Diversity Personal Statement

The opportunity to be a fellow with Latham & Watkins and to attend the Diversity Leadership Academy, is amazing and I believe that I am excellent candidate. I have experience working with clients, a commitment to diversity in the legal profession, and a diverse background. As a native of Miami, FL I grew up in a diverse urban city. Furthermore, I am a Black and Puerto Rican woman with a distinctive perspective on cross-cultural relations and socioeconomic challenges. Unfortunately, I am an underrepresented minority in the legal profession. My ambition has galvanized me to become the first lawyer in my family. Within the fellowship, I will bring forth my diversity of thought, expression, and experience in addition to my ethnicity.
After graduating
I have a heart for community service, which led me to join the Social Justice ministry at First Corinthian Baptist Church (FCBC) in Harlem. I traveled with the ministry to Albany, NY to attend an education lobby and rally day, for the first time. Once we arrived, we met with an assemblyman and advocated for his support of Universal Pre-K (UPK); which would provide free full-day prekindergarten classes for all the four-year old children in New York. The UPK was approved and it was rewarding to have advocated for a program that was successful, and would benefit my community. After this experience, I participated in the Advocacy Academy with the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies. This was an inter-faith advocacy training that prepared me to continue advocating with the Social Justice ministry. Upon completion, I earned a Community Advocate Certificate.
As a result of living and volunteering in New York City my view of the world was expanded. I had roommates from around the world. Further, I have worked on interfaith actions with multiple faith groups with the Social Justice Ministry. These experiences have motivated me to seek international opportunities and maintain a globalized
The program intrigued me because, it offered professional development specifically for law practice in a large law firm. I was selected to participate in the six-week career development program. I attended seminars at some of the largest law firms in New York City. This experience exposed me to global law firms, and piqued my interest to practice in that environment. Similarly, I have an interest in the fellowship with Latham & Watkins because of its global presence and commitment to