UCLA panel brings trial lawyers, students together for career discussion

Attorneys and law students gathered last Tuesday at UCLA for a panel hosted in collaboration with the Armenian Students' Association, featuring prominent legal figures discussing careers, high-stakes litigation and the realities of legal practice.

The panel included Mark J. Geragos of Geragos & Geragos; trial lawyer Nicholas C. Rowley of Trial Lawyers for Justice; civil rights attorney Tina B. Odjaghian of Odjaghian Law Group; Ani Nalbandian of AN Law; and Mariya Melkonyan of the Law Offices of Mariya Melkonyan, a former deputy district attorney. Each offered perspectives shaped by experience in criminal defense, civil litigation and prosecution.

Organizers said the goal was to give students a candid, practical view of the profession beyond the classroom. The discussion addressed career paths, key decision points and the pressures of representing clients in consequential matters.

The event drew a strong turnout, with many students exploring legal careers. The format allowed for direct engagement, giving attendees the opportunity to hear firsthand from attorneys working in high-stakes settings.