By Maya Davis and Brittany Harry

Breaking a barrier means overcoming or removing obstacles, whether they are physical walls, natural impediments, or unseen forces like social, cultural, or political restrictions that impede progress or action.

For young lawyers entering the legal profession, these barriers are not just theoretical; they are real, personal, and often deeply rooted. From the quiet pressures of tradition to the loud demands of performance, every step forward can feel like a negotiation — not just with clients or courts, but with themselves.

Read more

By Chazlé Woodley

One of my favorite legal legends is the late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, and one of his famous quotes is, “None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody—a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns—bent down and helped us pick up our boots.”

This quote exemplifies the purpose behind Legal LINK and the vision for our group. We desire to help people to pull themselves up by their bootstraps by building a bridge between students and attorneys and legal professionals, and helping someone learn more about the behind-the-scenes of the profession, while also exposing students to all of the opportunities available. Students may have questions about how to prepare for law school, the process to apply to law school, what law school entails and what opportunities are available within the legal profession. In response to this need and curiosity, we want to build a bridge to expose students to litigators, trial attorneys, transactional attorneys, compliance leaders, HR leaders, law professors, government attorneys, and more because many have the misconception that attorneys are only what is portrayed on a courtroom-based TV show or movie.

Read more

By Tiqeece Brown

Hey, come here – let me give you a hug. Yell if you need to, cry if you need to, or let’s just sit and process. Feel the full weight of what just happened. You didn’t receive the score you hoped for to become licensed. Yes, it sucks. But your hard work was not wasted, and this moment does not define you.

Remember how excited you were when you got accepted into law school? When you walked across that graduation stage? That joy is still yours. Your score is not a reflection of your intellect, your worth, or your ability. It’s just a barrier – and barriers can be broken.

Take a breath. Give yourself space to grieve – sulk under a blanket, hit DND (Do Not Disturb), cry it out, order comfort food, binge a movie. But only for a short while.

Read more

By Matt Meinel and Tae Storr

Do you have time to grab a cup of coffee? Instead of taking this one to-go, how about spending thirty meaningful minutes with a future lawyer?

A half hour of your time is all we need to make this program a success! We are seeking attorney volunteers to connect with a law student and pass on the valuable insights you have about succeeding in law school and entering the practice of law. If you would like to volunteer, please fill out this attorney sign-up form (law students can sign up with this student sign-up form). If you have signed up during a previous GaC session, you will need to sign up again.

Read more

By Brittany Harry, Cherell Harris, Chazle’ Woodley, Quinn Byars, Huma Khursheed, and Zack Kaplan

Introduction

The YLD’s Legal Link Committee has been on the move in 2025. Through nine events (and counting) in communities across the state, committee members and guest speakers have engaged with hundreds of middle and high school students in a variety of settings with one shared goal: sparking interest in and access to legal careers among students historically and currently underrepresented in our profession.

There is no way of knowing how many of the seeds of interest planted within students during these events will grow into future lawyers, judges, and community leaders. But based on our interactions with students during these events, one thing is clear: the future of our profession is bright.

Read more