Irisa Mehta started college with a specific path in mind and took full advantage of all the University of Oregon College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) has to offer. Along the way, she made sure to explore many opportunities and disciplines.  

Mehta graduated in 2023 with two bachelor’s degrees: one in political science and one in general social sciences for crime, law and society. She also finished with two minors: one in legal studies, and one in writing, public speaking and critical reasoning. She also has a paralegal certificate and associate's degree in paralegal studies from Fullerton College. 

After graduation, Mehta moved back to Fullerton, California, to work and establish a professional network while preparing for law school. To further her experience, she took on an internship with the Los Angeles Public Defender's Office at the Compton Office in the juvenile branch. Before that she was a juvenile justice educator at a juvenile detention center in East LA. 

While Mehta isn’t sure where she’ll go to law school in fall 2025, she says she isn’t opposed to becoming a double Duck and attending University of Oregon School of Law.  

Thank you to Mehta for taking time to reflect on her time at UO and share more about her experiences in CAS.   

Why did you choose to attend University of Oregon? 

Coming from Southern California, I wanted a change of pace and a different environment for myself to grow and seek other opportunities. After visiting campus, I was immediately welcomed by students and faculty and loved the level of campus spirit shown throughout Eugene and Ducks are supported by the entire community. I knew that this was a place for me to feel supported by my peers but also be able to thrive independently. 

What drew you to study political science at Oregon? 

Prior to college I had been set on studying political science because I knew there were courses more tailored to the law which I was interested in. I was also interested in the prison education program which many political science students had participated in. Also, being in an environment where self-expression was encouraged made it an easier choice for me to study political science at UO. 

Why did you minor in writing, public speaking and critical reasoning (WSCR) and how has it helped you in the workforce?  

I was initially interested in possibly adding English as a minor but after receiving an email about WSCR, I decided that the courses under that minor were more fitting to what I was interested in. I had always loved public speaking although I had trouble articulating myself well or using critical reasoning more applicably. After looking at the course list, I realized that I would gain a lot of skills that could benefit me in my future career.  

In the workforce, I am conducting a lot of client intake meetings and interacting with many people where I can use both critical thinking and public speaking skills acquired through the WSCR courses I took. Learning how to formulate arguments and assist in legal research while being succinct and efficient is something I am so grateful to have acquired through my education at UO. 

What inspired you to seek a career in law? 

I wanted to be a voice for others, to be that representative for those who struggle navigating the obstacles of the law and who face the educational barrier of understanding our criminal justice system. The law is an extremely powerful force in this world that I believe causes so much struggle because of its complexity, which is why I want to contribute to helping those who don’t understand it and who encounter it without the necessary resources. 

What key skills or learnings did you gain from your time in CAS at the UO that you now use regularly? 

I gained time management skills, prioritization, communication skills and critical thinking that I use in my current role. Taking a variety of classes in CAS and being so involved came with a busy schedule, and I had to learn how to both prioritize and manage my time to complete my schoolwork and balance my other responsibilities as well. Some higher-level courses take a lot more time to finish readings or do assignments which helped me develop these skills. Within CAS classes, we do a lot of class discussion which also helped me refine my critical thinking skills and learn how to communicate my perspective to others while remaining respectful and concise. In my current role, I am balancing many cases and communicating with clients and attorneys, which is why these specific skills have helped me. 

What is one of your favorite classes you took while at UO and why? 

My favorite course was SOC 484 Top Criminology with Stephanie Wiley which was about crime, deviance and social control. This was by far the most interesting course I took, and I was so eager to come to class. The readings were extremely engaging, and I appreciated the discussions we would have as a class about the topic which kept me wanting to come back and learn more. 

What is a piece of advice for current college students? 

Explore everything you are interested in. You don’t know what you may like or not like until you try it. The only reason why I found my community at UO and loved all of my classes was because I dipped my toes in everything and realized what I enjoyed and what I don’t enjoy as much. Don’t limit yourself. 

—By Jenny Brooks, College of Arts and Sciences