Inside Our First Law Student Reception: Investing in the Next Generation of Lawyers

Last night, we hosted something new for our firm, and something we intend to keep building on.

We welcomed more than 55 law students from Florida International University College of Law, the University of Miami School of Law, and St. Thomas University College of Law to our first-ever law student reception, the Future Counsel.

The idea was simple: Create a space where law students could step outside the classroom and have real conversations with attorneys, judges, and peers about what this profession actually looks like in practice.

Hearing Directly from the Bench

A highlight of the night was having Judge Maria de Jesus Santovenia join us. Judge Santovenia shared practical, direct advice with students about building a legal career, developing professionalism early, and understanding the realities of litigation. 

Her presence reinforced a belief we hold strongly: the responsibility to guide the next generation of lawyers does not rest with law schools alone, but with the profession as a whole.

Showing Law Students What a Firm Actually Looks Like

We also made a point of walking students through our office to make the profession more concrete, allowing them to see where cases are prepared, where strategy is discussed, and where long hours translate into real results for clients.

For many students, this was their first time inside a working litigation firm, and that matters, helping bridge the gap between theory and practice in a way that no lecture can.

A Firm Where Growth Is Real, Not Theoretical

One reason we care about events like this is that we’ve seen firsthand what happens when young lawyers are given real opportunities early on.

At Ayala Law, several members of our team started as law clerks and built their careers here. That includes Ryan Sawal, who began as a clerk, became an attorney, and is now a partner at the firm.

As our founder, Eduardo A. Maura, put it during the event, “We don’t see law students as temporary help. We see them as future attorneys. If someone is willing to learn and put in the work, we make sure they have the opportunity to grow here.”

Ryan echoed that perspective from his own experience, “I was in their position not that long ago. What made the difference for me was being in an environment where I wasn’t just observing — I was learning, contributing, and being pushed to improve every day.”

Why This Matters to Us

Ayala Law was built from the ground up. We understand what it means to start without a roadmap, without connections, and without certainty about what comes next. That’s part of why we take this seriously.

Supporting law students is not about optics; it is about ensuring that the next generation of attorneys enters this profession with better guidance, more opportunities, and a clearer understanding of what it takes to succeed.

If you are a law student interested in attending future events or exploring opportunities with our firm, we encourage you to stay connected by subscribing to our newsletter below.