Her Story
About Abigail
Abigail Jalso is an interdisciplinary honors student at Loyola University Chicago pursuing dual Bachelor of Science degrees in Criminal Justice/Criminology and Psychology, with a minor in Law & Politics. Preparing for a career in law, she has developed an academic foundation spanning the legal system, human behavior, criminal justice, public policy, and government affairs. Her interests center on legal work that advances equity, protects constitutional rights, and supports individuals and communities navigating complex legal and institutional challenges. She is also a recipient of multiple Dean’s List distinctions and was selected as one of six Loyola University Chicago students to participate in the Human Rights and a Just Society Symposium in Poland.
Professionally, Abigail serves as a Student Assistant to the Vice President of Government Affairs at Loyola University Chicago and as Project Manager for Loyola Votes, where she supports civic engagement and voter registration initiatives. She has also gained experience through internships with Kroll’s Investigations, Diligence & Compliance practice, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Grcic Law LLC. Her legal and investigative experience includes regulatory compliance research, municipal ordinance analysis, statutory research, due diligence, and the preparation of research and policy recommendations. At Kroll, she also applies her fluency in Hungarian to reviewing and translating foreign government and media documents for international investigations.
Beyond her academic and professional work, Abigail is committed to public service, civic engagement, and expanding access to opportunity. She has participated in the Northwestern University Prison Education Program, volunteered with Kolbe House through the Cook County Sheriff’s Office, and holds leadership roles within Kappa Kappa Gamma and Inside Government. Her research has also been published in the Journal of Student Research in connection with her work on poetry as a coping mechanism for high school students. Looking ahead, Abigail plans to gain additional professional experience, prepare for the LSAT, attend law school, and pursue a career as an attorney, potentially in prosecution. Her approach to the next stage of her career is grounded in persistence, communication, patience, understanding, and a commitment to keeping her goals firmly in sight.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Abigail
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my persistence, willingness to learn, and commitment to pursuing my goals. My experiences across criminal justice, government affairs, legal research, and civic engagement have taught me to remain adaptable and open to new opportunities. I have also benefited from the support and mentorship of professors, colleagues, friends, and family who have encouraged me throughout my academic and professional journey.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have received is that “no” is not always a no—it can turn into a yes.” That perspective has encouraged me to remain persistent and not view rejection or setbacks as permanent. I have learned that opportunities can develop over time, and continuing to pursue my goals can ultimately lead to possibilities I may not have initially expected.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the legal, criminal justice, or government affairs fields is to have a clear goal in mind and remain committed to pursuing it. There will be people or circumstances that may attempt to derail you, but it is important to keep your eyes looking forward and stay focused on what you want to accomplish. I would also encourage young women to remain open to learning, seek meaningful experiences, and build relationships with people who can support their professional development.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
A significant opportunity in my field is the ability to connect legal research, criminal justice, government affairs, and evidence-based policy to real-world issues affecting communities. My experiences with regulatory research, civic engagement, human rights, and criminal justice have shown me the importance of understanding how laws and institutions affect people in practice. There are also continuing challenges surrounding public trust, political polarization, disinformation, regulatory complexity, and the protection of rights and accountability. These challenges create opportunities for future legal and government professionals to contribute thoughtful, evidence-driven solutions.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Communication, patience, and understanding are among the values that are most important to me in both my professional and personal life. I believe effective communication is essential for building strong relationships and working collaboratively, while patience and understanding allow me to approach different perspectives and situations with greater thoughtfulness and empathy.
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