Fara Sheila Rodriguez 

CHCI Law Postgraduate Fellow  

Presented by PepsiCo Foundation  

Hometown: Santa Ana, California  

School: University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law   

Degree: Juris Doctor  

Placement: The Office of Representative Darren Soto

Born and raised in Orange County, California, Fara Sheila Rodriguez (She/Her) proudly represents her city of Santa Ana. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, Fara pursued a career in law with the aspiration of serving as a civil servant and a resource for her community.

At McGeorge School of Law, Fara earned a concentration in Capital Lawyering and developed a keen interest in the intersection of artificial intelligence and legislation. Her final project focused on the implications of deepfakes in elections, reflecting her commitment to understanding how legal frameworks can safeguard against emerging technologies. Throughout her time at McGeorge, Fara engaged in significant experiential learning. At the Prison Civil Rights Mediation Clinic, she co-mediated Section 1983 prisoner civil rights cases alongside a federal magistrate judge. This role provided her with invaluable experience in mediation and negotiation techniques, and she had the opportunity to interview, prepare, and support pro se inmates for settlement mediation conferences, deepening her understanding of prisoner rights and civil liberties. In the Federal Defender Clinic, Fara handled federal misdemeanor cases, made appearances on the record, negotiated plea agreements, and contributed to client advocacy, building rapport and trust with her clients. Additionally, she served as a primary editor for the University of the Pacific Law Review, Volume 55, holding positions in both the Legislation and Managing Edit departments.   

In the summer of 2023, Fara externed at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, Office of Staff Attorneys. There, she meticulously reviewed case records, conducted legal research, and prepared oral presentations with recommendations for judicial panels, gaining insight into complex immigration issues. In the summer of 2022, she interned in the in-house counsel department at Abbott Laboratories, where she reviewed contracts for compliance, delivered presentations on legislative changes, and analyzed their impact on the company. Fara’s dedication to academic excellence and service has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Dean’s Honor List, Jeffrey K. Polie Memorial Scholarship, Public Service Scholarship, Judge Callahan Scholarship, and ChangeLawyers Scholarship. She graduated from McGeorge with Distinction, was inducted into the Roger Traynor Honors Society, and received the ALI-ABA Scholarship & Leadership Award. Outside of academics, Fara was actively involved in various student organizations. She was a member of the Kennedy Inn of Court, served as Treasurer for Lambda, and participated in the Latinx Law Student Association and the Women of Color Collective.

As a CHCI Law Postgraduate Fellow, Fara is excited to further her understanding of the legislative process and apply her legal knowledge. She looks forward to networking, mentorship opportunities, and leadership development.