Alvaro de la Cruz-Correa, Class of 2024
His childhood experiences, the needs of his community, and his newborn son inspire third-year LSU Law student Alvaro de la Cruz-Correa as he embarks on his journey to become a public interest lawyer.
Growing up, de la Cruz-Correa valued the community support he found within local city programs while his mother worked to make ends meet. But it was there that he witnessed first-hand how individuals with language barriers struggled to receive the help they needed.
“So many issues can be solved without strain or pain, but hills seem to turn into mountains when you do not know where to start,” de la Cruz-Correa said.
In his internship with the Immigration Legal Services Department of the Catholic Charities Diocese of Baton Rouge, he has helped write declarations and file various immigration forms, taking care to avoid any extraneous fees. Most services offered by the Catholic Charities are pro bono.
Understanding how the legal and immigration system operates will give him a jump start in achieving his career. Not only does he want to serve the needs of the people he grew up with, but he also wants to set a precedent for his family.
“I want to be successful while being a rock for anyone who may walk through my door so that my son Atlas and future children can see firsthand what good can do for a person.”
de la Cruz-Correa is thankful for his fellowship with the Public Interest Law Society and hopes there will be an opportunity to fund additional fellowships in the future.
“There is a hunger for public interest, and more awards are more people that would be able to pursue their passions, no matter their financial circumstances.”
