NLD Member Spotlight: Regina (Calvario) Dryjanski

“One of my favorite parts of doing my job is knowing that I am on the right side — the side that protects the rights of vulnerable people,” says Regina (Calvario) Dryjanski, Esq.

As Supervising Attorney for the Immigrant Legal Rights Program at Jewish Family Service of San Diego, Dryjanski finds working with her clients, who are often facing removal proceedings, both humbling and inspiring. “Listening to my clients speak of all the adversity they faced and how they were able to surmount obstacles that seemed insurmountable is absolutely inspiring to me,” Dryjanski said. 

Although she had often heard of the concept of “vicarious trauma” with respect to working with immigrant populations, Dryjanski was surprised to find that what she feels most in her position is growth through “vicarious resilience.” “I am constantly in awe of [my clients’] courage, and I believe I have become more resilient and courageous because I get to witness their resilience and the bravery with which they face adversity,” she said.

Path to Law

Dryjanski did not grow up dreaming of becoming an attorney. Born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico, Dryjanksi immigrated to San Diego, California, at 16 years old and became the first person in her family to attend high school in the United States. After graduating from the University of California San Diego with her bachelor’s degree in international and global studies, Dryjanski eventually began working at the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego. There, Dryjanski interviewed unaccompanied migrant minors to ensure their physical and emotional well-being, and to detect human rights violations. Dryjanski said she was “moved by their immigration stories,” which “marked [her] forever.” 

From that time on, Dryjanski knew that she wanted to be able to offer more services to such vulnerable populations, and to accomplish this and be more impactful in the United States, she realized she needed to go to law school.

Law School Journey

While a student at California Western School of Law, Dryjanski pursued her interests in both international and immigration law. She participated as an oral advocate on her school’s Jessup International Law Moot Court Team, and was an international law research assistant to Professor William J. Aceves. She also held immigration law internships at local law firm Higgs Fletcher & Mack, as well as the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration in Geneva, Switzerland. In addition, Dryjanski served as president of California Western’s Women’s Law Caucus and upon her graduation in April 2020, was awarded the Duane W. Layton International Law Scholarship for her excellence and commitment to the study of international law.

As a law school graduate in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dryjanski dealt with the bar exam being postponed to October 2020. In January 2021, Dryjanski learned that she had passed the bar on her first try and had become the first attorney in her family. Thereafter, Dryjanski joined Jewish Family Service of San Diego as a staff attorney, where her passion and skills as an advocate allowed her to quickly rise through the ranks to her current role of supervising attorney.

Dryjanski encourages current law students who are interested in immigration law to pursue internships at nonprofit organizations. “You learn so much and often get assigned to cases right away,” she said. “This experience can also help students narrow down the type of immigration law they want to do, whether it be affirmative, removal defense, or business immigration law.” In addition, Dryjanski recommends that students find a mentor. “There is no doubt in my mind that I am where I am in great part thanks to my mentors,” Dryjanski said.

Dryjanski also noted that speaking a foreign language is always an advantage in immigration law, something she did not originally think of when growing up as an immigrant herself. “I always felt at a disadvantage with English being my second language,” she said. “At my job now though, many things I once saw as a weakness are now a strength.”

Advice for New Lawyers

Dryjanski’s advice for new lawyers is to focus on having the mindset of “what can I do to help?” rather than “what can I get in return?” Dryjanski says that this attitude creates a collaborative work environment more conducive to learning.

She also says that young attorneys should work on their EQ (emotional quotient) as much as their IQ (intelligence quotient). “Being able to respond to situations with emotional intelligence will help you advance in your career and create an environment where people feel safe and able to do their work without the distraction of unnecessary conflict,” Dryjanski said.

Finally, and perhaps most salient, Dryjanski recommends that young attorneys, as hard as it may be, should focus on passion in their job search, rather than just pay. “You need to thrive in your environment,” she said. Dryjanski has found passion in her work and says that there is nothing better than “witnessing [her] clients’ expressions of absolute joy and feelings of safety when [she] share[s] with them that the form of relief they were seeking has been granted.”