{"id":3638,"date":"2024-09-04T17:00:22","date_gmt":"2024-09-04T17:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/?p=3638"},"modified":"2024-09-05T18:40:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-05T18:40:00","slug":"female-students-lead-co-curriculars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/female-students-lead-co-curriculars\/","title":{"rendered":"Female Students Lead Co-Curriculars"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

By Adam Stone<\/span><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

In law schools, some of the most prestigious posts for students are the heads of the co-curricular activities: The law journals and advocacy competition teams. At UBalt Law, three women now serve as in these roles, as the incoming editors of the <\/span>Law Review<\/span><\/i> and the <\/span>Law Forum<\/span><\/i>, and as head of the Board of Advocates.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe common thread among all three of them is a desire to better their organizations, and to advocate for their people,\u201d says Kris Vicencio, manager of Evening Student & Advocacy Success at UBalt Law. \u201cEven as you lead, you still want to be mindful of your people, and be serving their best interests. <\/span><\/p>

“That\u2019s something all three of them have expressed, in their own individual ways.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Jessica Kweon, president, Board of Advocates<\/span><\/b><\/h4>

A third-year day student, Jessica Kweon heads up the Board of Advocates, which <\/span>oversees the creation and daily operations of UBalt Law\u2019s competitive moot court and trial teams.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

As a UMBC undergraduate, she explored <\/span>a variety of fields: Public health research, bioinformatics research, marketing research, community psychology. <\/span>\u201c<\/span>I found that the law was a thoughtful way to combine all of my interests,\u201d she says. \u201cThe law touches on every aspect of life, and I\u2019m really taking the time in law school to explore everything that I can.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\"\"
Jessica Kweon, left, Jayna Peterson, Shanae Jones<\/figcaption><\/figure>

Ironically, perhaps, moot court wasn\u2019t high on her to-do list initially. <\/span>\u201cW<\/span>hen I started law school, it was the last thing I wanted to do. I was very quiet during my first year of law school, I didn\u2019t want to ever speak up,\u201d she says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The Introduction to Advocacy <\/span>course helped her find her voice, and when she finally took part in moot court, \u201c<\/span>I felt such a rush and such a thrill, answering questions, handling my rebuttal. There was a real sense of accomplishment,\u201d she says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

As she takes the helm at the Board of Advocates, \u201cI see moot court and mock trial as a way to build the next generation of attorneys,\u201d she says. \u201cThis is where it starts, and I\u2019m really excited to serve in a leadership position that helps facilitate these experiences.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Of the other women taking top roles at UBalt this year, Kweon says: \u201cThe leadership that we have this coming year is really diverse, and we share a vision to empower our students. I look forward to collaborating with some of the brightest minds that we have at our law school.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Jayna Peterson, <\/b>Law Forum<\/b> Editor-in-Chief<\/b>\u00a0<\/h4>

A former staff editor of the University of Baltimore <\/span>Law Forum<\/span><\/i>, third-year student Jayna Peterson became editor-in-chief this year. It\u2019s part of her ongoing journey to leverage the law in the service of justice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI <\/span>grew up watching \u2018Dateline\u2019 and true-crime documentaries with my mom, and I learned about cases like the West Memphis Three and Adnan Syed, where egregious injustices occurred,\u201d she says. \u201cI knew that I wanted to play a part in fixing a system that was broken. That was what brought me to law school, and that passion has carried me through.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Her <\/span>Law Forum<\/span><\/i> work has sharpened her skills and expanded her reach. \u201cI\u2019ve learned so much about how to improve my writing, how to improve my advocacy,\u201d she says. \u201cAnd because the <\/span>Law Forum<\/span><\/i> talks about issues specific to Maryland, I have made so many connections within the legal community.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Having been diagnosed at age three with Autism Spectrum Disorder, she says she\u2019s eager to ensure inclusivity in the <\/span>Law Forum<\/span><\/i>, and in the legal community in general.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cLaw students with disabilities might not think that they have the bandwidth to take on something extra, or they may not feel a sense of belonging,\u201d she says. \u201cWe recently had a diversity panel to talk about different perspectives of people on the journals: Different races, different abilities. I want to have a conversation about belonging, so we can make journals a more accessible space.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Shanae Jones, <\/b>Law Review<\/b> Editor-in-Chief<\/b><\/h4>

A fourth-year evening student and working mother of four, Shanae Jones is editor-in-chief of the <\/span>Law Review<\/span><\/i>, where she previously served as staff editor.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI took the scenic route to law school,\u201d Jones says. She was on the pre-law track as an undergrad, but by the time she graduated in 2011, \u201cI started having doubts about whether what I thought of as lawyers \u2014 the \u2018TV lawyers\u2019 I had seen \u2014 meshed well with who I believed I was.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

She pivoted to work as a child welfare social worker, a job she still does, but law remained in the picture. \u201cWhenever I\u2019m in court for a kid in the foster care system, there\u2019s an attorney who speaks to the court based on the work that I\u2019ve done,\u201d she says. \u201cOver time, working with lawyers in different capacities, I learned what lawyers actually are and what they actually do. And so I\u2019m back, because I want to be helpful to people.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Jones says she chose to serve on <\/span>Law Review<\/span><\/i> because of its prestigious reputation, \u201cand as editor-in-chief, I want it to live up to that reputation,\u201d she says.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI want to attract a diverse applicant pool. That\u2019s important to me, diversifying what journal looks like, who our staff editors are, and what we publish,\u201d she says. \u201cBut I also want to make sure that whatever we\u2019re publishing is objective, that we continue to provide factual, sound information. So, while I certainly want to diversify who and what we publish, that doesn\u2019t mean that I want it to lean a certain way.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

The big picture<\/span><\/b><\/h4>

Women remain underrepresented in the law. In 2010 they made up just 31 percent of the profession, and by 2023 that number had only crept up to 39 percent, The American Bar Association reports. So it\u2019s not trivial that UBalt Law finds itself with three female students holding top-level positions.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cAll three of them have shown remarkable foresight, both in the plans they have for their organizations, and also in recognizing what they want to learn, so that way they can better lead,\u201d Vicencio says. \u201cThey\u2019ve shown the ability to simultaneously manage the here-and-now, while also keeping in mind the long-term impacts of their decisions and how those decisions will be perceived.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Their election to these roles \u201cspeaks volumes about the respect that our students have for one another,\u201d he says. \u201cThey are looking holistically at what this person has accomplished as part of the organization, what they\u2019re willing to bring.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

In the big picture, \u201cthis is a school that emphasizes and celebrates diversity,\u201d he says. \u201cThrough no coordination, with no specific input from any administrator or faculty, we\u2019ve found ourselves with three incredibly strong female leaders in three of the most prestigious student organizations. That’s something that should be celebrated.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Adam Stone<\/strong> is a writer based in Annapolis.
Photo by Juan Pablo Soto M\u00e9dico<\/strong>.
<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t

Share this story with your network:<\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on facebook<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFacebook\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on twitter<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTwitter\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on linkedin<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLinkedIn\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tShare on email<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEmail\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By Adam Stone In law schools, some of the most prestigious posts for students are the heads of the co-curricular activities: The law journals and advocacy competition teams. At UBalt Law, three women now serve as in these roles, as the incoming editors of the Law Review and the Law Forum, and as head of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3596,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3638"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3596"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3638"}],"version-history":[{"count":56,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3638\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4819,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3638\/revisions\/4819"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3638"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3638"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.ubalt.edu\/lawmag\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3638"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}