “With my travel schedule, it’s nearly impossible to get a traditional internship,” Brewster says. “But LJAC fills that gap by offering a law firm-like environment where I can develop critical legal skills remotely. The clinic’s format allows me to work on my own time while continuing to compete globally.”
A major highlight of Brewster’s law school journey has been learning under Professor Rajika L. Shah, the director of LJAC. “She has been an incredible mentor, accommodating my schedule while teaching me the intricacies of real-world legal work. Her dedication to helping those affected by global atrocities is inspiring, and it’s an honor to learn from her.”
As Brewster continues his legal education, he is already applying the research and writing skills he honed in his first year to his work at LJAC. “The clinic has pushed my legal research and writing skills to the next level, and I’m seeing firsthand how vital these skills are in tackling complex international law issues.”
For more than 100 years, LMU Loyola Law School has championed accessibility in legal education, starting as a small evening program designed for working professionals. Today, the law school continues that legacy through its Hybrid JD Evening Program, which provides unparalleled flexibility for students balancing their studies with demanding careers. Loyola’s Hybrid JD Evening Program is tailored for students who require a flexible yet rigorous legal education.
For Brewster, a third-year evening student from Manhattan Beach, California, the program was the perfect fit. As a professional beach volleyball player, Brewster needed a law school that could accommodate his full-time career and extensive travel schedule. The hybrid format, requiring a regular on-campus commitment of one night a week, allowed him to pursue his J.D. without sidelining his athletic career.
“The biggest attraction was the flexibility of the program,” Brewster shares. “With my full-time job and travel commitments, the hybrid format enables me to earn my law degree while maintaining my professional career.”
Beyond its schedule-friendly format, the small class sizes of the Hybrid JD Evening Program have enriched Brewster’s experience, fostering meaningful connections with peers and faculty. “With about 45 students in the evening cohort, the learning environment is incredibly intimate. It allows for deep engagement and close-knit relationships, which have been invaluable,” he explains.
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.
