Dustin Saiidi: From Electrical Engineering to Esquiring
by Mahsa Khalilifar
''Law school is new and as much an experimentation process as anything else. I find each class provides a different kind of challenge.''
Born in Reno, Nevada, Saiidi has always enjoyed the structure of the law.
"There are formulas and elements that need to be satisfied with rules that dictate different directions an argument may go. I have an engineering background, and I really find the law structure similar to engineering," he explains. "The only difference is in engineering there is one right answer, and getting it right gives us credit. In law school, there is no right answer, and if we conclude there is, the professors won't let us forget about it!"
He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, where he studied electrical engineering.
Saiidi, whose parents were born in Iran, says he enjoys the cultural side of things. He decided to study abroad for five and a half months in Australia before he began law school.
"I am really passionate about human rights in the international context," he says. "I also love traveling and really expanding my point of view by indulging myself into other cultures to gain a better understanding of who they are."
Saiidi is now a 2L at the University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, located in Sacramento, California, and attends classes in the evening part-time. Although he has international aspirations, he is evaluating all of his choices.
"I'm keeping all options open right now. I'm considering intellectual property, international law, or government," he says.
Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, a Sacramento native, has influenced Saiidi the most so far.
"I had the privilege of taking a class with him during the summer and was really impressed in the way he conducted himself, dealt with people, and the respect he demonstrated for all the students and others who he was [working] with," he says.
Saiidi belongs to the Middle Eastern and South Asian associations at his school. He is also a member of the Student Bar Association, where he serves as the second-year evening representative.
"I have a great time on the board!" he says. "We are the student voice and help coordinate and showcase many activities for the students on the campus either through club events, student committees, or events we ourselves put on."
Being an active member of clubs has helped Saiidi socialize with his fellow law students, and he advises other students to take advantage of the benefits of club participation.
"By joining a club we might not normally associate ourselves with, we can really expand our horizons and discover something new," he says. "Also, clubs can help provide support and mentors, which are really important in law school."
Q. What do you do for fun?
A. Go out and pretend I'm from Australia and speak in an Aussie accent; photography.
Q. What CD is in your CD player right now, or what was the last song you heard?
A. I'm listening to Persian music right now: Andy.
Q. What is the last magazine you read?
A. Either Vegas or Discovery magazine. I can't remember which.
Q. What is your favorite TV show?
A. This has changed since I've started taking night classes. But Seinfeld never fails to disappoint. I've been watching The Hills: Season One DVD lately too!
Q. Who is your role model?
A. Nostradamus, Einstein, Galileo, Edison, Franklin, Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr. I think they all did great things for the world. I am taking steps to actively learn about their lives.
Q. What is something most people don't know about you?
A. I think I am a deeper individual than they see on the surface.
As for his plans for the future, Saiidi is hopeful that his degree will help regardless of the area on which he decides to focus.
"I think a law degree is one of the most powerful degrees to have," he says. "It is the profession that many of the founders of our country were in and helps keep the country moving at the pace it is. I hope to utilize my degree to have a positive impact on the world."
Saiidi prides himself on getting along with others and hopes his peers can be as open-minded as he is. He recommends taking it all in.
"One reason law school is great is the diversity it brings; be open to it," he says. "Don't take yourself too seriously. Have fun with your goals in life. Diversify your interests, balance yourself, and learn about yourself. It will come in [handy] when becoming a professional attorney."
Believing in a balanced lifestyle, Saiidi tries to spend a few days out of the week "in a world outside [of] law school."
"In addition to going to law school, I am big into self-awareness seminars and meditation. I am taking an acting class, I work out at least four times a week, and love to take out some competitive aggression on the basketball or football field," he elaborates. "I think personality development is more important than what we just learn in school, but of course school is a big part of this development too! Law school has been an opportunity to really grow and learn about what I am about."
On The Net
University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law www.mcgeorge.edu
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