Fordham Law’s Latine affinity group, the Latin American Law Students Association (LALSA), provides community and support to students as they navigate their academic journeys and prepare for their future careers.
To celebrate Latine/Hispanic Heritage Month, LALSA president Carmen Florez shares what makes LALSA special, why the group enhances the law school experience for Latine students, and the LALSA events students can look forward to this year.
Why is LALSA’s presence at Fordham Law important?
In a time where the Latine community is being directly targeted, LALSA’s presence at Fordham Law reminds us that there will always be people on our side, ready and willing to help. Personally, it serves as a point of comfort to see myself and people like me develop their legal careers with the goal of further helping our communities. LALSA also provides multiple resources and service opportunities along with the Immigrant Advocacy Project (IAP) and International Refugee Advocacy Project (IRAP), to aid our communities outside of Fordham Law.
What role has LALSA played in your law school experience?
One of the reasons I chose Fordham in the first place is because I ran into one of my undergrad friends at Admitted Students Day, and she introduced me to LALSA and the president at the time. LALSA has been central to my Fordham Law experience. Through this organization, I have made friends and met colleagues that share the same cultural values I do, I have been introduced to new cultures and practices—moving from Florida to New York—and have been presented with professional opportunities where I could see other Hispanic and Latine attorneys and law students in positions of power and prestige, further fueling my drive to succeed.
How has connecting with other Latine students enriched your time at law school so far?
Although all students are capable of succeeding, being a Latine law student often comes with struggles and disadvantages. English is my second language and I am the first person in my family to go to law school and eventually become an attorney in the U.S. I came into my 1L year not knowing anything about how to be successful at Fordham or any law school for that matter.
Connecting with other Latine students showed me that I am not alone in my struggles and that there are millions of ways to be successful. Every Latine student I have encountered through LALSA has a different path to law school and a different career plan after. Seeing others succeed regardless of their advantages or disadvantages has shaped my law school experience, showing me hundreds of possible options, connections, and definitions of success.
What advice would you give to incoming Latine law students?
Being Latine is a superpower. Your cultural experience is something no one can take away from you, no matter how hard they try. The personal and professional advantages that come with speaking multiple languages and being familiar with other cultures will always serve you. Remember that there is not one way to be a law student and that what sets you apart from others is what will ultimately make you the missing puzzle piece. There is community wherever you go—you just need to look for it.
What unique challenges do Latine students in law school face? How does LALSA help?
For many, English is their second language. Growing up in Miami, I never felt like I faced a language barrier until my 1L Criminal Law class. I was expected to know words I had never even seen on paper. The learning curve during 1L for me was steep, but through LALSA, and especially my PALS mentor, I was presented with outlines, study guides, personal help, and support to basically learn an entirely new language. I was so incredibly blessed that my legal writing professor, Grissel Seijo, was highly involved as a Fordham LALSA alum. Her help was tailored towards the area I was struggling with the most. Without her and her dedication to her students and her community, I don’t think I’d have a career in litigation.
What are some LALSA events that students can look forward to this year?
Our biggest event of the year is Passport to Latin America, held on September 16 at 4 p.m. in Bateman, a food festival to celebrate the beginning of Latine/Hispanic Heritage Month. It is a great event where we all get together to eat the most delicious food in the world, sharing our cultures and customs with the whole school. This year, we are looking to hold academic and professional events, catered towards all student grade levels, as well as cultural and social events to improve our legal language skills, discuss our impact in the community, and provide resources to Latine communities in need around the city.
How can students get involved with LALSA year round?
The best way to do so is to apply to be a 1L or LL.M. representative. Students can also join our PALS mentorship program. Aside from that, everybody is welcome at any of our events. Stop by and join us for academic workshops, professional workshops, and social activities. LALSA is what you make of it and there are plenty of opportunities for every level of commitment.