In Sunnyside, Washington — a small, tight-knit agricultural town in the Yakima Valley — Clarissa Suarez grew up surrounded by rising crime rates that often cast long shadows. But even as a young girl, Clarissa saw past the statistics. She didn’t want to escape the challenges around her; she wanted to help solve them.
That desire became a journey, one shaped by education and made possible in part by financial support from a UW Certificate Scholarship. Now, Clarissa’s realizing her dream. As a legal assistant with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, she contributes to an important office, helping make Eastern Washington communities safer.
“Getting to work in the federal level of the criminal justice system is mind-blowing when I think about it. I was the first in my family to graduate from a university, and I don't have anybody in my family in the legal field,” Clarissa says. “I'm thankful for the certificate in paralegal studies because it prepared me to be more involved in law. And if it weren’t for the scholarship, I wouldn’t have enrolled because I wouldn't have been able to afford it.”
Turning Dreams Into Reality
After earning her bachelor's degree in sociology and a minor in human rights from the University of Washington in 2019, Clarissa returned home with a mission: to make a difference in her community. She began working as an office specialist at the Yakima County Prosecutor’s Office, her first exposure to the legal world. But the deeper she got into the work, the more she realized how much she still wanted — and needed — to learn.
"Once I got the congratulations email for the scholarship, it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders. It made the program reachable. I was like, ‘Okay, I can do this.’”
“I had so many questions,” she recalls. “I wanted to learn the fundamentals myself rather than take time from busy attorneys.” That curiosity led her to the UW Certificate in Paralegal Studies. But the cost of the program felt out of reach. Balancing a full-time job to manage her living expenses while living with her parents, Clarissa couldn’t afford to pay the full cost of tuition on her own.
Then she stumbled upon the UW Certificate Scholarship, which allows Continuum to help support learners by easing the financial burden of education. Since 2017, these need-based scholarships have supported more than 100 students in select UW Professional & Continuing Education certificate programs. Clarissa applied, and UW Professional & Continuing Education offered her an award that covered at least half of her tuition and fees.
It turned out to be a game-changer. “Once I got that congratulations email, it was like a weight lifted off my shoulders,” Clarissa says. “It made the program reachable. I was like, ‘Okay, I can do this.’”
Building Skills and Confidence
Balancing full-time work and coursework wasn’t easy, but Clarissa was determined. She found the legal research and writing courses challenging but incredibly rewarding. Learning to use the Bluebook, the go-to style guide for legal citations, and mastering legal writing gave her the confidence and skills to move beyond administrative tasks.
“The ethics and responsibility course was important for me,” says Clarissa. “It taught me how to go from an admin specialist to a paralegal or legal assistant and the difference in what each role entails.”
However, the certificate program didn’t just teach her the law; it connected Clarissa to a network of instructors and peers who supported her growth. “I’m very thankful for all the connections I've made and people I've met along the way who’ve helped me,” she says. “I know that I have connections to fall back on with instructors who are working in the field and peers who might have transitioned into different areas of law.”
Armed with new skills and a renewed sense of purpose, when Clarissa heard about an opening for a legal assistant role with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Richland, she applied. She got the job — and became the only legal assistant at the newly opened branch.
Her role now is far more hands-on. She coordinates with victim witnesses, manages court communications and ensures legal documents are accurate. “It's amazing getting to be part of the first office there,” Clarissa mentions. “There’s a lot more responsibility with handling e-discovery and filing court documents for the attorneys.”
Changing Perceptions, One Conversation at a Time
As a Mexican American woman in the legal field, Clarissa is passionate about representation and outreach, spending her time volunteering at local community events. According to Clarissa there’s more violent crime committed by youth, which has motivated her focus on reaching young people.
Clarissa shares that when she explains her job to kids, they often say “traitor” or ask, “why are you working for the bad guy?” Clarissa is determined to change that narrative. Through her work in the community, she wants to offer youth proof that, despite what they may hear, experiences with law enforcement aren’t always negative.
“At a Sunnyside youth literacy event, kids were excited to learn about firefighters and local law enforcement,” she says. “If I became a prosecutor, I would love to be present at events like this because I want the community know I am here to listen to their concerns.”
Clarissa’s journey is far from over. She plans to pursue a law degree in the future, hoping to become a prosecutor. Her goal? To continue giving back, helping underserved communities stay safe, and guiding victims through the justice system.
“I want to be a bridge between both worlds,” she says. “I grew up in a neighborhood where crime is high and have insight into what underrepresented people experience and how they view law enforcement. I want to offer a new perspective and show there are people trying to do good.”
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