Anika Paz Lopes is a recent graduate of California Western School of Law. Before law school, Anika worked as a case assistant with the California Innocence Project, where she supported legal efforts on behalf of individuals seeking relief from wrongful convictions. During law school, Anika gained broad litigation and government experience as a law clerk with Cozen O’Connor and through positions with the United States Attorney’s Office, the California Attorney General’s Office, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Her interest in employment defense grew from a combination of her coursework and her long-standing experience working in a family-owned restaurant, which gave her a strong appreciation for the challenges business owners face. After passing the California Bar Exam, Anika joined the firm as an associate and assists in representing public and private employers across a wide range of employment matters.
Education
- California Western School of LawJ.D., magna cum laude (2025)
- University of California, San DiegoB.A., International Studies – Economics (2020)
Admissions
- All California state courts
- United States District Court for the Southern District of California
Experience
- Ames Karanjia LLPAssociate: December 2025 – present
- Arduengo InvestigationsLaw Clerk: August 2025 – November 2025
- California Western School of LawHonors Instructor: August 2024 – May 2025
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of CaliforniaJudicial Extern: August 2024 – November 2024