From Yorktown Heights to (Near) Yorktown: Tyler Lopez ’27 Gets Ready to Answer the Call
Tyler Lopez brings a lot of relevant experience in law and banking to William & Mary Law School. His goal is to build on both so he can become an excellent Citizen Lawyer.
Lopez lived in Manhattan for three years before coming to Southeastern Virginia, first working as a paralegal in the Rackets Bureau of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and later as an analyst in Morgan Stanley’s Regulatory Relations group. 
“At each, I got to work with lawyers who were passionate about what they did,” Lopez says. “Whether it was working with securities regulators, talking to defense attorneys, or preparing for a trial, the attorneys were always ready to tackle whatever came their way.”
Not surprisingly, watching lawyers in action inspired him to tackle law school.
A first-generation law student, Lopez grew up in Yorktown Heights, N.Y., and in 2020 earned a degree in political science from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. After his three-year stint in Manhattan, he researched a number of law schools and decided William & Mary was the place to be—academically, professionally, and socially.
“I chose William & Mary Law for the sense of community,” Lopez says. “From the first people I initially spoke to in Admissions before applying, to Dean DiSciullo’s and Dean Spencer’s warm greetings on Admitted Students Day, everyone at William & Mary made me feel welcomed and valued as a member of the law school community.”
The strong emphasis that William & Mary places on leadership and service no matter the profession was also a major factor in his decision.
“I have worked directly in the criminal justice system and have seen first had the very real effects the law can have on some of the most vulnerable people in our society,” Lopez explains. “I have also had the opportunity to work at one of the largest banks in the country liaising with banking regulators.”
Lopez hopes to use his unique blend of professional experiences to inform his contributions during classroom discussions. Outside of the classroom, his deep appreciation for public service is steering him toward joining the Public Service Fund (PSF), a student-led organization that provides financial support to students for summer internships and to recent graduates for loan repayment assistance, primarily from funds raised during the annual PSF Live and Silent Auction. He is also considering the Moot Court competition team and the William & Mary Law Review, one of the top general interest law journals in the country.
A lover of the outdoors, Lopez is looking forward to kayaking and hiking in the greater Williamsburg area, and following his favorite baseball team, the New York Yankees. “Oh, and I can’t forget about the Barristers’ Pickleball Association,” he says, grinning.
Lopez is not entirely sure what he wants post law school, but he is considering something in the public policy or regulatory field. Right now he is content to settle in and learn what it truly means to be a lawyer.
“Having worked with lawyers for multiple years, it will be nice to finally peel back the curtains on what they learned and how they applied that knowledge to get where they are today,” he explains.
Knowing that William & Mary takes great pains to emphasize that students like him start their lives as Citizen Lawyers from Day One of law school, Lopez is quick to define what Citizen Lawyer means to him. It means having strong ethical considerations, but also assisting those who find themselves in less than fortunate situations.
“It is a privilege to be able to study law for three years—a privilege most people do not have the opportunity to do,” Lopez says. “If there is ever a situation where I can use the skills I learned at William & Mary to help someone who is facing a troublesome situation and needs legal assistance, I will be there to answer the call.”