For Armin Kharrazi ’26, the path to Los Angeles — and to LMU Loyola Law School — was not one he had originally planned, but it has quickly become a defining chapter in his legal and personal journey.
From Iran to Germany — and Beyond
Born in Iran and raised in Germany, Kharrazi grew up navigating multiple cultures and languages long before the pursuit of law came into view. He later pursued his legal education in Germany, completing one of the most rigorous and competitive legal training systems in the world — known for its intensity even among native speakers.
Kharrazi as a law clerk in Germany
After passing the first state examination, students enter a two-year legal apprenticeship known as the Referendariat. As part of this training, Kharrazi completed a placement in the U.S., working at a law firm in Atlanta.
There, he gained firsthand experience with American legal practice, developing an understanding of legal research, analysis, and client-facing work in a common law system. That experience crystallized his desire to pursue further formal training through a Master of Laws (LLM).
For internationally trained attorneys like Kharrazi, an LLM is designed for those who already hold a primary law degree and seek advanced training in U.S. law. For Kharrazi, the degree represented a deliberate bridge, expanding his ability to operate across jurisdictions and legal traditions.
Finding the Right Fit at Loyola
That path would soon take an unexpected turn: LMU Loyola Law School.
While researching and applying to LLM programs in the U.S., Kharrazi indicated he was open to being contacted by law school recruiters. Shortly after, Professor Aaron Ghirardelli, faculty director of Loyola’s LLM programs, reached out to him. It was the first time he had heard of Loyola — and the first time he’d been contacted so directly by a law school.
But after connecting and learning more, he recalls: “I looked it up — and it was a perfect match.”
Loyola’s LLM program stood out to Kharrazi for its flexibility, allowing students to tailor their coursework to bar requirements across multiple states, as well as its integrated bar preparation, which offers structure and clarity in an otherwise complex process. For Kharrazi, it offered both flexibility and full immersion — two elements that proved critical in bridging legal systems.
That immersion extended into the classroom. At Loyola, LLM students take the same courses and exams as JD students, fully integrating them into the rigor of U.S. legal education. For Kharrazi, that mattered deeply. He wasn’t seeking a parallel track or a softened version of law school — he sought the full JD classroom experience, engaging directly with case law and coursework alongside his JD peers.
That rigor came with its challenges. Adjusting to the common law system — with its emphasis on case analysis, classroom dialogue, and procedural nuance — and to life in Los Angeles required a new way of thinking. Within Loyola’s relatively small LLM cohort, however, Kharrazi found something grounding: community.
He has become an active presence within the program, often bringing classmates together to celebrate not only academic achievements, but also personal milestones — small but meaningful moments that foster connection and mutual support.
“People from Loyola stick together,” he shared. “I really like that sense of community.”
Compared to the large lecture halls he experienced in Germany, Loyola’s learning environment felt personal. Professors are accessible, and classmates are collaborative. Over time, Kharrazi built meaningful connections not only with fellow international students, but also with JD peers navigating the same demanding coursework — an experience that fostered a strong sense of belonging both in and out of the classroom.
An Open Path Ahead
As he approaches the completion of his LLM this May, Kharrazi is turning his focus toward his next step: preparing for the California Bar Exam this summer. Having grown fond of Los Angeles, he hopes to build the next chapter of his career in the region as a California-licensed attorney, while remaining open to opportunities beyond it.
He is also building a growing network of attorneys and mentors across the U.S. and internationally — connections that reflect both his immediate goals and longer-term ambitions. Whether his path continues in Los Angeles, returns him to Germany, or leads somewhere entirely new, his approach remains consistent: deliberate, adaptable, and grounded in long-term growth.
That outlook has been shaped by navigating multiple legal systems and by the patience, dedication, and discipline required to move between them. Preparing for what comes next has become less about certainty and more about resilience — a mindset Kharrazi has carried with him across countries, classrooms, and professional settings.
Reflecting on that journey, he offers a lesson shaped by experience rather than theory:
“And the most important thing you learn during law school — or life — is that you will fail at some point, but you have to get up and keep fighting.”
It was a willingness to remain open to opportunity that first brought Kharrazi to Loyola. That same openness continues to shape how he approaches what comes next — ready to meet new challenges and explore new paths wherever they may lead.