Westmont Magazine Loving People in the Law Office
Sharyna Scott’s favorite question has always been, “Why?” From an early age, she loved to argue and ask questions. “You should become a lawyer. You’ll get paid to argue since you like it so much,” said her grandpa. He saw how her brown eyes lit up when Sharyna debated with her father. She held onto that. “I want to be a lawyer,” she confidently told any adult who asked the 9 year old about her career plans.
Westmont cemented this calling. Sharyna, who graduated in 2010, realized in her constitutional law class that she loved learning about how the law affects individual people and how lawyers can help shape that impact. Her philosophy major prepared her for law school and her future career. Her professors challenged her to think analytically and critically as she wrestled with complicated concepts and ideas.
Sharyna attended Northeastern University School of Law. She planned to work with nonprofits, but none of her connections were hiring recent graduates. God had other plans. One of her mentors, an attorney in San Diego, encouraged her to start her own business. “I did that very timidly and very apprehensively,” she says. “But I’m so glad I did. I wouldn’t change a thing. I love what I do.” She launched the Law Office of Sharyna Scott in 2016.
For Sharyna, practicing law involves loving God and loving people. In a sometimes cutthroat world, she offers hospitality and community. “I’m a lawyer, and I love helping clients, but I’m not just solving their legal problems,” she says. “A lot of times I listen to them. I’m encouraging them when they ask me about non-legal things.”
Her law office helps clients with estate planning, which includes writing wills and creating
documents for trusts and assigning power of attorney. She specializes in business formation law so companies can avoid costly litigation. Her work helps her clients or their family members stay out of court.
Sharyna also practices immigration law. She supports people as they navigate the complicated process of applying for green cards or becoming U.S. citizens through naturalization. “Working in each of these three areas allows me to come alongside and help people navigate what can be a very tricky legal road,” she says.
She loves watching expressions of relief on her clients’ faces when a case ends. “The most important thing is building relationships and hearing my clients’ stories,” she says. She credits her time at Westmont for helping her develop a deep commitment to building community.
Sharyna thought Westmont was simply a place to get a good education on her way to law school. She never expected to form meaningful relationships in college. “It was a beautiful surprise to find that not only was I getting a great education, but I had
a great community,” she says. She remembers talking late into the night with her friends on the rock by the library. Classes of 15 people felt more like seminars filled with profound personal discussions. Professors genuinely cared about her well-being. “I felt seen,” she says.
Westmont also strengthened her faith in crucial ways. Though she had grown up in her grandfather's church, Sharyna remembers praying intentionally for the first time about getting into Westmont. She witnessed God open doors, and God became real to Sharyna through many personal experiences. Studying the Bible in class deepened her foundations.
Ultimately, Sharyna is passionate about doing work for the kingdom of God. “I can never give back enough to God for what he’s done for me,” she says. “I’m motivated to run my business in a way that’s pleasing to God. He is the real CEO. I want to do kingdom work with all my clients. This means giving them the best advice by being honest and upfront with them. It means loving them as my neighbor.”