Heart of the Law
“My interest in law was sparked by the discrimination I experienced living in Japan as a racial minority,” said Kesa L. Yorozu JD’97, who was born in Eugene, Ore., but spent the majority of her youth overseas. “My determination was cemented when I saw documentaries of the civil rights movement on public television in Japan. I knew I wanted to be in a profession that empowered me, as well as others, to make the playing field more level.”
“I think my law degree has influenced my life tremendously. It has further opened my eyes to social inequities and how each individual needs to make a difference every day.”
Yorozu returned to the United States to attend Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. After earning her bachelor’s degree in philosophy, she worked as a corporate translator for Honda R&D Co. in California. When she decided to enroll in law school, she chose Willamette because it offered a low student-teacher ratio. “That allowed a special bond to grow between faculty and students,” she explained. “Through my law degree, I hoped to gain knowledge and experience that would challenge me intellectually but would also be instrumental in bringing social change and equality.”
Following graduation, Yorozu worked as an associate at Stoel Rives LLP in Portland, Ore., for three years. In 2000, she moved to Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati in San Francisco. A few years later, she became senior corporate counsel for NVIDIA Corp., a leader in programmable graphics processor technologies. Despite the shift from working in a fi rm to serving as in-house counsel for a corporation, Yorozu remains committed to social justice. “I have to admit, I use less of my legal degree and more of my heart,” she said.
“I think my law degree has influenced my life tremendously,” Yorozu added. “It has further opened my eyes to social inequities and how each individual needs to make a difference every day. Although my job on a day-to-day basis could be mundane, I am fully aware that my degree could open doors for myself and for others.”