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Andrew Farias

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Finalist

Bio

Howdy! I am from Houston, Texas, but have found a home in Lincoln, Nebraska where I am a J.D. Candidate and Public Interest Scholar at the University of Nebraska College of Law. I am incredibly passionate about promoting justice and sustainability within legislative policies to ensure an equitable future for generations yet to come. After graduating from Carleton College in 2021, I spent a year as a Weitz Fellow with Nebraska Appleseed, where I fought for justice and opportunity for all Nebraskans within the areas of affordable healthcare, raising the minimum wage, and housing justice for all. The following year, I began working as the Lobby and Policy Fellow at the Asian Community and Cultural Center. My work revolved around lobbying for legislation that empowers all immigrants and refugees in Nebraska, while also encouraging directly impacted individuals to share their stories with elected officials. I previously clerked with the ACLU of Nebraska, where I researched policing policies, drafted memos related to immigration enforcement, and supported incarcerated individuals navigating administrative processes. I am currently a law clerk with Legal Aid of Nebraska, where as a senior certified law student I support survivors of domestic violence filing for divorce, represent renters going through the eviction process, and conduct legal research. After I graduate from law school, I hope to continue serving Nebraska communities as a public interest law attorney representing low-income clients. In my (very limited) free time, I love volunteering with Lincoln nonprofits!

Education

University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
2024 - 2027
  • Majors:
    • Law

Carleton College

Bachelor's degree program
2017 - 2021
  • Majors:
    • Environmental/Natural Resources Management and Policy
    • Political Science and Government

The Energy Institute High School

High School
2013 - 2017

Miscellaneous

  • Desired degree level:

    Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)

  • Graduate schools of interest:

  • Transfer schools of interest:

  • Majors of interest:

  • Not planning to go to medical school
  • Career

    • Dream career field:

      • Law Practice
    • Dream career goals:

      Public Interest Law Attorney and Community Advocate

    • Food and Environmental Justice Fellow

      Carleton College Center for Community and Civic Engagement
      2019 – 20212 years
    • Sustainability Assistant

      Carleton College Sustainability Office
      2018 – 20213 years
    • Law Clerk

      ACLU of Nebraska
      2025 – 2025
    • Community Organizer

      Nebraska Appleseed Center for Law in the Public Interest
      2021 – 20221 year
    • Lobby and Policy Fellow

      Asian Community and Cultural Center
      2022 – 20242 years
    • Law Clerk

      Legal Aid of Nebraska
      2026 – Present7 months

    Research

    • Sustainability Studies

      Carleton College Sustainability Office — Sustainability Assistant
      2019 – 2021
    • Public Policy Analysis

      Office of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo — Environmental Policy Fellow
      2019 – 2019
    • Biology, General

      Rice University — Student Researcher
      2016 – 2016

    Public services

    • Volunteering

      Lincoln NAACP — Lobby Day Organizer
      2023 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Tenant Assistance Project — Outreach Volunteer
      2024 – Present
    • Volunteering

      City of Lincoln Commission on Women and Gender — Commissioner
      2025 – Present
    • Volunteering

      The Posse Foundation — Dynamic Assessment Process (DAP) Virtual Volunteer
      2021 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Matt Talbot Kitch and Outreach — Huskers Helping the Homeless Volunteer
      2021 – Present
    • Volunteering

      RISE — Online Volunteer Coach
      2021 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Vote Wise Nebraska — Assistant Executive Director
      2024 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Lincoln Veterans Parade — Volunteer Coordinator
      2022 – Present
    • Volunteering

      Star City Pride — Board President
      2024 – Present
    • Volunteering

      OutNebraska — Board Member
      2023 – Present

    Future Interests

    Advocacy

    Politics

    Volunteering

    Philanthropy

    Jimmy Chong Scholarship
    As a child and grandchild of immigrants, I watched as the intersectionality of immigration statuses, language barriers, lack of educational opportunities, and limited career prospects challenged many of my family members in their pursuit of the American Dream. Their experiences taught me that behind every legal issue is a person trying to build a better life for themselves and future generations. I also came to understand that laws, policies, and regulations can either reinforce those barriers or help dismantle them. That realization inspired me to pursue a legal career, not only to advocate for individual clients, but to help ensure the legal system is one that all people can openly trust and equally access. My legal professions course emphasized how the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct are vital in guiding us as effective lawyers who are trusted stewards of the legal system. I intend to integrate ethical principles throughout my legal career by ensuring that my clients understand their legal options, have agency in the decisions that affect their lives, and feel supported with community resources beyond the conclusion of their legal issue. Zealous advocacy requires pursuing every lawful and ethical avenue on behalf of a client, but it never justifies sacrificing integrity, fairness, or responsibility to the justice system. I believe zealous advocacy begins to compromise integrity when the emphasis on winning becomes more important than the outcome of justice. Attorneys risk crossing that boundary when they misrepresent facts, weaponize procedures to delay litigation, or intentionally obstruct the free flow of information. Sec. Nat'l Bank of Sioux City v. Abbott Labs., 299 F.R.D. 595. To avoid this, I will always advocate zealously for my clients while being honest with them if a desired outcome is not legally or ethically possible. I intend to remain candid with the court and opposing counsel because as an attorney, my reputation is everything. Maintaining that honesty builds trust, not only with clients, but with the public’s perceptions of the justice system as a whole. This philosophy has guided my work long before law school. At the Asian Community and Cultural Center, I helped establish the organization's policy and legislative advocacy program. Rather than speaking on behalf of immigrants and refugees, I worked to empower directly impacted community members to tell their own stories before the Nebraska Legislature. I prepared first-time testifiers, connected advocates with lawmakers, and helped advance legislation that expanded opportunity for underserved Nebraskans. Among these efforts, I helped create the Nebraska Commission on Asian American Affairs to ensure that more than 70,000 Asian Americans have a permanent voice in state government. I also supported legislation benefiting Ukrainian refugees, workers in Nebraska's meatpacking industry, and language access in healthcare. My commitment to diversity and inclusion extends beyond legislative advocacy. As President of the Latino Law Students Association, Multicultural Legal Society, and OUTLaw at Nebraska Law, I have helped to create welcoming spaces for students whose identities have historically been underrepresented in the legal profession. This includes mentoring first-year BIPOC and LGBTQ+ students and bringing alumni back to campus so we have examples of where we will be one day. Looking ahead, I hope to continue this work by helping establish mentorship opportunities through Nebraska's LGBTQ+ and Hispanic bar associations so future law students and young attorneys can see themselves reflected in the profession. Ultimately, I believe that ethical lawyers strengthen public trust in the legal system while still zealously advocating for their clients. As an attorney, I will always remember where I come from, and maintain integrity as I continue my advocacy and support for underrepresented communities.