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At a student group event featuring alumnae and special guests, (L to R) WoCA President Khila James ’27 is joined by Christine-Marie Lauture ’14, associate general counsel at Fortune; Jada Heredia ’28, WoCA vice president of community engagement; Quieysha McDougle, Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, assistant district attorney, special victims division; Siu-Lin Sampson ’28, WoCA chief of staff; and Shani I Bell ’17, deputy director, Build Up Justice NYC.

Khila James ’27 knows firsthand how important it is for current and aspiring law students who are also women of color to have role models as a source of inspiration, solidarity, and fortitude during the legal education journey.  

After enrolling at ӣ����Ƶ to focus on corporate law—particularly the areas of governance and intellectual property—James became an International Business Law (IBL) fellow. This year, she was also elected president of the Law S����ǴDZ�’s chapter of the Women of Color Alliance (WOCA), a role that has quickly become pivotal to her Law School experience. A former entrepreneur and small business consultant, James quickly recognized WOCA’s potential and used her business acumen to expand its campus profile, grow its membership to an impressive 69 students, and position the organization for future success.  

“It’s important to have organizations like the Women of Color Alliance on campus,” James said. “Because women of color are so largely underrepresented in the legal field, it is important to create spaces where we can support each other and create community and learn from each other and network with alumni.” 

Another key goal for the group is to bring more women of color into law school—and ultimately, the legal profession. To that end, James and WOCA are partnering with two other student organizations, OUTLaws (the LGBTQ+ law student group) and the Legal Association of Women (LAW), to host , a virtual half-day educational program on Jan. 24, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The event has drawn 100 high school and college student registrants who may be interested in pursuing legal careers.  

Pathways to Law School 

 Students joining the Zoom event will include a mix of undergraduate from New York City-area institutions—John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Baruch College, Mercy University, Manhattan College, and The New School—as well as students from regional high schools. Attendees will hear from administrators, faculty, and staff, including Associate Dean for ӣ����Ƶ and Student Success Karen Porter; Professor Shirley Lin (WOCA’s faculty adviser); Katherine Zhang ’17 from the admissions department; and Sissel Funaro, from the financial aid office. The student groups hosting the event will provide a glimpse of student life—one that is likely to resonate with prospective students.

  

 

“The student leaders in these groups acted on their own initiative to design and offer a very substantial program to broaden the pipeline of students pursuing legal careers,” President and Joseph Crea Dean David D. Meyer said.  

For James, the message the Brooklyn Law students plan to deliver is one that she wishes she had heard earlier.  

“When I think back to where I was in undergrad or what I was like in high school, I realize that I did not know as much about law school and being a lawyer as I could have known,” said James, who grew up in the Bronx.  

The mystification around law school and what it entails can keep many people from considering it, she explained, and that’s especially true for underrepresented groups such as women of color and the LGBTQ community, which is why leaders from these groups led the charge to host the Summit.  

“When you don’t see a lot of people like you in the field, you almost feel like you don’t belong in the field,” James said. Compounding that challenge is a lack of mentors and resources: Women of color are often first-generation college graduates who may not have access to guidance from relatives or family friends in the legal profession. Some prospective law students may also assume law school tuition is financially out of reach and be unaware of all the financial aid and scholarship options that are available.  

Curating the Law School Journey 

Once in law school, women of color preparing to take the Bar Exam may face similar challenges navigating unfamiliar terrain. As a result, another WOCA initiative has been to work with Porter, the Associate Dean of ӣ����Ƶ Success, to help bring more curated resources to 3L students in the group. They have also connected with women of color alumnae for study tips, outlining tips, and advice on securing first jobs.  

Being resourceful has helped James throughout her career. After launching her own company in the productivity and lifestyle space, she pivoted during the pandemic into digital work as a small business consultant, helping entrepreneurs with corporate formation, tax considerations, and building a digital footprint. Her interest in the legal dimensions of entrepreneurship led her first to paralegal work—and ultimately, to law school.  

“I have been in law school for 18 months now, with 18 months to go, and it is honestly the best thing that has ever happened to me. My only regret is that I did not start sooner,” James said. “If I were to give advice to a woman of color struggling with her identity and her voice in the legal space it would just be that you belong and that you matter….So our goal with the Pre-Law Pathway Summit is to show prospective students that people who are like you are here and we're doing these things, and you can do it too.”