Cristina Mares will graduate from DePaul University College of Law in May 2017, earning her Juris Doctorate with a Health Law Certificate. Cristina shared with E-Pulse her favorite moments as a DePaul law student, advice for younger students, and where she hopes to end up with her law career.
Cristina attended University of San Diego for undergrad where she received a Bachelor of Arts. Upon graduating from undergrad Cristina decided to move to Spain and teach English for a year. After living in Spain, Cristina decided to move back to her hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico where she became a legal assistant for Constantine & Associates, P.C.. While a legal assistant Cristina was exposed to many areas of law. This experience allowed Cristina develop a strong interest in the legal field in particularly the field of health law. Due to the passion Cristina developed towards health law she decided she wanted to become a lawyer and attend DePaul College of Law.
During her time at DePaul College Law, Cristina became an integral part member of the Jaharis Health Law Institute (JHLI) by sitting as the Director of Marketing for the student advisory board, an editor for the DePaul Journal of Health Care Law, as well as President of the Appellate Moot Court Society. As a student, Cristina’s favorite classes were Administrative Law and Antitrust. Cristina found these classes to be very useful in order to pursue a career in the health field. Outside of the classroom, Cristina has participated in a different health-related jobs. She first began as a clerk for the Illinois Department of Human Services. Currently, Cristina clerks at the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in the Medical Prosecutions Unit.
According to Cristina, the DePaul Jaharis Health Law Institute has prepared her to practice health law by giving her a unique exposure to different issues in the field, and allowing her to have the opportunity to make connections with professionals in the field.
When reflecting back on her time at DePaul College of Law, she would highly recommend to current and future students to get involved. She said it is important to get involved with JHLI and other on campus organizations. In addition to get outside your comfort zone and try new things whether it be through externing or getting involved on campus or in the surrounding legal community.
After graduation, Cristina, similar to all her fellow law school graduates. Will be studying for the Illinois Bar exam. After taking the Bar exam, Cristina hopes to get a job working in the health law field in the Chicago area.