For Jiovanny Dominguez (J.D. ’25), the path to law school didn’t begin in a traditional classroom or through a carefully mapped out plan. It started at a public library with one application and a promise to his mother.
“If I get in, I’m going to college,” he told her.
As the oldest child in a first-generation Mexican American family, Dominguez grew up with limited resources, but he was raised to understand the importance of pursuing higher education. Dominguez earned an undergraduate degree in political science with a concentration in pre-law at Georgia State University. He knew that he ultimately wanted to pursue a career in law after witnessing his friends and family entangled in the criminal justice system.
“Unlike many of my classmates, I know what it’s like to grow up with the odds stacked against you,” he said. “That fire in me to give back to my community is what sets me apart.”
Getting to law school, however, wasn’t easy. “The challenges I faced were not knowing what to expect, figuring things out financially, and managing being a full-time student,” he said. “I didn’t know how I was going to make it work, but I took on part-time jobs, working as a legal assistant until I got to law school. There wasn’t really anyone to guide me; it was all trial and error, but I kept pushing forward.” That perseverance laid the groundwork for how he would navigate law school once he got there.
Dominguez also found purpose and direction through practice-based learning. His passion for criminal defense took root through his internships at the Office of the Public Defender in Fulton County, where he worked as a legal intern. One particular experience here stood out to him — a case involving a victim that Dominguez knew from high school.
“It was personal, and it was heartbreaking. But it reminded me why I’m here,” he said. “I want to be a source of hope, to show people there is another way.”
“That moment was almost surreal,” Dominguez added.
Though challenging, this moment helped him realize that he was in a position to help people in similar circumstances, able to prevent them from going down the wrong path.
Jiovanny Dominguez (J.D. '25) graduates as an experienced advocate, strengthened by the challenges he overcame.
For all the challenges he faced, Dominguez channeled the lessons be brought from his personal life into a steadfast commitment for advocacy and the pursuit of justice. His dedication to serving people made him an ideal candidate for recognition with the John Paul Stephens Public Interest Fellowship, which helped him fund an unpaid public interest law internship in the summer of 2024.
“Jio received the John Paul Stevens Foundation Fellowship because he exemplifies the passion and skill to advocate on behalf of those who are under-resourced and unfamiliar with the legal system, the demonstrated commitment to service and the joy of having chosen a career he enjoys and that allows him to help others,” said Professor Cortney Lollar, director of the Center for Access to Justice. "Jio’s first-hand experiences inspired him to show young people a different way forward. As a first-generation student, he has taken an active role in supporting a pipeline to law school for high schoolers in communities with few lawyers, showing how to create a path to a legal career, despite how unlikely this path may seem to them.”
Dominguez’s work also extends well beyond the classroom. He served as a board member for the Latinx & Caribbean Law Students Association (LCLSA) for two years, and he organized the College of Law’s first-ever affinity group mixer, bringing together diverse student organizations for connection and community building.
This investment in building community among law students didn’t go unnoticed. Cody Teague, director of student life for the College of Law, recognized the value Dominguez brought to the student body.
“Jio’s investment in the College of Law community was evident from his first year. He jumped right into involvement and leadership roles and hasn’t slowed down since,” said Teague. “His accomplishments are impressive on paper but once you meet Jio, you understand that his kindness, joy, and genuine care for others makes him so effective at building relationships – it’s infectious and encourages people around him to exhibit the same qualities.”
Dominguez also took to the streets monthly to distribute flyers in Hispanic neighborhoods, educating residents about their rights in the event they are stopped by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) —an effort he began on his own.
“Law school and LCLSA helped me reconnect with my roots in a powerful way,” Dominguez said. “We all come from different walks of life. Recognizing each other’s stories and building community that’s how we move forward.”
After graduation, Dominguez plans to stay in Atlanta and become a public defender, a role he sees not just as a job, but as a calling. “I want to be a fierce advocate for my community,” he said. “For this generation and the next.”
- Written by Ifunanya Ejimofor (LL.M. ’25),