Sinéad Brennan-Gatica ’25 can’t remember when she first got the idea to go to law school and says most likely she was inspired by the fantastic cinema depictions of lawyering by Joe Pesci and Reese Witherspoon. 

“When it came time to make law school a reality, I was most motivated by watching my parents, family friends, and community members navigate seemingly different immigration systems,” she says. “I wanted to understand how this was possible, and I thought law school would have the answers.” 

Her biggest takeaway from UConn Law is that “there is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to being a lawyer.” 

Brennan-Gatica earned a bachelor’s in psychology at American University. During her time at UConn Law, Brennan-Gatica served on the executive board of Connecticut Moot Court, Latinx Law Students Association, First-Generation Students Association, and as an Articles Editor for the Connecticut Law Review. She was also a research assistant for Professor Aaron Dhir and School of Business Professor Rachel Chambers. She also worked as a library assistant and says she will miss her time at the front desk because of the law library staff, some of the most wonderful people she knows. 

Brennan-Gatica's fondest memories from her time at UConn Law include giving back to the Greater Hartford community. She was able to spend time outside of class volunteering with organizations such as Habitat for Humanity and the North Branch River Conservation team through the Latinx Law Students Association.  

All of her best memories are tied to the friends she made here. 

“Whether it is chatting outside at the picnic tables, strolling through Elizabeth Park, or the many competitive game nights, there are so many things that I will always associate with UConn Law,” she says. 

After graduation, Brennan-Gatica will join Baker & Hostetler LLP in New York City upon taking the bar exam.