Tulane Law Grad Pursues a Life of Service

L. Woo, a proud member of Tulane Law’s Class of 2025, has built a remarkable law school career on perseverance, community, and a commitment to service.  

That dedication is reflected in Woo’s lifelong dream of serving in the Marine Corps as a pilot, a goal that was not to be because they were too short to qualify. That defining moment led Woo to the law, and Tulane.

Woo saw the challenge as another powerful avenue to serve others. “Going to law school is a privilege, and gaining that knowledge is a privilege, to be able to serve people,” Woo said.

At Tulane Law, Woo made the most of every opportunity, from leading officer candidates with the Marine Corps in New Orleans to representing clients through the Immigrant Rights Clinic.  

“I am most proud of the work that I've done in clinic,” Woo shared. “I’ve had the opportunity to represent three different individuals in different types of cases and to leverage the knowledge I've learned here.”

Woo also found a second home in Tulane’s close-knit community, coaching the Mock Trial team, building connections through APALSA (Asian-Pacific American Law Student Association), and cherishing the city’s vibrant culture.  

“Tulane has given me the gift of not only law school but of getting to live in a city that I might not otherwise have been interested in — and learning that this is the most special city in the entire world.”

One of the highlights of Woo’s time at Tulane came during their final year, when they were named a finalist in Tulane Law’s prestigious Intraschool Moot Court Competition, in the mock trial specialty. As a result, Woo’s name will be permanently etched into the law school’s marble tablets — an almost 100-year tradition that celebrates the best student advocates in Tulane’s history. “It was a great privilege when I learned that I was able to compete in intraschool finals,” Woo said.

Woo’s decision to serve in the Marine Corps also carries a personal connection: their grandfather served as a pilot in the Army. Reflecting on that legacy, Woo said, “I wish my grandpa could see me. I especially wish he could have been there at my commissioning ceremony with the Marine Corps. But I wish he could see me graduate from law school.”

After graduation, Woo will report to The Basic School before beginning work as a Judge Advocate General, likely litigating in criminal court for the Marine Corps. Looking back on the journey, Woo summed up the law school experience in a single word: perseverance.  

“Law school has been a really great trial of learning that if I stick with it and I keep trying, even in the face of potentially not doing as well as I think I should, that I can meet those expectations and still push forward.”