First-Generation Law Student Finds Scalia Law a Great Fit

Michael Billotto, ’25, grew up in a big Italian household in Brooklyn, NY, where his parents’ strong work ethic made up for their lack of higher education. “My dad is a firefighter and my mom owned a small business when I was growing up,” he explained. “So I didn’t have the financial advantages of my peers. My clothes were often hand‐me‐downs from an older neighbor. My parents naturally encouraged my siblings and me to pursue a college education.”

When Billotto decided to apply to law school, he looked for schools that “promoted a learning environment of heterodoxy and academic diversity instead of orthodoxy and viewpoint uniformity,” he said. “Scalia Law was not only known for this, but has gained a reputation as a rising star among legal institutions.”

Despite his academic credentials, Billotto has encountered the usual first‐year challenges, which he says are exacerbated by his first‐generation status. “It’s daunting not knowing what to expect or what’s expected of you, let alone the broad scope of the legal profession,” he said. “Fortunately,” he continued, “Scalia Law has helped immensely, both with resources and through the community it fosters. There are so many events for learning about different areas of law, professors who are more than welcoming with their classroom and office hours, and staff who are easy to reach with questions.”

Billotto has specific advice for first‐generation students. “Explore and isolate schools that cultivate the necessary skills in their students,” he suggested. “It’s important as a first‐generation law student in a new environment to feel known by their professors, which might mean prioritizing schools like Scalia Law with smaller incoming classes.”

Above all, he continued, there’s no substitute for hard work. “No matter a student’s background, hard work is the great equalizer,” Billotto said. “If they’re a hard worker, and also a smart worker, then any student can prove they belong in the legal profession.”

Billotto’s plans for the future are still in the works, but he’s developed an ambitious long‐term plan. ”Eventually, I’d like to give back by working public service — maybe even get elected to Congress — so I can serve Americans from all walks of life who work hard and live an honest life in pursuit of the American dream.”

If you are interested in working with Scalia Law’s first‐generation students, or students from underrepresented populations, contact Assistant Dean David Cho at dcho21@gmu.edu.