Recently, my friend Jenessy Rodriguez traveled to New Mexico with Loyola’s Latina/o Law Student Association (LLSA) to attend the National Latina/o Law Student Association Conference in Sante Fe . It sounded like an amazing opportunity and she is kind enough to share her experience with us!
So Jenessy, could you tell my readers a little bit about yourself? Hometown? Education background? Work experience?
I am from Miami, Florida and went to the University of Miami. I majored in International Studies and French and minored in History. I also worked in a small commercial litigation and real estate firm for two years. I moved to Chicago a year before law school to serve at City Year Chicago. I worked as a student mentor and teaching aid to an amazing class of 7th graders in the Little Village community in South Lawndale.
What are you passionate about and hope to work towards in your legal career?
Since working with City Year, I have become very passionate about child law and more specifically child and education law. I can’t wait to work more closely with the Civitas ChildLaw center during the next three years.
You found out about this opportunity through LLSA? Can you tell us a little about what this group is and what you guys do?
The Latina/o Law Student Association is an academic and social support network at Loyola that is open to students of all backgrounds. They provide events such as the upcoming Latin Nights on October 24 (Cuban food, drinks, and good music!) as well as various networking events for employment opportunities. Furthermore, there are various community service events that they plan throughout Chicago.
Regina Hernandez, Gerard Polanco, Jenessy Rodriguez and Karydith Morales in the Capitol Building
Could you tell us what the conference was all about?
The conference was about bringing together LLSA chapters from various law schools to one event. The event provided a platform to voice student issues as well as celebrate student accomplishments while networking with other students and professionals. There were various panels, moot court competitions, and even a banquet with food and dancing at a local Sante Fe restaurant.
Sitting in Senate chambers
Who was your favorite speaker and why?
My favorite speakers were a panel of women that included law professors and even a New Mexico Supreme Court judge. They were an amazing group of women who spoke of the struggle, often not voiced, of the minority woman both in academia and the work place. They encouraged diversity of faculty to not only support minority students but to also bring different perspectives. What I liked most about this panel is that it wasn’t “complaining” about the lack of diversity but was on how student organizations can be more proactive about involvement with their school’s administrative decisions.
Outside the Supreme Court House
What did you learn from this experience that you are going to bring back to Loyola and take with you in your legal career?
I really enjoyed hearing from various speakers that they never expected to be where they are now. They tried new areas of law or took on unexpected jobs. I hope to always have an open mind and I think that flexibility will be important especially if I continue in the public law sector.
Gerard was elected as the Midwest Representative for NLLSA
Did you get to do any sight-seeing? Eat or do anything interesting?
Yes! I absolutely loved Sante Fe. Sante Fe’s architecture is mostly in the adobe style and had beautiful scenery of mountains and desert. Also, green chile is a New Mexico favorite and is delicious. They put it on everything including eggs, pizza and hamburgers.
Overall, what did you enjoy most about your trip?
I really enjoyed this trip as a 1L because it was great to meet other law students from around the country and hear their experiences. Also, I really liked getting to know and explore Sante Fe with the other LLSA members that I went with.
Banquet dinner and dance
Questions for Amie? Email law-admissions [at] luc [dot] edu with the subject “Ask Amie” and she will make sure to answer them.