Meet the LLM class of 2026: Sofia Lopez Mestre
Sofia Lopez Mestre
CLASS OF 2026
Home Country: Argentina
Prior Education: University of Buenos Aires '19 (Bachelor of Law)
Prior Work Experience: Team Leader, BBA Immigration
My family has generations of lawyers on my mom's side. My dad is a lawyer and I'm his only daughter so he probably convinced me to be a lawyer without realizing it. During the pandemic, I ended up working for a huge U.S. law firm. I was the first person they hired to work remotely on the legal team. I moved firms twice more, and in my last job I was a team leader working remotely at an immigration firm based in Houston for three and a half years.
It made sense to do an LLM to push forward my career and I always wanted to do a masters degree in the United States. I do love people and I have friends in many parts of the world because of the exchange program I did before, so I really wanted to do an LLM because I knew it was going to be like that.
Why did you choose Duke Law School?
In September 1966, my grandma took my eight-year-old uncle, my mom's brother, to undergo surgery with Dr. Lenox Baker at Duke University. At the time, the specialized medical expertise my uncle needed was not available in Argentina. Exactly 59 years later, I am starting my Master of Laws at that very same university. In my heart, it feels like a nice full-circle moment coming here.
While Duke Law School’s consistent ranking among the top five law schools in the United States certainly influenced my decision, it was ultimately my family’s story that guided my choice. I am committed to high academic standards and to pursuing a program that will shape my long-term career. But beyond that, the opportunity to experience such a full-circle moment carries deep personal significance. Family — both by blood and by bond — means everything to me. So while I was accepted to four out of the five schools I applied to, this is where I truly want to be. I'm incredibly excited to begin this next chapter at Duke.
Are there student groups or other activities you’d like to get involved with?
I want to do the Immigrant Rights Clinic and I do want to get involved in the Duke Immigrant and Refugee Project. My advisor said they do a lot of nice work for immigrants who don't have any resources, and I have experience in asylum and all the really hard stuff.
How do you plan to use your LLM degree after graduation?
Once I graduate, I think I want to stay in immigration. It's a very consumer-oriented field and I'm a real people person — I love working with people and helping them out. There's videos of me in my last law firm crying when they approved my client's case. I get really involved.
In both immigration and criminal law, a lot of people are in the worst position. So I want to keep on helping people that have been born in a really hard situation or that really don't have other options, and their only option is relying on their immigration attorneys.
What do you do to relax outside of work or class?
I do want to play soccer so I joined the (Law Scholars) soccer group. And I do read a lot - almost 700 books in 15 years. I read all the books that are trendy. I've read books since I was a child — my mom used to buy me supermarket books when I was really young. Someone said they want to do a book club and I was like, "I want to be there!"
I feel like the campus is the most beautiful place. I did not know a campus could be this beautiful. I studied in Jerusalem for six months and it was nice, but the green here is great and everyone is super nice.
Meet more of our LLM students who make this a great community.
At Duke Law, you'll join a community of peers from different geographic regions, cultures, professional paths, and interests.
The Career & Professional Development Center is committed to helping LLM students acquire the professional tools and skills that will serve them well in the United States or abroad.