Angie Meza ‘15

For Angie Meza ‘15, growing up just outside of Los Angeles in Santa Clarita, CA, provided her enough curiosity and inquisitiveness to look beyond her own region to attended college. Angie graduated from high school at age 16 and was admitted to the University of Oregon and SOU. Both she and her family thought SOU would be a better fit because of its size and the quaint location in Ashland, particularly because she was younger than most high school graduates.

Angie came to SOU with enough advanced placement credits to start her freshman year as a sophomore. She loved to see the leaves turn color in the fall, an experience that she didn’t witness in Southern California. “I loved the change in seasons that I didn’t have growing up. Ashland was small, slow-paced and a good, comfortable fit for me just starting out,” she said.

Academically, she loved the small class sizes and ability to interact with teachers and staff one on one, without feeling like a number. Her law courses in the criminology/criminal justice program with Professor Lore Rutz-Burri ’82 stood out. “Lore inspired and guided me and when it came time to prepare for the LSAT (Law School Admission Test), she took me all the way through it, step by step so I was well prepared and confident,” said Angie. Angie was also able to fit in a couple of years running for the Raiders in cross-country and track, which was no easy task.

She passed the LSAT then applied for law school and was admitted to the University of Oregon and West Virginia University. She earned a significant academic scholarship at WVU and decided to make Morgantown her destination. What was really special for her is that her boyfriend (now fiancé) Alex Smith ’15, was also headed to WVU for the doctor of physical therapy program.

“Law school was a challenge for me but I enjoyed the experience of being on a big school campus and I was also able to secure an internship for back to back summers in Medford with Southern Oregon Public Defenders,” said Angie. The summer internship experience was so profound that she knew that it was the route she wanted to go to apply her law education.

Angie was awarded her Doctor of Jurisprudence in June of 2019, then took the Oregon State Bar exam in July. She didn’t get the results back until October. “That was a long wait but when I found out that I passed, all the anxiety faded away and I knew then that I could focus on my new career with Southern Oregon Public Defenders,” she said. She works a case load of up to 80 at one time, which keeps her extremely busy and focused. And as soon as she’s finished with one case, another is added. For now, she’s working with misdemeanor clients who oftentimes, have never had anyone advocate for them for anything. “I love my co-workers and knew after my first summer internship there, that this was the right choice for me. It’s important and a part of our American judicial system to make sure that indigent people who cannot afford an attorney, are provided that service,” she added.