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Equipped to Lead and Succeed
Different Paths, One Purpose: Meet 2026 McAuliffe Honor Society Inductee Faith Lee ’28
Part of a series spotlighting standout 1L students
After a decade working on state policy at the California State Capitol drafting legislation, guiding bills through the legislative process, and working alongside attorneys and stakeholders, Faith Lee decided it was time to be in the room where the law isn't just made, but tested. Law school, she says, was a natural next step.
Why USF Law?
I fell in love with USF Law at the admitted students’ day! I appreciated the wonderful diversity among our professors, in age, gender, experience, and background. I also loved speaking with current students about how much they enjoy their education here, which was reassuring.
A class or experience that’s had the most impact on you so far?
I love Legal Writing because it is so different from anything I’ve done, and it is so challenging in every way! I look back at my first memo, and I am like, “wow! I grew so much since my first assignment!” and “I know how to read and write citations now (kind of)??!!” The memo assignments also help me approach law school studying - instead of just reading the cases in each class, I am trying to learn how judges write and how they articulate compelling arguments.
How has the USF Law community supported your success this year?
Our professors work so hard to support their students and it shows! There were a few times this past semester where I was nervous about certain topics or assignments, and my professors were always available to chat in the event I cannot make their office hours. I genuinely admire their commitment to all of us and it motivated me to continue showing up for myself.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
I want to be a litigator and shape the law by helping interpret it in the courtroom. I think the supportive environment I am in now, among wonderful professors and students, mentors who are 2Ls and 3Ls are all helping me get there!
About the McAuliffe Honor Society
Each spring, USF School of Law honors exceptional first-year students with an invitation to join the McAuliffe Honor Society. Named after USF alumnus Florence M. McAuliffe, a founding partner of the San Francisco firm Heller Ehrman White and McAuliffe LLP, the society recognizes outstanding academic achievement in the first semester of law school. Inductees receive a scholarship and gain access to mentorship and opportunities to connect with faculty and alumni across the legal community.
Equipped to Lead and Succeed
Equipped to Lead and Succeed
