Michael O'Key ’27 taught 10th grade before heading back to school himself. He recently had an unforgettable surprise when he ran into his former students while they were touring the UCLA campus! O’Key continues to help others as a UCLA Law J.D. student ambassador, a student leader selected to help prospective students hoping to learn more about the law school and to serve the broader law school community. Below, we asked him a few questions about his journey and advice for fellow law students.

What inspired you to apply for the J.D. student ambassador program?

As the first person in my family to go to college, graduate school, and law school, I remember vividly what it felt like to navigate those application processes and how special it feels to find a school that feels like a good match. I think everyone should feel that, and it's cool to be a small part of helping people find that for themselves.

Do you have any advice for your fellow law students?

I think that the advantage of attending a law school that is a part of a great university is that you have access to incredible resources. I know you're busy but it’s important to take advantage of everything the university (and city) has to offer. There are so many presentations, guest speakers, performances, organizations, and more, across campus that put you in community with others who share your interests and are tackling problems from the perspective of a different discipline. 

What has been your favorite memory while at UCLA Law so far?

One day, during finals, I was walking up the Tongva Steps, which I seldom have a reason to do, when I saw a group of high school students touring the campus. This brightened my day, because I used to teach 10th grade, so I smiled at the group, and they smiled back, and waved, and screamed. And it turns out they were students I used to teach! These were students I had taught just a year before while teaching at a high school in the Bay Area when I had been applying to law school. An incredible full circle moment.

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