“I came into Quinnipiac's law school doubting if I truly belonged here. I am leaving knowing that I not only can be a lawyer, but that I can be a great lawyer,” said Mansfield.

Mansfield attributes her success to her professors and her ability to trust her own instincts.

“Having professors who care so deeply about their students and are willing to do anything to help them succeed is something that I think sets Quinnipiac Law apart. I have never been just a face in the crowd in class," she said. "Rather, I’ve been treated like a colleague, and I’ve been taught, encouraged and trusted to be the lawyer I have been working my whole life to be. The mentorship I’ve received from my professors throughout law school, in particular, has been a driving force behind my success.”

Mansfield leaned on the wisdom of her professors to push her career. Nervous to head into law school, she sought advice from Assistant Professor of Legal Skills Sara Cates.

“I’ll never forget what she told me: ‘You belong here. You have good instincts. Trust your gut. It’s already leading you in the right direction.’ She planted the first seeds of confidence that I’ve spent the past three years cultivating,” said Mansfield.

This piece of advice, along with advice from other professors, aided her successful career path. Through her time at Quinnipiac, Mansfield was involved in the Civil Justice Clinic and on Law Review.

As a student in the Quinnipiac Civil Justice Clinic, she was able to argue a high stakes asylum case in immigration court.

“When I stood up to deliver the closing argument, all I could think about was how lucky I was to get to this point — to have the privilege to stand up for someone’s future, advocating for justice in a way that truly mattered,” Mansfield said. “I’ll never forget the moment we won. I turned to my professor, my peers, and my client with tears in my eyes, knowing we had just changed someone’s life for the better. It was the kind of moment that reminds you why you do this work. That experience will stay with me forever.”

These experiences have taught Mansfield what she needed to secure several internships. She worked in the Civil Justice and Appellate Prosecution Clinics, which ultimately led Mansfield to the esteemed position she is in now.