Senior Alacantara works at a local law firm

Taylor Phillips

Staff Writer

Mira Costa senior Katie Alacantara is practicing her interest for law at a local Manhattan Beach law firm that specializes in child custody cases.

Alacantara learned about the job opening through Mira Costa’s College and Career Center and decided that working for a law firm would be a great opportunity for her to pursue. She had always been interested in practicing law and thought that taking this job would let her experience what it would be like to work in law, so she filled out an application and started the job in December of her junior year.

“I found the job through the CCC newsletter that they sent out,” Alacantara said. “They have job postings and I applied. To apply, I emailed the owner of the law firm to ask for a little more information about the job and what they do and I sent her my resumé.”

At the local law firm, their main focus is on child custody cases. Her role at the firm is to reach out and gather information from the client’s school and gather information from the inspector who went to the house to observe the parenting styles. After gathering the information, she writes a report that compiles all the information and the lawyers will use the report.

“I do a lot of the logistical work, more specifically like a child custody evaluator,” said Alacantara. “I child custody cases, people will hire child custody evaluators to write reports on the family. I’ll collect information from doctors and the children’s school, send them requests, and once we get the information back, I’ll read them and type them into the report.”

After taking the job, she witnessed the impact that she is making and maybe like to pursue practicing child custody law in the future. She learned how important it is for her to protect the children and how her role will be helping them as well.

“I’ve always wanted to be a lawyer, but I never really knew what branch of law I wanted to go into,” said Alacantara. “I started this job and realized that being in child custody law, you are defending the kids who need you the most and you are defending the most vulnerable people.”

Alacantara has just finished the application process for college and will decide decide to enroll in law school in the future. She really enjoys practicing law and hopes to make a career out of her experiences in the near future.

“Knowing what I do impacts so many kids’ lives means a lot to me and encourages me to continue to do what I’m doing,” Alacantara said. “This makes me want to continue to pursue child custody when I’m older.”

Alacantara enjoys her time at the law firm and has learned so much about the process of being apart of a child custody case.

“If you are really passionate about something keep on the lookout for opportunities like this,” Alacantara said. “They’ll come when you least expect them. I did not go out looking for a job at a law firm, I just got an email and responded, so take advantage of all the opportunities given to you. If you really want it and are passionate about it, go forage it out yourself, don’t expect it to fall into your lap.”