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Why I came to Law School: The Margins Need for advocacy

Growing up I accompanied my grandfather, a 50-year steward of ministry and service, on

missionary trips to the Navajo, Apache, Comanche, and Crow Reservations. There I witnessed whole

populations crippled by lack of opportunity and lack of knowledge. I saw the struggle of people

historically victimized yet still fighting to escape the consequences of long-standing marginalization. My

grandfathers example on these trips inspired me to join the cause of working on behalf of others, and I

gave much thought about the most effective ways of doing so. I believe that those who have most

transformed and impacted our world generally operated from three major spheres of influence:

government and law, religion and religious sentiment, and economics. Intuitively, I have, for lack of a

better phrase, felt led to seek knowledge in these areas.

The Declaration of Independences acknowledgment of the inherent value and equality of all

men illustrates one of the founding principles of the United States. In theory our country was

established as a nation where the law was meant to be equally upheld for every American citizen

regardless of socioeconomic, religious, or cultural backgrounds. Still, there exists a continued history of 

marginalized social groups such as minorities, immigrants, women, and others which have continued to

struggle to secure the very rights that the countrys founders initially recognized as inalienable. Yet

many marginalized citizens who were able to take advantage of the same types opportunities as the

majority have enriched America culturally and economically all while creating foundations for further

progress. Moreover, of these citizens, those who have families also foster an environment more

conducive to producing other positive members of society.

Intelligent and hard working citizens have always been present on any socio-economic level in

America, but statistically low-income citizens have lower education levels than middle and upper class

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citizens. So not only do they lack financial backing, they also are generally less informed on the intricate

workings of the legal system. The very fact that the lower class is less equipped to work on behalf of 

their own interests inspired members of former and current generations to fight for those rights. With

each passing generation, new liberty and greater access to education has been gained for the lower

class. Many positive contributions have come from members of low income communities who, already

being positive members of society in their own right, were able to take advantage of greater legal rights

and became even more productive members of society. America has benefited greatly from minority

professionals whose humble beginnings could have been a barrier to their success in times past if not for

progress.

Our countrys legal history shows we have reached many milestones as our social consciousness

advanced. As stewards of democracy, lawyers have been instrumental in the United States judicial and

social evolution and have worked for equal opportunity on many fronts. Much has been accomplished,

but there is still work to be done. Inequality and marginalization still threaten societys evolution, and

we need lawyers who work to eradicate those barriers. If we are truly United States then Americas full

potential is directly linked with the quality of life of all citizens. Someone must work on behalf of the

people so that America can ensure that it continues to exemplify the type of civil rights and liberties that

have made it a great nation. I want to practice law in a way that helps maintain and usher us closer to a

state of total equality, and I hope to give to the profession as much as I gain from it.