Isabel Agtual

Isabel Agtual ('20) is majoring in Legal Studies and minoring in Spanish at the University of California, Berkeley. This fall Isabel will be interning at the United States Attorney's  Office where she will gain first-hand experience in the federal legal system. Isabel is fascinated by the roles of law and law enforcement in the United States. Her passion is fueled by her interest in the human aspect of society.  She is captivated by the rules that operate within society and the fact that people run afoul of these rules on a regular basis. She is also curious about why certain issues have become important in our society, and whether certain laws are valid. During her years at Berkeley, she has taken a particular interest in expanding her knowledge regarding human trafficking. She participated in the YWCA Anti-Human Trafficking Internship where she met weekly with other participants to discuss the horrendous issue of human trafficking, listen to speakers, and further explore her options of how she can work against this form of modern-day slavery. She is also a member of the Berkeley Anti Trafficking Coalition. This past summer she participated in an internship in Tel Aviv, Israel, at the Eritrean Women's Community Center. There, she worked with many women who were trafficked in the Sinai Desert during their trek from the repressive dictatorship of Eritrea to Israel. She helped people fill out Refugee Status Determination forms, taught weekly English classes, and helped with fundraising to ensure the center could continue to provide services. Her experience working with these survivors has further strengthened her desire to fight against trafficking. 

After receiving her undergraduate degree from Berkeley, she plans to attend law school and ultimately work for the Federal Bureau of Investigation as a Special Agent. During the summer of 2017, she interned for the Los Angeles World Airports Police Division in the Homeland Security and Intelligence Section with the Vulnerability Assessment and Analysis Unit and the Emergency Operations and Planning Unit.  She had the unique opportunity to shadow police officers, attend workshops relating to emergency management, and assist with various sensitive law enforcement tasks, including acting as a decoy.  She received first-hand exposure into the world of law enforcement. Isabel is grateful to receive the Center on Civility and Democratic Engagement fellowship and for the opportunity to expand her horizons. Read her story.