Eve Erive-Alvarez

Drawn to the Litigation Practice in Paralegal Studies certificate, Eve's original intention was to prepare for law school; however, her career path took a different trajectory as she found herself deeply immersed in Federal work, handling court orders in Chicago and later transitioning to Washington, D.C. where she currently works as a Senior Passport Specialist for the US Department of State. Despite her shift away from the original goal of attending law school, Eve credits her program at SCPS for expanding her comprehension of legal concepts and terminology. 

"I started working on the Federal side, and since I dealt with court orders back in Chicago I wanted to broaden my understanding of legal jargon. That's one of the reasons why I took the certificate. The program was a very effective tool for me that helped me understand court orders from different states and counties. Now, I'm in DC and can handle more Federal cases; so, the tools that were provided in the program regarding legal research became a very vital tool to me in my job on a daily basis." 

One notable challenge Eve encountered during her time at SCPS was the age gap between herself and her younger peers. Starting school in her mid-thirties, she initially felt intimidated by the prospect of mingling with students in their twenties. Her concerns were alleviated by the welcoming environment fostered by her professors and peers where she was able to interact with a diverse cohort. Additionally, she relished the sense of fulfillment derived from being back in a learning environment, recognizing the value of education and personal growth, especially after transitioning from the military.  

"For future students, just do it - just enroll. Meeting people every day from different walks of life is challenging for some, especially if you're introvert; but, you wouldn't know how far you can go unless you take that step, and I think school is one of the safest ground to start with."