Anita Belokopytova

When I was about six years old growing up in Armenia, my mother asked me what I wanted to become when I grew up. I told her I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher. When she asked why, I answered simply: “I want to teach children right from wrong.” My mother suggested that, if I want to teach people right from wrong, perhaps I should become the person who works with the rules themselves. At the time, however, becoming an attorney in my country without knowing the right people or having the means to bribe those in authority seemed impossible. I never told anyone else about that dream.
At sixteen, I came to the United States with my parents without speaking a word of English. Six months later, I had my first job at Kentucky Fried Chicken. Like many immigrant families in my community, I followed a practical and familiar path: Glendale Community College and then California State University, Northridge, where I earned a B.A. in Business Management. Education was always expected, but family and financial responsibilities meant that law school would have to wait. I had young children who needed my time, and our household needed two incomes.
Before entering the legal profession, I worked in banking, beginning as a teller and later obtaining investment licenses to sell investments. I also managed warehouse buildings converted into live/work lofts in downtown Los Angeles for other owners. Those experiences taught me to work with people, solve problems, manage competing interests, and take responsibility for matters where the details mattered.
About ten years ago, I began working with Edwin G. Schuck, Jr., a transactional and corporate attorney who had practiced with Sullivan & Cromwell in New York and later moved to Los Angeles, CA. He became an important mentor in my legal career. He recognized that there was more for me than redlining documents and managing files. As a first-generation American himself, he understood the value of education and encouraged me to pursue a law degree. I was hesitant because I did not believe I had it in me, so I first obtained a paralegal certificate from UCLA, thinking perhaps that would satisfy the ambition and dissuade me from becoming an attorney. Instead, working alongside attorneys and realizing that I could understand and handle the work made me realize that I could do more.
Five years ago, I finally decided to pursue the dream I had postponed for so long. My reasoning was simple: time was going to pass anyway, and in four years I would still be here, hopefully. I might as well put that time to good use. I spoke with my family and committed to law school while continuing to balance family and financial responsibilities. Once I started, there was no stopping. I completed my J.D. cum laude in November 2025 and passed the California Bar Examination on my first attempt in February 2026. I made passing on the first try a priority because I did not have years to spare.
Today, becoming an attorney represents much more than reaching a professional goal. It is the completion of a journey that began with a six-year-old's belief that she could help teach right from wrong. I am deeply grateful to my family for supporting me through law school, bar preparation, and all of the uncertainty and stress that accompanied both. Most importantly, I hope my children have seen through my experience that a dream can be delayed by circumstances without being abandoned. I want them to know firsthand that education, perseverance, and the willingness to begin—even later than planned—can make what once seemed impossible possible.

What motivated/inspired you to become an attorney?

When I was young, my mother asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I told her that I wanted to be a kindergarten teacher - to teach the children right from wrong. My mother then suggested that I become an attorney instead.

What do you enjoy most about the work you do?

I most enjoy the opportunity to give voice to people who might otherwise not have one. To me, being an attorney means more than knowing the law; it means listening carefully, understanding the full picture, and making sure a client's position is heard and advocated.

What are your hobbies and interests? What do you like to do when you're not working?

I make an awesome (if I may say so) sourdough bread. I love spending time with my three children, my husband, our dog Bella and our cats (too many to count, lol).