CWSL Student Spotlight: LeBrian Mays '25

Rising 3L, LeBrian Mays, is like so many California Western students in that his journey to and through law school is entirely unique. LeBrian grew up picturing himself as an attorney, carrying his briefcase into the courtroom to advocate for justice. But when it came to the classrom, he says, “I was never really the best student. People told me I was smart, but that cuts against effort, because you rely on it and then it can become a detriment.” It’s clear that LeBrian’s interest in the law  never wavered— he graduated from San Diego State University with a B.S. in Criminal Justice—but LeBrian ultimately found himself engaged more in practical responsibilities and the real-world complexities of insurance, working in claims at GEICO for over a decade, supporting himself through college, and eventually becoming a manager and a Senior Business Analyst. But LeBrian’s story wouldn’t be a California Western story if his circuitous path didn’t eventually lead him to his true calling.

During his tenure at GEICO, LeBrian had firsthand exposure to the legal profession, working closely with attorneys on personal injury claims. "I got to see the type of work they handled, how they attacked it, and I could really see myself doing what they were doing," says LeBrian. “I was always drawn in by the complexity of the work.” Getting first-hand experience with the fulfilling challenges that the legal practice offered, LeBrian made the decision in 2021 to transition from claims handling to courtroom advocacy.

Choosing to attend California Western School of Law was a deliberate decision rooted in LeBrian’s deep ties to San Diego, his hometown. LeBrian’s fiancée is also a local, and the couple now have a two-year-old daughter. “We definitely wanted to be in San Diego,” says LeBrian, emphasizing the importance of attending a law school with strong connections to the local legal community. But what sealed the deal was seeing his former GEICO co-worker graduate from California Western without significant debt—receiving ample scholarship assistance and being able to work part-time while in school. LeBrian also noted that his co-worker had secured a judicial clerkship in the District Court while in school and had received a job offer from a Top 100 firm upon graduation—“that was really impressive and made me seek the school out.” 

As soon as he stepped on campus, LeBrian found the same kind of opportunity and flexibility that his former co-worker had. As he says, “Cal Western really caters to a wide variety of people from all walks of life, whether they’re in their second or third careers, or straight out of college, whether they’re interested in litigation, transactions, criminal, or international and human rights work.” 

LeBrian has also found valuable mentorship on campus, especially from Professor Padilla, who brings “so much energy and passion into the classroom, even when we’re discussing archaic legal concepts,” and who is providing guidance and support, helping LeBrian find internships and mapping out career alternatives beyond litigation, as he considers following in her footsteps into real estate law.

Lest we give the impression that LeBrian’s law school experience has been a breeze, he is quick to admit that “the first year was a steep learning curve. I had to learn how to do my assignments, how to study—all of these things that I never really had to do in the past. All while learning this new language of the law." Despite the initial hurdles, LeBrian quickly adapted, and in his second year became an Associate Writer for the International Law Journal, President of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA), and a Judicial Extern in the U.S. District Court, on top of classes and coursework, and managing his responsibilities at home as a partner and father. “It just forces you to be intentional when you're planning and to be diligent in your execution,” says LeBrian. “Really, you’re building a good foundation to make sure that you're able to do all of these things when it comes time to take the bar and, ultimately, when it comes time to practice law.”

Learning from his past school experience, LeBrian is making the most of his time at California Western. Since he was working part-time while in undergrad, he wasn’t able to make many meaningful connections with his peers. LeBrian says he was adamant about doing law school differently, seeking out community. Which is why, early on, he reached out to BLSA and found its members to be warm and welcoming: “they made me feel like I belonged in the organization, but more importantly that I belonged in law school.” Given his other responsibilities, LeBrian was reluctant to throw his name in the hat for President of BLSA, but ultimately the opportunity to give to others what he’d received in his first year was too good to pass up. As President, LeBrian has put his managerial experience to work, helping to “build a solid foundation that future boards can work off of,” giving BLSA members the chance to enhance their skill sets, interact with the local legal community, and ultimately turn those relationships into internships and employment opportunities. As a result of his intentional leadership, CWSL’s BLSA was named Chapter of the Year in the Western Region for the second year in a row. 

“What's good about the law is that it’s like a Swiss army knife—your skills and your experiences are highly transferable,” says LeBrian, who exemplifies his own adage in the diversity of interests he is pursuing. He is currently at work on an article for the International law Journal, researching ways to better protect children online by seeking out global legislation that could be implemented in the U.S. LeBrian is also externing with Judge James E. Simmons in the U.S. District Court, learning “to advocate in a new and profound way—not for a plaintiff or defendant, but for justice.”

Given his history in business, LeBrian is also passionate about exploring the burgeoning intersection between business, technology, and law—an area that holds immense potential for innovation: “I don’t think it’s possible to change the world in isolation. San Diego is home to a diverse assortment of companies and institutions, it’s really exciting to think how they can all collaborate and have a positive impact on the world.” Last summer, as Jones Day’s Qualcomm Scholar, LeBrian split his time between the firm’s San Diego office and Qualcomm’s headquarters, where he was able to work on technology transfer transactions and see first-hand how the law and lawyers will have to evolve to support the latest innovations.  

Amidst his successes and his challenges, LeBrian remains humble and determined. He says he likes to keep in mind the Rule of Thirds, an axiom made famous by,  Olympic runner, Alexi Pappas, who said, “when you’re chasing a big dream, you're supposed to feel good a third of the time, okay a third of the time, and crappy a third of the time… and if the ratio is roughly in that range, then you’re doing just fine.” 
California Western is lucky to have a dreamer like LeBrian Mays in our midst.