Isabel Zagazeta is a 3L J.D. candidate and Dean’s Fellow at Cooley Law School in Tampa, Florida. Originally from Canada, she earned her undergraduate degree at Wilfrid Laurier University before moving to Florida to study law at Cooley. She has earned book awards, served on Law Review, mentored incoming students, and was part of Cooley’s Moot Court team that recently won first place at the 2026 Robert Orseck Moot Court Competition. With a passion for legal writing and healthcare compliance, Isabel is building a strong foundation for a future in law at Cooley.
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When you graduate from law school, you may have your eyes on only one prize, the bar examination. But it would do every new grad and every veteran alum well to take advantage of their alma mater’s alumni services, not just for a while, but for their entire career. Here’s why.
Life experiences are what make us who we are. From time spent with family and friends, to education and entertainment, we never know when a seemingly ordinary experience will open a door to amazing possibilities.
Cooley sat down with Jeff Thomas, executive director, Pre-Law Programs for Kaplan Test Prep to talk about how to prepare for the LSAT and the bar.
Rosie Tejada always thought about law school growing up, but she would push the idea way back in her head, mostly because she doubted herself. Still thinking law was out of reach, she ended up getting a Master's degree in business. Yet something was missing. She knew she was meant to do more.
Cooley Law School graduate Ogenna Iweajunwa recently accepted a clerkship with Justice Richard Bernstein at the Michigan Supreme Court. However, less than 10 years ago, she was learning how to tackle basic tasks such as expressing herself, pumping gas, or ordering food at a drive-through restaurant.
Hassan Abdallah was born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, but knew his story started long before then. As a U.S. citizen, he started to realize as he got older what a sheltered life he had lived. Listening to stories his parents told about how they struggled and sacrificed to come to America, he recognized that it was through their suffering that he is the person he is today. His father left Lebanon first, in the name of freedom and opportunity, but it was his mother's selfless actions that taught him humility and gave him the work-ethic he has today. His mother had to leave everything she knew, and nearly everyone she loved, to follow her husband to a place she only knew by name.
Higher education at every level is expensive and law school is no exception. But that shouldn’t hold you back from achieving your dream. The key to managing the financial side of law school is understanding your budget, including things that you can do to minimize expenses and locate funding that fits your needs and eligibility.
Did you ever wonder if the the American justice system really is the best system in the world? When mistakes are made, are the mistakes different in different countries?
The Master Lawyers Section of the State Bar of Michigan is composed of nearly 20,000 Michigan lawyers who have 30 or more years of practice experience. Its membership was surveyed in March of this year to help the Section’s Council set future priorities. The survey also asked Section members, as experienced lawyers, what words of wisdom they would share with a new lawyer. More than 650 respondents offered their thoughts, which ranged from the specific (“Shine your shoes and always be early.”) to the general (“Relax. You will make mistakes. They’re not fatal.”). Here are some pieces of advice of particular application to law students and new grads:
