Illinois Latino Law Forum - John Marshall Law School

6
th
ANNUAL
Illinois Latino
Law Forum
Saturday, February 21, 2009
®
I LLSA
Sixth Annual
Illinois Latino Law Forum
Committee Members
Maurice Alayo
President, The John Marshall Latino Law Student Association
Jonathan Arias
Co-chair, Illinois Latino Law Student Association
Member, The John Marshall Latino Law Student Association
Mildred Herrera
Co-chair, Illinois Latino Law Student Association
Member, Loyola University Latino-American Law Student Association
Professor Rogelio Lasso
Faculty Advisor, The John Marshall Law School
Hugo Alejandro Ortiz
Vice President, The John Marshall Latino Law Student Association
Venessa Vargas
Representative, Illinois Latino Law Student Association
Member, The John Marshall Latino Law Student Association
6
th
ANNUAL
Illinois Latino Law Forum
Welcome! Bienvenidos! to the Sixth Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum.
According to a recent American Bar Association (ABA) conference report,
Embracing the Opportunities for Increasing Diversity into the Legal Profession:
Collaborating to Expand the Pipeline, “Racial and ethnic minorities make up
approximately 30% of the US population, however, they make up less then
15% of the practicing attorneys in this country. This racial divide will only
become greater, as statistics project that by the year 2050, the United
States will nearly be a ‘majority-minority’ country, and the Latino population
will exceed all of the other minority populations combined.” This forum
demonstrates Latino law students’ dedication to increasing the Latino
presence in the legal community during a time when neither the law school
population nor the legal profession accurately reflect our existing community’s
vibrant and expanding minority population.
The Illinois Latino Law Student Association is excited to offer you these
opportunities:
• Hear tips and advice from law school admission professionals about
the law school application and financial aid process. We encourage
you to visit the Law School Fair display tables to obtain more materials
and ask further questions about the law school admissions process.
• Meet with members of the current Illinois Latino legal community, from
judges and professors, to lawyers and current law students. We believe
their experiences exemplify the potential for success and the varied
career options that a law degree offers.
The Latino community is filled with bright, talented, and driven students like you,
who stand on the verge of a great future. We are honored to give you the tools
you need to find success and make a difference. Take advantage of all that is
offered to you today. Ask questions, listen, learn, and have fun!
Warmest Regards,
I LLSA
ILLSA Sixth Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
Committee Members
About ILLSA
The Illinois Latino Law Student Association (ILLSA) is dedicated to
increasing diversity within law schools in Illinois. ILLSA also serves as a coalition of
Latino/a and Hispanic law student associations in Illinois. We seek to promote the
benefits of a legal education and career for minority high school and college students.
ILLSA History
ILLSA began as an ambitious initiative in the spring of 2003 by Carlota Toledo, a third-year
evening student from DePaul University College of Law. ILLSA was formed in an effort
to increase networking opportunities for Latina/o law students across Illinois and to
build alliances between the Latino student associations at all of the law schools in
Illinois. It grew into an alliance of nine Illinois law schools:
DePaul University Latino Law Student Association
IIT/Chicago–Kent Hispanic-Latino Law Student Association
The John Marshall Latino Law Student Association
Loyola University Latino-American Law Student Association
Northern Illinois University Latina/o Law Student Association
Northwestern University Latino Law Student Association
Southern Illinois University Hispanic American Law Students Association
University of Chicago Latino/a Law Students Association
University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign Latina/o Law Students Association
In fall 2003, ILLSA board members were appointed by each Latino law student association
in Illinois. The ILLSA board continued to meet over the next academic year. This led up
to ILLSA’s first major community service event, the ILLSA First Annual Illinois Latino
Law Forum hosted in February 2004 at the Chicago Bar Association. The Forum was
designed to bring Latina/o judges, lawyers, and law students in touch with prospective
Latina/o law students. The Forum offered panels, admission workshops, and mock law
classes with local law professors.
The First Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum put ILLSA on the map in the legal community;
made universities, deans of admissions, and law firms aware of our presence and our
mission; and excited students and people from all walks of life to either create or
cement their resolve to enter the legal profession. The event was a success, and many
attendees expressed great interest in the subsequent Forum.
The Fifth Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum, co-hosted by and held at The John Marshall
Law School on February 23, 2008, was the largest to date with an attendance of more
than 110 high school and college students.
ILLSA Board Members 2008–2009
DePaul University Latino Law Student Association
Edmundo Cuevas
IIT/Chicago–Kent Hispanic-Latino Law Student Association
Ruth Lopez
The John Marshall Latino Law Student Association
Jonathan Arias and Venessa Vargas
Loyola University Latino-American Law Student Association
Mildred Herrera and Erika Tovar
Northern Illinois University Latina/o Law Student Association
Faviola Carmona
2
6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
Northwestern University Latino Law Student
Association
Valentin Saportas
University of Chicago Latino/a Law Student
Association
Julian Portillo
I LLSA
6
th
ANNUAL
Illinois Latino Law Forum
Saturday, February 21, 2009
PROGRAM
8:00–8:45 am
Registration
Lobby
8:00–8:45 am
Continental Breakfast
Room 1200
8:45–9:00 am
Welcome and Remarks
Room 1200
9:00–9:15 am
Break (Group A to Room 503–Group B to Room 1200)
Express Elevators
9:15–10:45 am
Session I (Group A)
9:15–10:00 am
Mock Class: Prof. Lasso
Room 503
10:00–10:45 am
Mock Trial: Maurice Alayo
Room 503
9:15–10:45 am
9:15–10:30 am
10:30–10:45 am
Session I (Group B)
College Information Panel
Room 1200
Q&A for High School Students
Room 1200
10:45–10:55 am
Break (Group A to Room 1200–Group B to Room 503)
10:55 am–12:25 pm
Session II (Group A)
Express Elevators
10:55–11:40 am
Law School Information Panel
Room 1200
11:40 am–12:25 pm
Q&A for College Students
Room 1200
10:55 am–12:25 pm
Session II (Group B)
10:55–11:40 am
Mock Class: Prof. Lasso
Room 503
11:40 am–12:25 pm
Mock Trial: Maurice Alayo
Room 503
12:25–12:35 pm
Break (Group A to Room 3East–Group B to Room 200)
12:35–1:40 pm
Lunch Speakers
Room 3East/Room 200
1:40–1:50 pm
Break (change rooms for legal panels)
Express Elevators
1:50–2:50 pm
Legal Panels (choose one)
Panel I
(Judges)
Room 310: Courtroom
Panel II (Government/Public Interest)
Room 1200
Panel III (Civil Rights/Criminal Law/Litigation)
Room 1102
Panel IV (Corporate Law/Sports Law/Teaching)
Room 503
2:50 to 3:00 pm
Break (change rooms)
Express Elevators
3:00 to 3:50 pm
Closing Ceremony, Reception, and Law School Fair
Room 2East
3:00 to 5:00 pm
Networking Reception
for Panelists, Speakers, and Law Students
Room 3East
6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
3
Presenting Sponsors
Law School Admissions Council
®
Supporting Sponsors
LOYOLA
UNIVERSITY
CHICAGO
SCHOOL
OF
L AW
Illinois
College of Law
4
6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
I LLSA
Illinois Latino Law Student Association
Sixth Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
Special Thanks
DePaul University College of Law
Associate Dean Michael S. Burns
Edmundo Cuevas
Mary Reid, Assistant Director for
Undergraduate Admissions
IIT/Chicago–Kent College of Law
Matt Alva
Crystal Correa
Alex Dominguez
Stephanie Fajuri
Clyde Guilamo
Veronica Reyes
Assistant Dean Nicole Vilches
The John Marshall Law School
Peter Beck
Dean John E. Corkery
Brigette Gaucher
Katie Hammel
Geoffrey R. Hammond (JD ’04)
Elinor Kannon
Professor Rogelio Lasso
Michelle McAleer
Assistant Dean John M. McNamara
Catherine Morris
Associate Dean William B. Powers
Maridonna Schaal
Associate Dean Rory D. Smith
Marilyn Thomas
1L Mock Trial Team: Stephen Berrios,
Laura Contreras, Ramon Estrada,
Rachel Griffin, Lorena Hernandez,
Andrew McCann, and Jeffery Vondruska
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Assistant Dean Pamela Bloomquist
Tamara Brey
Maya Crim, Associate Director of
Admission
Brenda Flores
Martha Herrera
Erika Tovar
Nubia Willman
Northern Illinois University College of Law
Rocio Becerrill
Faviola Carmona
Sandra Polanco, Assistant Director of
Admission and Financial Aid
Northwestern University School of Law
Alex Alum
Rocio Garcia
Franco Rodriguez
Valentin Saportas
Others
Beck’s Book Store
Chris James, Scholarship Chicago
Rather A. Stanton (JD ’07)
Griffith Tutoring
Monica M. Torres-Linares
President of the Hispanic Lawyers
Association of Illinois (HLAI)
Valparaiso University School of Law
Janet Styf, Associate Administrator
Admissions
In-Kind Donations
Accurate Development &
Construction Group LLC
Bellwood Electric
Motors, Inc.
Peter Rodriguez,
Hi-tek Video
6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
5
Attorney, Judicial, Professor, and Student Panelist Bios
Attorney Biographies
Cecilia Abundis, Office of the Attorney General
Cecilia Abundis is an assistant attorney general with the Consumer Fraud Bureau of the Illinois
Attorney General, where she investigates companies for violations of the Consumer Fraud Act.
Abundis received her BA in political science from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign
and her JD from DePaul University College of Law. At DePaul, she was a Sullivan Fellow with the
International Human Rights Law Institute; research assistant to Leonard Cavise, Director of the
Center for Public Interest Law; and member of the Latino Law Student Association. During her
academic years, Abundis worked as a law clerk with the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing
(LCBH). After graduating she was an Equal Justice Works Fellow with LCBH, where she created
and launched the Source of Income Discrimination Project. Abundis also speaks French and Italian.
Anita Alvarez, Cook County State’s Attorney
Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez is the first woman and first Hispanic-American to lead
the office. Alvarez began her career in the State’s Attorney’s Office in 1986 and steadily worked her
way through the ranks, handling hundreds of felony cases ranging from homicide, narcotics, armed
robbery, criminal sexual assaults, and domestic violence. She has argued before the Illinois Appellate
Court and tried more than 50 felony jury trials. Previously, Alvarez served as chief deputy, the Chief
of Staff to the Cook County State’s Attorney; chief of the Special Prosecutions Bureau; deputy
chief of the Narcotics Bureau; and supervisor of the Public Integrity Unit. She also spent 3 ½ years
in the Gang Crimes Unit where she prosecuted gang-related homicides.
She received her undergraduate degree from Loyola University Chicago and earned her law degree
from IIT/Chicago–Kent College of Law. Presently, she is 2nd vice president of the Chicago Bar
Association and is a past president of the National Hispanic Prosecutors Association (NHPA). She
was chosen as a fellow in the 2004 class of Leadership Greater Chicago and served on their board
from 2004–2006. Additionally, Alvarez serves on the Board of Trustees for Fenwick High School and
is on the Board of Directors for Maria High School, her alma mater.
Alvarez has received numerous honors during her career, including being named “Person of the
Year” by both Chicago Lawyer magazine and the Latin American Police Association, and “State’s
Attorney of the Year” by the Illinois State Crime Commission. She was also honored for her work
in the “Girl X” case by the Council for Disability Rights for precedent-setting advocacy. Alvarez is
a frequent speaker and lecturer for many organizations and from 2002 to 2005 was an adjunct
professor at The John Marshall Law School.
Karina Ayala-Bermejo, City of Chicago’s Department of Human Resources
Karina Ayala-Bermejo is the managing deputy commissioner for the City of Chicago’s Department
of Human Resources. Previously, she spent seven years as director of community services for the
Chicago Bar Association (CBA). In this position, she was responsible for overseeing all pro bono
and community service activities of the Chicago Bar. She served three years as executive director
for the Sun-Times Judge Marovitz Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth Program, a position in which she
was charged with recruiting attorneys to serve as mentors and board members of tutor/mentor
agencies. For nearly three years she was an attorney in the Litigation Department of the City of
Chicago’s Board of Education (CBOE).
Ayala-Bermejo has served as general counsel and regional president for the Hispanic National Bar
Association (HNBA), and president of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI). She is a
board member of the Jane Addams Juvenile Court Foundation, Centro Comunitario Juan Diego,
and the Southeast Development Commission, and sits on the advisory board of the DePaul
University College of Law Center for Public Interest Law. She is also a member of the Chicago
2016’s Next Generation Leadership Advisory Council.
In 2007, Ayala-Bermejo was named in Chicago Daily Law Bulletin’s “40 Under 40 Lawyers to Watch
in Illinois” and was profiled in DePaul University Magazine’s “Careers in Bloom: Success Stories
from 14 Alumni under 40.” In 2005, she was profiled in JD Bliss, an online magazine: “Success
Story, A Career Dedicated to Helping Others,” and in the Chicago Lawyer article “Look to the Future:
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Grooming Tomorrow’s Minority Lawyers.” Ayala-Bermejo received her BS degree from Loyola
University Chicago in 1993 and her JD from DePaul University College of Law in 1998.
Frank Bear, Walgreen Company
Frank Bear is a senior attorney at the Walgreen Company in the employee relations department.
Previously, Bear worked at Seyfarth Shaw’s Chicago office as a senior associate in its Labor and
Employment Practice Group. Bear represents employers in litigation and arbitrations involving
claims under several federal and state employment laws. Before and during law school, he worked
as an investigator for 5 years in the law offices of the Federal Defender Program, assisting in the
defense of indigent persons accused of federal misdemeanor and felony offenses in the US District
Court for the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division. Bear received his JD, cum laude, from
DePaul University School of Law in 2003, where he was on the DePaul Law Review. He received
his BA in mathematics and philosophy from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign in 1997.
Ruben R. Chapa, US Department of Labor
As a trial attorney with the US Department of Labor, Office of the Solicitor, Ruben Chapa has
litigated matters in federal district court and before federal administrative tribunals throughout the
Midwest region of the United States. The matters he has litigated include violations of numerous
federal statutes, including those protecting employees’ pensions and their safety and health. In
1990, he graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts, doublemajoring in History and Spanish, and received his JD from DePaul University College of Law in
1993. Chapa has been involved in various civic and professional groups including council member
of the American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section, 2008–2012; Chicago Bar
Association Board of Managers, 2001–02; chair of the Chicago Bar Association/Young Lawyers
Section, 2001–02; Chicago Bar Foundation Board of Directors, 2002–2009; and immediate pastpresident of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, 2007–08. Chapa was also selected to
Super Lawyers Illinois Rising Stars, 2008.
Helen I. Gutierrez, National Labor Relations Board
Helen Gutierrez has been a senior trial attorney with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) in
Chicago since 1999. She investigates factual allegations and interviews parties regarding charges
of unfair labor practice; prepares investigative reports and makes recommendations for final
disposition; litigates unfair labor practice charges before Administrative Law Judges; and also
informs the public of their rights and obligations under the National Labor Relations Act. Prior to
working for the NLRB, she worked for Barrett & McNagny LLP in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and was a
summer law clerk with the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc. in Mattoon, Illinois, a
not-for-profit corporation that provides free civil legal services to low-income persons and senior
citizens in central and southern Illinois. Gutierrez received her BS is sociology from the University
of Chicago in 1996 and earned her JD from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1999.
Arturo Jauregui, Arturo Jauregui & Associates
Arturo Jauregui is the principal and owner of the law firm Arturo Jauregui & Associates. The firm
specializes in employment law and areas of international law dealing with the North America Free
Trade Agreement (NAFTA). In addition, the firm provides business consulting to US companies
that do business in Mexico and Latin America. Jauregui was formerly the regional counsel of the
midwest office of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF). He
directed litigation and advocacy efforts that doubled the number of Latino state legislators in
Illinois, as well as contributing to the creation of two Latino districts in the Cook County Board of
Commissioners, and two judicial Latino sub-circuits. Jauregui is a graduate of the University of
Illinois at Chicago and received his law degree from the University of Iowa College of Law. He
was chosen as a fellow in the 1992 class of Leadership Greater Chicago.
Matthew Katz, Katz Law Office, Ltd.
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Matthew Katz taught US history, US government and law, the history
of Latin America, world studies, and economics at Farragut Career Academy High School, which
serves the predominantly Spanish-speaking neighborhood of Little Village. As an honors student
at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 1993–1997, Katz built a significant
6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
7
connection to the Latino culture and community. He was an international reporter from 1995 to 1996
for the radio program “Labor Beat,” on Champaign Public Radio. He provided analyses of the
international labor movement from Mexico and Spain. He was also a weekly columnist for the Daily
Illini newspaper from 1996–1997, where he wrote about human rights, government corruption, and
police brutality throughout the Americas, and about the marches and protests in which he and other
political activists participated.
After teaching for a few years, Katz decided to go to law school. He chose DePaul University
College of Law’s night program, and continued teaching high school while completing law school
in three years. At DePaul, he was the winner of two CALI Awards for being the highest-scoring
student in the courses Constitutional Law and Trial Advocacy. During his years as a teacher, Katz
won six awards for educational programs at Farragut High; was the recipient of the Little Village
Educator of the Year award given by the community scholarship initiative Fuerza; and authored
the book, Law School for High School Students, which teaches high school students how to read
and analyze case law and statutes, and understand the basics of several areas of law. In 2004, he
became a full-time lawyer. Katz Law Office handles such practice areas as immigration, criminal
defense, child custody, and real estate.
Leopoldo Lastre, Lastre Law Office
Leopoldo Lastre has more than six years of legal experience including more than four years in the
Office of the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, serving as a member of the senior staff,
both as acting chief deputy clerk, Child Protection (Abuse & Neglect) Division and assistant chief
deputy clerk, and chief deputy clerk, Criminal (Felony) Division. Lastre has managed more than
30,000 cases heard in more than 30 courtrooms conducting bench trials and jury trials.
Lastre graduated from Columbia College Chicago in 1991 with a bachelor’s degree in arts,
entertainment, and media management. He held various music management positions such as
production coordinator, production/computer consultant, tour production assistant, and his
longest position as executive director at Chicago New Music Festival/Independent Label Festival
from 1992–1998.
In 2001, Lastre received his JD, Intellectual Property Law Certificate, and MBA at DePaul University.
At DePaul, he worked to enhance his certificate in intellectual property by interning at McDonald’s
Corporation and clerking at International Truck and Engine Corporation (Navistar/International
Harvester). At the Chicago Bar Association/Young Lawyers Section (CBA/YLS), he served as a
director overseeing the Criminal Justice Committee, Moot Court Committee, and Creative Arts
Committee. He is president-elect for the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI), 2009–10.
Lastre’s community outreach efforts include local cable television features on CAN-TV “Clerk of
Court Live” that covered the topics of pro se representation, evictions, expungements, and sealings.
David Manjarres, Manjarres Law Office
David Manjarres is the principal of the Manjarres Law Office. His expertise is in labor and
employment law matters, including counseling and defending Title VII, ADA, FMLA, FLSA cases,
as well as prosecuting and defending non-compete cases. His work includes analysis of the law
of wrongful termination, breach of contract, breach of covenant not to compete, negligent hiring
and retention, malicious prosecution, and fraud/embezzlement, among others. He is also an
experienced ethics and employment law compliance trainer of managers and employees. In 2008,
he co-authored a chapter on employment torts for a book titled Employment Termination 2008
published by the Illinois Institute of Continuing Legal Education (IICLE). Prior to his current
position, Manjarres practiced labor and employment law at Nalco Company, Seyfarth Shaw, Laner
Muchin, and Jackson Lewis. He earned his BS in finance from Northern Illinois University and his
JD from DePaul University College of Law, where he was a Law Dean’s Scholar, vice-president of
the Latino Law Student Association, and recipient of the DePaul University Latino Law Student
Association Scholarship.
Ricardo Meza, Midwest Regional Counsel, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
Ricardo Meza began his legal career at Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund
(MALDEF) as a staff attorney from 1991 to 1993 and now leads MALDEF’s Midwest Regional
Office. Based in Chicago, Meza is responsible for MALDEF litigation and public policy matters in
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6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
10 Midwestern states, focusing on improving education, employment, immigrants’ rights, and political
access/voting rights issues for Latinos.
Meza brings more than a dozen years of litigation experience in state and federal courts. In the
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force and General Crimes Section, he prosecuted largescale narcotics trafficking, money laundering, health-care fraud, and other white-collar fraud. His
courtroom experience includes 31 federal criminal trials and numerous appeals before the US
Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Meza received his BA in political science in 1986 from
Illinois State University and earned his law degree in 1990 from The John Marshall Law School,
where he was president of the Hispanic Law Students Association. He is a board member of the
Chicago Health Connection, Omni Youth Services in Buffalo Grove, and the Illinois State University
Attorneys Advisory Council. He has received numerous awards, including the 2003 Merit Award
from the Hispanic Illinois State Law Enforcement Association.
Rebeca Quintero, Cook County State’s Attorney
Rebeca Quintero has been an assistant state’s attorney with the Cook County State’s Attorney’s
Office for nearly three years. Her first assignment in the office was First Municipal, where she
prosecuted misdemeanors throughout the branch courts and was able to try numerous bench trials,
motions, bond hearings, and one jury. Quintero now works in the Narcotics Prosecutions Bureau at
26th and California Avenue, where she prosecutes felony narcotics and gun offenses. She argues
source of bail bond motions and motions to reduce bond, and conducts bond hearings, preliminary
hearings, and indictments. She also had the pleasure of working in Judge Lawrence Fox’s courtroom
as the ASA in the Rehabilitation Alternative Program (RAP). Quintero’s bar memberships include:
regional president of the National Hispanic Prosecutors Association (NHPA) in 2007; current board
member of the Puerto Rican Bar Association; co-chair of the Hispanic Lawyer’s Association of
Illinois (HLAI) Latina Lawyers Committee; and Community Outreach Committee benefiting the Benito
Juarez Athletic Department.
Quintero grew up in Chicago’s Little Village and is a proud GED recipient. While working full-time,
she earned both her BA, with high honors, and JD from DePaul University’s night school programs.
Carlos Ramirez, Office of the Attorney General of Illinois
Carlos Ramirez is the assistant bureau chief of the Civil Rights Bureau for the Attorney General of
Illinois. Ramirez enforces civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination, advocates for legislation to
strengthen the laws, and participates in community outreach programs. Previously, he worked as
a senior attorney at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago (LAF). He worked
in the Housing Law Project and specialized in housing, mainly landlord-tenant law and issues
revolving around subsidized housing. Ramirez received his BA in political science from DePaul
University and his JD from the University of Michigan Law School.
Efrain Soto, SFX Baseball Group
Efrain Soto is a senior tax advisor at the SFX Baseball Group, the leading full-service baseball
agency in the world. SFX has 25 years of experience, several offices in the US, and a team of
agents, lawyers, certified public accountants, financial planners, marketing specialists, tax
attorneys, and former major league players. Soto’s work includes assisting professional baseball
players with their tax and financial planning matters. Previously, Soto worked at the accounting
and legal departments of the Chicago Public Schools and the Circuit Court of Cook County. He
also worked closely with the Internal Revenue Service with the management of a statewide tax
counseling agency for 8 years in Illinois. Soto received his JD from Washburn University School
of Law in 2004 and his BA from Universidad Interamericana in Puerto Rico in 1990.
Yesenia Villasenor-Rodriguez, Drinker Biddle
Yesenia Villasenor-Rodriguez is an associate in the Real Estate and Environmental Practice Groups
at Drinker Biddle. Her practice focuses on environmental defense and litigation, Brown fields
issues, and environmental compliance matters. Villasenor-Rodriguez received her JD from
IIT/Chicago–Kent College of Law in 2005 and her bachelor’s degree, with honors, from DePaul
University in 1999. While in law school, Villasenor-Rodriguez was a law clerk in the Environmental
Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General’s office, an intern with the Chicago–Kent Environmental Law
Clinic, and a clerk in the legal research department of the office of the chief judge of the Circuit
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Court of Cook County. She was also a member of the International Moot Court Honor Society
(IMCHS), an officer of the board of IMCHS, and a recipient of the Dean’s Certificate of Service for
volunteer service that she conducted while in law school. Villasenor-Rodriguez has served on the
board of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI).
Judicial Biographies
Hon. Jorge Luis Alonso, Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Second Municipal District, Illinois
Jorge Alonso went to University of Miami as an undergraduate and received his JD from The George
Washington University Law School in 1991. Judge Alonso was admitted to the Illinois Bar later
in 1991. From 1991 to 2003, Alonso was an assistant cook county public defender, where he
developed substantial trial experience. In 2003, he was appointed associate judge, Circuit Court,
First Municipal District, Traffic Court. In 2005, Judge Alonso was appointed associate judge, Circuit
Court, Second Municipal District, where he hears felony drug cases at 26th and California Avenue.
Alonso is well regarded as a judge, considered to be well prepared, with good legal ability, and
very good temperament. His integrity is unquestioned and he is well respected by lawyers and
judges. Judge Alonso is also admired for his extensive community service work. He is a frequent
lecturer of the Illinois New Judges School and volunteers at the Legal Assistance Foundation (LAF).
Hon. Ruben Castillo, Judge, United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
Judge Ruben Castillo received his BA in political science from Loyola University Chicago in 1976
and his JD from Northwestern University School of Law in 1979. Upon graduating from law school,
Castillo joined Jenner & Block as an associate, becoming the only minority lawyer at the firm. He
worked at Jenner & Block for five years litigating both civil and criminal matters before joining the
Special Prosecution Division of the Assistant United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District
of Illinois in 1984. In 1988, Judge Castillo left the US Attorney’s Office to become the director and
regional counsel for the Chicago office of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational
Fund (MALDEF). He also served as an adjunct professor of trial advocacy at Northwestern University
School of Law for nearly 10 years. President Clinton nominated Judge Castillo in 1994 to the United
States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, becoming the first Hispanic federal judge in
Illinois. He was then appointed in 1999 by President Clinton to be the vice-chair of the Sentencing
Commission, an independent agency in the judicial branch whose purpose is to establish sentencing
policies and practices for the federal criminal justice system. Castillo was the first Hispanic judge
appointed to the Sentencing Commission since its creation in 1985.
In addition to his responsibilities on the bench, he has served on the board of overseers for the
IIT/Chicago–Kent College of Law and the board of directors for the Illinois Institute for Continuing
Legal Education (IICLE). Currently, Castillo serves on the board of directors of the Constitutional
Rights Foundation of Chicago and on the board of trustees for Knox College.
Hon. Patricia Mendoza, Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
Patricia Mendoza is an associate judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County, currently assigned to
the Juvenile Justice Division. Previously, she was assigned to the First Municipal Division’s Traffic
Court Section and Domestic Violence Court. Before her appointment to the bench in 2005, she
was chief of the Civil Rights Bureau for Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. Judge Mendoza
earned her BA at DePaul University in 1981 and her JD at DePaul University College of Law in 1984.
She began her professional career as a staff attorney with the Cook County Legal Assistance
Foundation in 1984. In 1988, she moved to the Legal Assistance Foundation of Chicago, where
she was first a staff attorney and then supervisor of a neighborhood office. In 1993, she handled
civil rights and civil liberties litigation in federal and state courts for the American Civil Liberties
Union. In 1994, as assistant attorney with the Chicago Board of Education, Judge Mendoza
defended the board in a variety of constitutional, civil, and statutory matters. In 1995, she became
midwest regional counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF),
a position she maintained for eight years.
Hon. Edmund Ponce de Leon, Presiding Judge, Fourth Municipal Suburban District of Cook County, Illinois
Prior to becoming a lawyer, Judge Ponce de Leon was a Chicago police officer. He had a general
practice firm from 1984 to 1992. Immediately before becoming a judge, Ponce de Leon was
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counsel to a US Trustee, handling commercial and federal litigation from 1992 to 1996. In 2001, Ponce
de Leon was assigned to the Law Division, Commercial Section, handling complex commercial cases. In
2002, he was promoted to presiding judge in charge of the Fourth Municipal District Courthouse
located in Maywood, Illinois, which serves all of the western suburbs of Cook County.
Judge Ponce de Leon was the first Hispanic to become a presiding judge in the history of the
Circuit Court of Cook County. He is also an advisory board member of the Traffic Safety Committee
of Cook County and on the Adult Probation Committee of Cook County; chairman of the Domestic
Violence Committee of the Fourth District; member of the recently created Automation Committee
of the Circuit Court of Cook County; member of the Illinois Judges Association; and board member
of the West Suburban Bar Association. In 2002, he was the recipient of the combined Achievement
Award from the Woman’s Bar Association, Illinois Hispanic Lawyers Association, and the Puerto
Rican Bar Association, in recognition of his contribution and achievements within the judiciary.
Ponce de Leon holds a BA in political science from Northeastern Illinois University and is a 1984
alumnus of The John Marshall Law School.
Hon. Jesse G. Reyes, Associate Judge, Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois
Jesse G. Reyes was the first Latino elected to sit on the Circuit Court of Cook County in the 2008
elections. Currently, Judge Reyes serves as an associate judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County,
assigned to the Chancery Division’s Mortgage Foreclosure/Mechanics Lien Section. His previous
judicial assignments have included Domestic Violence court and the Sixth Municipal District, where he
presided over criminal misdemeanor matters. Judge Reyes assisted in the production of the Circuit
Court’s educational DUI video, Que Precio Tiene La Vida. He also serves as a member of the Circuit
Court’s Mentors in Adult Probation System committee, Probation Oversight committee, and the Racial,
Ethnic, and Sexual Orientation Awareness committee. Before his election to the bench, Judge Reyes
was employed with the law department of the Chicago Board of Education, representing the board in
litigation matters and developing and implementing policies and procedures pertaining to school reform.
Prior to joining the Board of Education, he was a senior supervising attorney with the Corporation
Counsel’s Office representing the City of Chicago in complex civil litigation matters. Judge Reyes
received his BA from the University of Illinois at Chicago and his JD from The John Marshall Law School.
Professor Biographies
Arthur Acevedo, The John Marshall Law School
Arthur Acevedo came to The John Marshall Law School from the University of Baltimore School
of Law, where he was an assistant professor. He also was a guest lecturer at DePaul University
and IIT/Chicago–Kent College of Law. A certified public accountant who is fluent in Spanish and
proficient in Portuguese, Professor Acevedo was executive vice president and general counsel
for Chicago-based Marbo Inc., a licensor and manufacturer of fruit drinks distributed nationally and
internationally. He also was an international attorney and business counsel for McDonald’s Corp. at
its Oak Brook, Illinois, headquarters. He has written about the auditor’s role under the SarbanesOxley Act for the DePaul Business & Commerce Law Journal. Professor Acevedo’s specialty areas
are business organizations, contracts, corporate governance, and corporate tax. He joined the
faculty at John Marshall in 2007 and teaches Contracts I and Corporations. He received his BS
from DePaul University, his MBA from DePaul University Graduate School of Business, and his
JD from DePaul University School of Law.
Rogelio A. Lasso, The John Marshall Law School
Rogelio Lasso joined the faculty full-time in the fall of 2005. He teaches Torts, Advanced Torts,
Products Liability, and Current Legal Issues in Complex Litigation. Professor Lasso came to John
Marshall from the University of Missouri–Kansas City. He was a visiting professor at Santa Clara
University School of Law in spring 2003, was on the faculty at Washburn University School of Law
from 1991 to 2003, and was a visiting professor at DePaul University School of Law in fall 2001.
Lasso received a BS degree in chemistry, magna cum laude, from Mankato State University in
1973, and was a graduate student at Iowa State University from 1972 to 1974. He received a JD
degree in 1985 from the University of Minnesota School of Law. One of his areas of interest is the
use of the Internet and electronic technology to improve learning.
6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
11
Student Panelist Biographies
Rocio S. Becerril, JD candidate, May 2009
Rocia Becerril is a third-year law student studying corporate/business law, immigration law, and
tax law at Northern Illinois University College of Law. During her law school career, Becerril was
awarded numerous scholarships, is active in many law student organizations and professional
associations, and has gained substantial legal experience through internships and volunteer work.
She was the recipient of NIU’s Outstanding Latino Law Graduate Community Award, the DuPage
Association of Women Lawyers Foundation Judge Helen C. Kinney Scholarship, the DuPage
County Bar Foundation Scholarship, the Peoria County Bar Association Diversity Scholarship,
and Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois and Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois.
Her extensive volunteer work includes preparing taxes, Center for Economic Progress, 2006–2009;
volunteer presenter, Hispanic Scholarship Fund “Steps for Success,” 2007; mentor program
participant, Latin American Recruitment and Educational Services (LARES); citizenship workshop,
National Immigrant Justice Center, 2007; volunteer and panelist, Illinois Latino Law Student
Association Law Forum, Chicago, 2007–2009; and also the Resurrection After School Program
and Big Sister Big Brother Program, 2000–2003. Becerril has competed in the American Bar
Association Client Counseling Competition, 2009; the Twenty-Sixth Annual Northern Illinois
University College of Law Internal Prize Moot Court Competition, 2008; and won second place
at the National Latino Law Student Association Moot Court Competition, 2008. Her student
memberships include Delta Theta Phi, Professional Law Fraternity, 2006; Black Law Students
Association (BLSA), 2006; and Latino Law Student Association, 2006 & 2009, and president in
2008. Her active professional memberships include Illinois State Bar Association, DuPage County
Bar Association, and National Hispanic Bar Association. She is protégé of the Hispanic Lawyers
Association of Illinois (HLAI), 2004–present. Becerril received a MBA from the University of Illinois
at Springfield in 2004 and earned both a BA in French and communications from the University of
Illinois at Chicago in 2002. She has worked in various legal capacities for the Law Offices of
Colleen M. McLaughlin, Katz Law Office Ltd., and Neal Gerber & Eisenberg LLP.
Edmundo Cuevas, JD candidate, May 2010
Edmundo Cuevas is a second-year law student at DePaul University College of Law. Since 2007,
Cuevas has been a member of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI) and a member
of the Latino Law Student Association at DePaul University. He is an Illinois Latino Law Student
Association (ILLSA) Representative for the 2008–09 term. Over summer 2008, Cuevas studied
abroad in Costa Rica, studying basic principles of protecting international human rights and postconflict justice in the Americas. In Madrid, Spain, he studied European Union Business &
Commercial Law and European Human Rights Law.
In 2006, Cuevas graduated with a BS in finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
While an undergrad, he was treasurer of the Latino Association for Business Students in 2004,
and as president in 2005, he had the opportunity to organize a trip for 27 members to attend the
National Hispanic Business Association (NHBA) Leadership Conference. In the spring 2006
semester, he studied accounting and finance at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. In 2007,
Cuevas volunteered as a tutor at Club Z Tutoring Services in Chicago, evaluating students’ math
and reading skills. He is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.
Nubia Willman, JD candidate, May 2010
Nubia Willman is a second-year law student at Loyola University Chicago School of Law preparing
for a career in criminal trial work. At Loyola, she is the assistant for the director of Public Service
Programs, secretary for the Woman’s Law Society, and academic chair for the Latino-American
Law Students Association (LALSA). She is also a member of the Black Law Students Association
(BLSA), the Public Interest Law Society, and the International Law Society. She has worked for
Latinos Progresando and the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago while attending
law school. Willman received her bachelor’s in criminology from Valparaiso University in 2007. At
Valpo, Willman was awarded the William Randolph Hearst Scholarship and was a member of Latinos
in Valparaiso for Excellence (LIVE), the Black Student Organization, and Student Senate. Her work
and volunteer experience includes the Public Defender’s Office, Juvenile Division; American Cancer
Society Relay for Life Program; and Indiana Latino Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
12
6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
SCHOLARSHIP ★ CHICAGO serves the City of Chicago and its surrounding region
by creating a diverse pipeline of highly skilled professionals who will promote a culture of academic
and professional excellence in every neighborhood. Over the past 10 years, we have served 1400
academically ambitious, high-need students, and have become one of the largest privately-funded
non-profits devoted to improving the college graduation rates of underserved Chicago area youth.
By helping to eliminate barriers to collegiate success and supplying financial support, Scholarship
Chicago empowers young people to succeed through a 5-year attentive and nurturing support system.
Together with our partners and donors, we are “Investing in the Future, One Scholar at a Time.”
Our Mission
The mission of Scholarship Chicago is to produce a valuable group of leaders who will
work to make Chicago a better place to live, learn, work, and raise a family. To this
end, we provide our scholars with college preparatory workshops, mentors, summer
internships, and career networking opportunities. By guiding and supporting talented
and ambitious Chicago youth as they complete college and transition into productive
careers, Scholarship Chicago is ensuring that our city will remain competitive in the
global economy for many years to come.
College Bound Program
High school juniors are selected by community leaders for participation in this
competitive, 5-year scholarship program. Once selected, students receive a full year
of college preparatory programming, mentoring, four-year college merit scholarships,
summer internship opportunities, and access to a number of career networking events.
The power of our approach is evident—College Bound scholars are four times more
likely to complete a bachelor’s degree program than youth of equivalent backgrounds
who haven't benefited from a comparable support system.
To learn more about our
program, email Program
Manager Chris James at
cjames@chicagoscholars.org
“Investing in the Future,
One Scholar at a Time.”
55 E. Jackson Boulevard Suite 1010 ★ Chicago, Illinois 60604
tel: 312.784.3300 ★ fax: 312.784.3301 ★ www.scholarshipchicago.org
“Investing in the Future,
One Scholar at a Time.”
Law Schools Contact Information
DePaul University College of Law
25 E. Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, Illinois 60604
312.362.8701
www.law.depaul.edu
IIT/Chicago–Kent College of Law
565 W. Adams Street
Chicago, Illinois 60661-3691
312.906.5000
www.kentlaw.edu
The John Marshall Law School
315 S. Plymouth Court
Chicago, Illinois 60604
312.427.2737
www.jmls.edu
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
25 E. Pearson Street
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.915.7120
www.luc.edu/law
Northern Illinois University College of Law
Career Plan and Placement
210 Swen Parson Hall, Room 276
DeKalb, Illinois 60115
800.892.3050
www.law.niu.edu
Northwestern University School of Law
357 E. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312.503.3100
www.law.nwu.edu
14
6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
Southern Illinois University School of Law
1209 W. Chautauqua Street
Mailcode 6811
Carbondale, Illinois 62901
618.453.8858
www.law.siu.edu
The University of Chicago Law School
111 E. 60th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637
773.702.9494
www.law.uchicago.edu
University of Illinois College of Law
at Urbana–Champaign
504 W. Pennsylvania Avenue
Champaign, Illinois 61820
217.244.6415
www.law.uiuc.edu
Valparaiso University School of Law
656 S. Greenwich Street
Valparaiso, Indiana 46383
1.888.VALPOLAW | 219.465.7829
www.valpo.edu/law/
Griffith Tutoring is a non-profit organization preparing underprivileged Chicago-area
high school students for the ACT college entrance exam. The organization offers a
free ACT tutoring program to students whom have the desire and ability to attend
college but do not have a sufficient ACT score nor can afford the private tutoring
necessary to improve their score.
Tutoring Program
Griffith Tutoring offers a free six week ACT tutoring
program to high school students as a means to increase
students’ standardized exam scores and improve
Chicago’s low college attendance rate. The organization
partners with area high schools to supply students and
local businesses to provide volunteer tutors. The program
is typically offered at the high school and begins after
5 p.m. to accommodate the work schedules of the
volunteer tutors. Each tutoring session lasts roughly 75
minutes. All tutors are provided a workbook complete
with answers and explanations for the weekly sessions.
Over 50% of the
students completing the
Griffith Tutoring program
have increased their ACT
score by four
points
or more.
Students
Griffith Tutoring accepts students who have the desire
and ability to attend college but lack a sufficient ACT
score and cannot afford the private tutoring necessary
to improve. The organization works closely with the
school administrators to find qualifying candidates.
Tutors
Griffith Tutoring seeks out Chicago-area companies with
a youthful and energetic workforce to supply volunteer
tutors. This partnership allows Griffith Tutoring to reach
more students but also provides the businesses a valueadded means to give back to the local community. Since
minimal training is required for the tutors, Griffith Tutoring
provides a turn-key platform in which companies can
further their civic involvement.
The Griffith Tutoring program uses the
RIPE for Improvement Curriculum
•
Reinforce Commonly
Tested Concepts
• Identify Types of Questions
•
•
Practice Proper Application
Execute Confidently
For more information about participation in our tutoring program or to volunteer, please contact:
Rather A. Stanton, Co-Founder, Griffith Tutoring, 3346 N. Southport Avenue #2S, Chicago, Illinois 60657
Griffith Tutoring is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and any donation made to the organization is tax
deductible. If you are interested in contributing to Griffith Tutoring, please contact Rather A. Stanton at 847.331.6253
or rstanton@griffithtutoring.org.
www.griffithtutoring.org
6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
15
®
Welcomes
Justice Cruz Reynoso
As the Inaugural John Marshall
Distinguished Scholar in Residence
March 30–April 2, 2009
Honors
and
Awards
Justice Cruz Reynoso has been widely honored for his leadership and public service. A few of
those honors include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the United States’ highest civilian
honor, awarded to him by President Clinton in 2000, as well as the following:
2000 :
Justice Reynoso received the Hispanic Heritage Foundation Award in Education.
2004 :
UCLA awarded him the César E. Chávez Spirit Award.
2007 : The ABA Section of Legal Education and Admission to the Bar presented Justice Reynoso
with the Kutak Award in recognition of his leadership in civil rights, immigration and refugee
policy, government reform, the administration of justice and legal services for the indigent.
2008 :
Justice Reynoso was named to President Barack Obama’s Justice and Civil Rights
Agency Review Team.
2009 :
Justice Reynoso becomes the first John Marshall Law School Distinguished Scholar
in Residence.
Save the Date! Save the Date! Save the Date!
Pachanga Night
Celebrating Diversity in Latin American Culture:
A night of dancing, food, and drinks.
Sponsored by the Loyola University
Latino-American Law Students Association
Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 8 p.m.
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
Lewis Towers, Beane Hall
820 N. Michigan Avenue (enter on 111 E. Pearson St.)
Chicago, Illinois 60611
For more information, contact
Mildred Herrera at mherrera@luc.edu
12th Annual Noche de Fiesta
Hosted by The John Marshall Law School
Latino Law Student Association
This is a very special event with dancing,
music, entertainment, honored guests, and
lots of good food.
Friday, April 17, 2009 | 6–10 p.m.
The John Marshall Law School
315 S. Plymouth Court, Room 200
Chicago, Illinois 60604
For more information, contact Maurice Alayo
at 5alayom@stu.jmls.edu
The Latino-American Law Students
Association (LALSA) at Loyola University
Chicago School of Law was established to
provide personal, academic, and professional
support for Latino and Latina law students.
LALSA is committed to community service,
intellectual development, and to the dissemination
of Latino cultural heritage through many events
including the annual Pachanga Night and Cesar
Chavez Day in conjunction with the universitywide celebration of Unity in Diversity Week.
LALSA is also involved with events throughout
the year to create networking
opportunities with area law LOYOLA
UNIVERSITY
schools, Latino associations,
CHICAGO
and the Hispanic National
S C H O O L O F L AW
Bar Association (HNBA).
The Latino Law Student Association
(LLSA) at The John Marshall Law School
is comprised primarily of law students with
Latino ancestry. LLSA provides assistance and
encouragement to first year students. In addition,
efforts are focused towards recruiting and
retaining Latino students, faculty, and attorneys.
LLSA remains active in the Hispanic Lawyers
Association of Illinois (HLAI), Hispanic National Bar
Association (HNBA), National Latino Law Student
Association (NLLSA), and proudly co-founded
the Illinois Latino Law Student Association
(ILLSA). LLSA members are dedicated to raising
awareness to Latino legal
issues and combating
obstacles our community
encounters.
DePaul University’s LLSA Annual
Scholarship and Awards Banquet
Hosted by DePaul University College of Law
Latino Law Students Association
Please come out and join us for dinner, drinks,
entertainment, and fine art. This is a great opportunity
to meet current DePaul students, alumni, faculty, and
other members of Chicago’s legal community.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 | 6:30–9:30 p.m.
National Museum of Mexican Art
1852 W. 19th Street, Chicago, Illinois 60608
Complimentary tickets are available on a first-come,
first-serve basis for students interested in applying
to DePaul University College of Law.
The Latino Law Students Association’s
(LLSA) mission at the DePaul University
College of Law is to support the academic
and social environment of Latino law students.
While our primary concern is to offer academic
support to our members, LLSA is committed to
addressing the current social issues that affect
the Latino community-at-large. LLSA proudly
co-founded the Illinois Latino Law Student
Association (ILLSA).
For more information, contact Vanessa Esparza
at vane.esparza@gmail.com
6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
17
Prep smarter, score higher.
A KAPLAN LSAT Preparation Scholarship will be awarded to a student
participant present at the Sixth Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum on Saturday,
February 21, 2009. This scholarship covers the cost for the LSAT Classroom
Course—a $1299 value!
The recipient of the scholarship for the KAPLAN LSAT
Classroom Course will have access to:
70% of law school
admission officers say
51 hours of classroom time—35 instructional hours and
four 4-hour in-class, professionally proctored exams
35 Online Workshops to hone crucial LSAT skills
an applicant’s LSAT
Q-Rater: our exclusive bank of difficulty ratings for every
released LSAT question
Stratosphere: optional advanced content for high-scorers
Smart Reports: online score analysis, guidance, and
personalized feedback, and…
Every available previous LSAT exam: that means
score is the most
5,400+ real LSAT questions, plus exclusive
explanations and assigned difficulty levels
important factor in
Conveniently located centers with study
the law school
space available
application process.
Top-scoring, highly-trained teachers
Free and flexible make-up sessions, both
Source: Kaplan Law School
Admissions Officer Survey, July 2008.
153 ABA law schools interviewed.
in-person or online
Proven results with 70 years experience, and
last but not least…
The best guarantee in the business: If a student does not
feel ready to take the LSAT, he or she can take the class
again for free. If a student’s score improves by any amount,
but the student wanted a larger improvement, he or she can
take the class again for free. We are confident that we can
help students improve their scores!
For complete course information and online demos, visit kaptest.com/lsat
1-800-KAP-TEST
18
6th Annual Illinois Latino Law Forum
What Past Attendees Are Saying
“The opportunity for young people to meet and
learn from people who are like them is incredibly
powerful. Thank you to everyone who organized
and produced this wonderful event.”
“This forum has really helped me
in many ways and has convinced
me of how much I want to
become a lawyer.”
“It’s great that this forum is available for
High School students. It offers them a
chance to jump into considering a
post-secondary education.”
“Sometimes we feel that we are alone and
with no support, especially those of us that
don’t have any Hispanic groups or role
models to encourage us. This forum has
given me such a boost of confidence.”
April 25, 2009 | 7 pm–12 am
Hosted at the River East Art Center
435 East Illinois Street
■
Advanced tickets available online
or $70 if purchased by April 17th
ticket price is $95 thereafter
■
Price includes hors d’oeuvres
and full bar
■
Cocktail attire required
■
Silent auction
to purchase tickets online, visit
http://griffithtutoring.org/SpringIntoAction2009.html
D I V E R S I T Y A N D O P P O RT U N I T Y
at The John Marshall Law School have been our driving principles since
our founding in 1899. Our commitment to recruit and support minority
and under-represented students continues today. We consider our diverse
student body one of the hallmarks of The John Marshall Law School.
Our alumni ranks of attorneys, judges, public servants, and members
of the business community reflect upon our commitment to educate
students from all backgrounds. We place an emphasis on opportunity
because we believe a diverse bar serves the greater good and works to
uphold the rule of law for people everywhere.
®