Inspiring. Encouraging. Guiding. Uplifting. The counseling department at COC plays many roles in the success of the college's students, both academically and personally. Each member of the counseling team is dedicated to supporting every single student that walks onto campus. As a seasoned counselor and member of the department, counselor Tony Law has firsthand experience with what it takes to be a part of that team. Law holds a Bachelor’s in English and a Master’s of Science in Counseling Psychology from Mount Saint Mary’s University right here in Los Angeles. His emphasis is in marriage and family therapy, but his counseling skills have made him a versatile member of the COC community in many other fields.

Law first joined the faculty back in 2015 and began officially working as counseling faculty in 2017. From the very beginning, he knew he wanted a career in the education system -- it just took him a little while to realize that counseling was his true calling. “I fell in love with the community college system and higher education in general when I worked as a transfer rep for a while,” Law shares on his desire to go into counseling. “I’m happy to be where I am now as a counselor.” Here at COC, Law's primary responsibility is to support and uplift students throughout their educational journey. Still, he's also comfortable in the classroom -- he's taught counseling courses every semester since he joined COC's staff, and his passion lies in helping students develop their college success skills. "I want my students to know that it's okay to ask for help and that if they believe in themselves, they can overcome any obstacles that they face," he says. "It's so important to stay motivated in the face of life's challenges."

Off-campus, Law is a man of culture and personal success in his own right. As an avid tennis player, he’s an expert at figuring out what de-stresses him and helps him stay busy and connected with others -- a critical skill that he strives to share with his students as well. As a member of the United States Tennis Association, he’s made it his top bucket list goal to attend each of the four tennis grand slams at least once in his lifetime.

One particularly interesting fact about Law is his impressive athletic history; in his own words, you'd never suspect that he's run over ten half-marathons and was once a diligent running athlete. Keeping in tune with his positive attitude as a counselor is his love for the occasional feel-good movie, with Disney’s Coco and Moana taking the top two spots on his list of movies to enjoy alongside his niece and nephew. Tony Law is someone who spends much of his time focusing on how to be the best version of himself, and he extends that same dedication to anyone that walks into his office or classroom. "It's just so great to watch my students pursue their goals and succeed," he shares. "Following along with their growth and their achievements is the most amazing thing."