Bill D. | Leland

Bill D.

4.9

Studied at Yale Law School

Works at National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild

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About Bill

Hello! I'm Bill, a first-generation Mexican-American college graduate from South Tucson, Arizona. My journey has been one of resilience, courage, and success. When I was 15, my mother was separated from our family because of her immigration status. This life-changing event led me to step into the roles of parent, cook, housekeeper, brother, nurse, and tireless immigration law researcher. It also fueled my dedication to public service and social justice. Throughout my life, I have worked for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Pima County Administrator's Office, a member of the U.S. Congress, and numerous legal aid organizations and human rights nonprofits. I hold a B.A. Phi Beta Kappa in Latin American Studies and Sociology with Honors from Bowdoin College, where I was a Gates Millennium Scholar, John Lewis Fellow, Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellow, Truman Scholar, and the 2016 national Hispanic Scholar of the Year. I also have an M.Sc. in Migration Studies with Merit and an M.Sc. in Criminology and Criminal Justice with Distinction from the University of Oxford, where I became a Marshall Scholar and Clarendon Fund Scholar. Currently, I'm pursuing a Ph.D. in Criminology at Oxford and have just completed my first year at Yale Law School, where I am a Hurst Horizon Scholar, an International Strategy Forum Fellow, and a Katzmann Fellow. I'm passionate about making a positive impact and inspiring others through my experiences. When I'm not studying or working, you can find me playing basketball and soccer, cooking, and writing a book!

Why do I coach?

I want to be a coach because I believe everyone, no matter who they are or where they come from, has a story, and I know the importance of having someone in your corner to help you tell it. I’m the first in my family to attend college. My father only completed high school, and my mother didn’t even finish elementary school. I didn’t have someone who could guide me through the law school admissions or doctoral application process. I know how overwhelming application processes can be, and I also know how to break them down and make the process manageable. Having completed nearly six degrees from the world's top universities and earned some of the most prestigious scholarships, I have extensive experience in crafting compelling applications for any program. As a member of a top fellowship admissions committee, I know which applications stand out from the rest and what goes on in the room where it happens. Applying to the best programs does not have to be difficult; I hope you trust me to serve as your coach and, more importantly, as your guide in helping you tell your story.

Work Experience

Legal Intern

National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild

June 2024 - Present

American Planning Board Co-Chair

Humanity in Action

January 2022 - Present

Admissions Committee Experience

Provide guidance and support for admissions during the annual selection of new U.S. Fellows.

Academic Tutor

Stanford University

September 2021 - June 2022

Designed and taught an undergraduate course in Criminology and Criminal Justice to Stanford University students at Oxford. The course focused on addressing the inequities of the U.S. criminal justice system and examined potential avenues for reform.

Program Coordinator

Pima County

November 2019 - August 2020

Managed Pima County’s police reform response and collaborated with multiple law enforcement agencies to advance policy solutions addressing police violence. Worked with various justice system stakeholders to design Arizona’s first pre-indictment diversion program for low-level drug offenders. Conducted and analyzed research to advise the Assistant County Administrator of Justice and Law Enforcement on strategies to lower the jail population and address racial disparities.

Truman-Albright Fellow

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

August 2016 - July 2017

Assisted federal data analysts in the Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation to oversee research on childcare programs and improve services for low-income Latino children and families. Represented the Office of Refugee Resettlement as a spokesperson at a Texas shelter for 2,400 unaccompanied minors and led high-level briefings and tours with national stakeholders.

Truman Intern

The Center for Law and Social Policy

June 2016 - July 2016

Administered a national survey of workforce development and social services state administrators in order to gather insights on improving coordination between employment and training programs for the benefit of low-income populations. Interview data contributed to CLASP’s report, “TANF & WIOA High Interests, Slow Progress.”

Legal Intern

Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project

February 2013 - May 2016

Completed telephone interviews with low-income Maine residents in need of legal aid to ascertain eligibility and develop case management plans. Organized student recruitment and selection process as the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project's Bowdoin College liaison.

Intern

U.S. House of Representatives

June 2012 - August 2012

Directed phone calls, managed constituent database, wrote correspondence, supported staﬀ with special projects, including translating, researching, and summarizing articles, and participated in immigration law brieﬁngs.