Student Organization Spotlight-First Generation Law Students
For many students, going to Law School was a no-brainer. Their parent is a lawyer, grandparent, and
even extended family members. They begin
their legal education knowing at least a few lawyers, and may even have a job
lined up at their family firm following graduation. While this is true for many Law Students,
some are the first in their family to go to Law School, let alone pursue higher
education.
Jeffrey Lewis, L’19 (Pictured), saw this and realized there needed to
be a change, as those who are the first in their family to go to Law School did
not have the same resources as their peers.
After bouncing the idea around with classmates and mentors, First
Generation Law Students was born.
The purpose of the group is to help motivate, inspire, teach
and support/mentor those students who are the first in their family to pursue a
legal education, and may even be the first in their families to seek secondary
education. More importantly, the group
strives to motivate students that, “if they want to pursue something beyond
high school, whatever they choose, they can be successful,” says Lewis, the
founder and current President.
“One of the first things they tell you in Law School is how
tight-knit the legal community is and how the sooner you build those
relationships, the better,” says Sarina Glick, L’19 (Pictured). This group focuses on fostering a community
among the student body, the future of the legal community, while bringing
together established attorneys from the Columbus Legal Community, with whom
these students will be practicing.
Since their first meeting in October 2017, the group has
hosted events such as a “How to Network” event with the Columbus Bar
Association and Hannah Botkin-Doty, L’13, and a LinkedIn workshop with Bill
Nolan, Managing Partner at Barnes & Thornburg.
