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A single mom with two children, Haub Law student Samantha Mariano describes her path to law school as “unconventional at best.” Following her decision to leave an abusive situation, Samantha was referred to Connecticut Legal Services through a local domestic violence organization. “I was represented by an attorney who not only helped me regain my independence but inspired me to dedicate my life to helping others. Through a series of small yet significant steps, I went from homelessness and poverty following my divorce and a horrific custody battle - to going back to school, to finishing my BS, and then to being accepted into law school at almost 40.”

The first in her family to go to law school, it was her grandparents who raised her who instilled in Samantha the importance of hard work and pursuing her dreams. “No matter what challenges I faced, my grandfather, and later my grandmother, would always tell me ‘good thing you’re tough!’ and that became my battle cry which allowed me to persevere through many of life’s challenges.”

At Haub Law, Samantha found her community. “Everyone – from the students to the professors, advisors, and Deans - are genuinely supportive and encouraging. Haub Law is its own little family and it’s extremely obvious when you step foot on campus that you belong. I found a wonderfully accepting and enriching arena in which to grow during my time at Haub Law, one that surpassed my expectations upon entering law school.”

Despite all her responsibilities outside of being a law student, Samantha has immersed herself in all law school has to offer. She serves as the FLEX representative for both Phi Alpha Delta and the Older Wiser Law Students (OWLS) group. Most recently, Samantha has achieved another dream of hers – she was accepted and will participate in Haub Law’s Study Abroad Program at Oxford. “At 41years old, I have the opportunity to fulfill a lifetime dream of traveling to England.”

For Samantha, working full-time as a Trusts and Estates paralegal while pursuing her law degree is a challenge, but also a dream. With her two young children watching her chase her dreams, she just completed another year of law school. “I am looking forward to what the future holds. Balancing motherhood, a full-time job in a busy legal practice, and the rigors of law school has not been easy, but it has been the honor and privilege of a lifetime.”

With graduation on the horizon, Samantha intends to focus her practice primarily on Trusts, Estates and Elder Law, but notes that she will never forget where she came from. “My goal is to return to Connecticut Legal Services eventually and dedicate my pro bono work to helping other survivors of domestic violence. I am always grateful for the opportunities that come my way, and stay active in several Bar Associations, volunteering my time regularly in Free Legal Advice Clinics for vulnerable populations and with the Legal Services of the Hudson Valley. I will never forget what it felt like to be in that position, and the relief I felt in having such an incredible advocate. While my path to law wasn’t exactly paved with gold, I wouldn’t change a thing. The struggle gave me purpose; it gave me a passion that propelled my own life forward in ways I could never have even imagined.”