Maria Aguado '24

Making It Happen

by Kate Abu-Absi | April 9, 2025

Some people wait for life to happen, and others instinctively know that they need to work hard to make it happen. Maria Aguado ’24 is most definitely in the latter group and as a recent Toledo Law graduate, she is not afraid to do the work it takes to succeed. While it doesn’t hurt that she is a type A personality, her time management skills are beyond impressive, so let me set the stage.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I met Maria a few years ago while we were both working for the Office of Residence Life, I was an Assistant Director and Maria as a Graduate Assistant. For those of you who are not familiar with the role of GA, I will do my best to sum it up with one sentence. Grad assistants live on campus in the residence hall; therefore, they are always on duty, and they serve as the first line of defense for residential students’ social, emotional, academic and physical health. And she was planning her wedding. And she was a full-time law student. To say that I met Maria during a high stress point in her life would be a ridiculous understatement yet, I never saw her lose her cool, be anything but professional, or waste a split second.

As the daughter of immigrants from Colombia, Maria has always been driven to serve immigrant populations and imagined a career in education before she realized that a legal career could support the same populations but perhaps in a more profound way. Despite being a first-generation college student, Maria sought opportunities during her undergraduate paralegal studies and participated in Launch into Law, the college's grant funded diversity pipeline program. The weeklong, immersive experience demystifies the LSAT, law school application process and builds a pathway for historically underrepresented students to earn their J.D. Her experience convinced her that the University of Toledo’s College of Law was the right choice, and a highlight was participating in the Immigrant Justice Clinic. Clinical Professor and Director of the Immigrant Justice Clinic, Eugenio Mollo, Jr. shared that, “Maria was an outstanding legal intern in both the Immigrant Justice Clinic and Advanced Immigrant Justice Clinic, leaving a lasting impact on her former immigration clients. I witnessed firsthand her unwavering commitment to her clients, her discipline, and her high standards for herself, all while maintaining a deep dedication to the rule of law and justice.”

Post graduation and passing the bar, Maria began working at Spengler Nathanson and focuses on civil litigation. While she is enjoying the day-to-day fast pace the type A part of her misses having a syllabus to reference. Still, she has felt embraced by the firm’s culture and comforted that The Toledo Way of practicing law is a very real thing. When asked what surprised her the most about joining the firm and beginning her career, she said that she quickly realized that she felt confident in her knowledge. Professor Mollo is confident as well and added “I am excited to follow Maria’s career and her continued contributions to the community. She is poised to achieve great things!”

Q&A with Maria Aguado

How did being a first-generation college and law student impact your experience in law school or in your career?
As a first-generation college and law school student, I was motivated in staying proactive. In higher education, knowledge is privilege - knowledge of scholarships, internships, and deadlines. Being a first-gen student, I was fortunate to have friends a year ahead and close relationships with faculty who offered valuable support. They would send extra friendly reminder about important matters and always willingly to walk through various processes, sharing their own experiences along the ways. Their guidance made all the difference in easing this journey.

How did you decide on Toledo Law for your legal education?
As a native of Toledo, I earned my Bachelors of Science in Paralegal Studies at the University of Toledo. In my junior year, I participated in the “Launch into Law” program, which is a 5-day experience at Toledo Law designed to prepare students for the law school application process. This made the law school application process transparent and provided an opportunity to establish early relationships with the faculty/professors. Further, some of my undergraduate classes included designated time to explore the law school. I appreciated the close relationship between my undergraduate studies with the law school. Additionally, the program’s affordability made pursing a law degree a realistic and accessible goal for me. Its reputation for supporting women and dedicated professors made choosing Toledo Law an easy decision for me.

Do you have a favorite memory from attending Toledo Law?
Graduation day stands out as my favorite memory. It was very surreal moment, seeing all my hard work come to fruition as I earned my law degree. I was surrounded by my family and friends who were also soaking in the day’s emotions. We reminisced about the long nights spent at the library, while also laughing at the memorable moment and experiences that came along the way. It was a rewarding day after years of dedication and support towards a life goal.

What did you find difficult about your time in law school?
I think the most challenging part of about law school was the learning curve inside and outside the classroom. As a 1L, you are adapting to your reading load, refining your study habits that were established in undergrad, and preparing throughout the semester for final exams. As a 2L, new challenges arise, such as navigating bar requirements, such as the MPRE and beginning the application process for your state bar. In the last year, your focus shifts to completing any remaining bar applications as well as developing a game plan for the bar exam. Amidst it all, you are navigating opportunities outside the classroom to develop practical skills while also securing employment for post-graduation. However, along the way, you gain a sense of confidence, checking off another box on this rewarding academic journey.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside the office, I enjoy cooking new recipes with my husband and taking our dog Luna on walks. With some new extra free time lately, I’ve enjoyed attending some of the social events in the Glass City and spending quality time with all of our new nieces and nephews.