Kayla Rivera: From P.A. to J.D.

In high school, Kayla Rivera felt certain she wanted to be a Physician’s Assistant — until she saw blood.

“The first patient was someone that had to get stitches,” remembers Rivera. “At that moment I knew I couldn’t be a PA; I could not do it.”

So, Rivera pressed on, attending the University of California, Santa Barbara where she studied Philosophy with an emphasis in Public Policy and Ethics before eventually deciding on Charleston School of Law.

“Something I really value about the Charleston School is the tight knit community,” said Rivera, who will earn her Juris Doctor on May 10. “I feel like I’m friends with the professors here. Just that smaller setting has been incredible for me. It’s also given me an opportunity to get to know my peers better. They are some of the most intelligent people that I’ve met in my entire life and who I’ve really leaned on throughout law school.”

Over the past three years Rivera has developed relationships with students that have led to lifelong friendships. “We’re all from different walks of life,” she said. “Some have children, some are married, some are single … all these different people have given me so many unique perspectives, and so many opportunities to just learn in a different way because they all have diverse backgrounds. They’re my best friends.”

Rivera was very active outside the Charleston Law classroom. During her three years at the Law School she Phi Delta Phi, Real Estate Society, Charleston Law Review, Transactional Law Team, and a member of the Diversity Leadership Scholars Program.

“Each of them brings something different to the table,” she said. “I’ve learned something different from each of those groups that helped me excel. Being around people and those organizations for me has enabled me to meet so many unbelievably intelligent people who have given me diverse perspectives and become more confident in myself.”

Rivera added, “Externships are the way that you become immersed in what it means to be a practicing lawyer. It’s hard to learn that in a classroom setting. My internships and externships in Charleston have been invaluable in that sense, just being able to teach me how do I present myself, what is my day to day gonna look like. Having experience outside of the classroom is what prepares you and gives you confidence to be the best attorney that you can be.”

Charleston Law offers a variety of internships and externship programs that give students hands-on experience in the practice of law.

When the conversation pivoted to memories and mentors, Rivera smiled wide as she reflected on her relationship with Charleston Law professor Nancy Zisk. 

“She is someone that I had my first year and she has the most wonderful energy; so upbeat, loves her career,” said Rivera. “I want to be Professor Zisk. The opportunity to know her as a student is wonderful because she’s such a good teacher, but she’s a much better person.”

In less than two weeks, Kayla Rivera will join the list of more than 3,000 Law School graduates. The Charleston School of Law Commencement ceremony will be held on Saturday, May 10 at 2:00 p.m. at McAlister Fieldhouse on the campus of The Citadel.