Miguel Cancino has always been driven to make a meaningful impact on society and the world. His passion for law was first sparked by reading Barack Obama’s biography, which inspired him to see law as a powerful tool for positive change in the world. Later, watching his father practice environmental law for decades reinforced his commitment to using the law to protect communities and the environment in his own way, striving to create lasting benefits for society and the future through collaboration and thoughtful advocacy.

After earning his law degree, Miguel spent over a decade practicing environmental law in Mexico, gaining experience across state and federal government organizations, law firms, and as in-house counsel.

While working at a law firm, one of the partners encouraged Miguel to pursue a master’s degree in law in the United States if he wanted to continue advancing in his career. He told Miguel that such professional development wouldn’t just only benefit him as an individual but would also open new doors for his future. “The partner I was working with told me, one day, ‘You have a lot of potential, strong skills, and a sharp mind. But if you want to take your career to the next level… [if] your goal is to become a partner or rise to a leadership position—whether in a firm or beyond— … you need to pursue your master’s degree in the U.S.,” he recalled.

Miguel began looking at LL.M. programs in the U.S., but Vanderbilt wasn’t initially on his radar until he attended a law school admissions fair in Mexico. He was initially there to learn about a completely different school and decided to stop at the Vanderbilt booth. He ended up talking with Julia C. Truemper, Associate Director of Admissions, Recruitment & International Student Services. She spoke about the Energy, Environment & Land Use (EELU) Program, gave him an application fee waiver, and he applied the next day.

After receiving his acceptances, Miguel narrowed it down to three schools. He was interested in Vanderbilt partly because of the EELU Program, but he says he was also simply drawn to the school more than the others. “I think that something in Vanderbilt is calling me,” he remembered. “I thought, ‘Vanderbilt is the place I have to be.’”

At Vanderbilt, Miguel took full advantage of the EELU Program, enrolling in courses such as Energy Law with Professor Jim Rossi, Land Use Planning with Professor Caroline G. Cox, Climate Change Governance Seminar with Professor J.B. Ruhl, Water Law with Professor William Martin, Climate Law and Policy Lab with Professor Anne Davis. Additionally, he enrolled in an independent study with Professor Michael Vandenbergh, developing research on ESG and regulatory frameworks. He has also enjoyed core LL.M. classes with other professors, such as Professor Yesha Yadav and Professor Bruce Wolfson. Furthermore, Miguel joined the ELPAR (Environmental Law & Policy Annual Review) class, a joint publication created by Vanderbilt Law and the Environmental Law Institute (ELI).

Miguel occasionally brings his dog, Elvis, to class—where he listens attentively (or so it seems) during lectures and becomes a hallway favorite between sessions. Miguel has also built relationships with both LL.M. and J.D. students, working to foster community between the two groups in his position as the LL.M. representative. Miguel has worked with professors, staff, and faculty to expand opportunities for LL.M. students, including access to the Fall and Spring Firm Mingle events for enhanced networking, as well as greater inclusion in various events and professional opportunities. Thanks to the opportunity for LL.M. students to participate in events, Miguel connected with Harpeth Conservancy, where he now serves as a Pro Bono Legal Volunteer to fulfill the pro bono hours required for the bar exam.

He is also incredibly grateful for the unwavering support of Vanderbilt Law School in fostering opportunities for LL.M. students. In particular, he thanks Dean Chris Guthrie, Professor Michael Vandenbergh, and Dean Chris Meyers for their encouragement and for nominating him to attend the ALI CLE/Environmental Law Institute’s Environmental Law 2025 Conference in Washington, D.C. on a full-tuition scholarship.

“It’s been amazing how the school allows me to be part of designing some stuff, and my classmates are very happy because of that,” he said. “I have friends in other schools around the U.S… and they said Vanderbilt is giving us opportunities that [they] don’t have in many places.”

After he finishes the program, Miguel plans to sit for an American bar exam and then look for related job opportunities in the U.S. He also hopes to help raise Vanderbilt’s profile in Mexico, encouraging prospective LL.M. students to consider the law school—especially those who may not yet be as familiar with it as other universities.

“It’s not [just] the name of the university. It’s what you can learn here and all the resources they give you so you can be the best attorney, in the U.S. and outside the U.S.,” he said. “I need everyone to know that… [Vanderbilt is] a very different school. I’m glad to be a part of it. It was the best decision of my life.”