The 11th annual Illinois Latino Law Students Association Forum Organizing Committee members are (from left) Al Vivas; Bobby Hernandez of DePaul University, event co-chair; Brian Martinez; Italia Lima; Kyara Garza; Eric Castaneda; Andres Ramirez; Jennifer Crespo of John Marshall Law School, event co-chair; and Junira Castillo.
Latino students from across Chicagoland heard first-hand from Latino lawyers and judges about the value of a legal education at the 11th annual Illinois Latino Law Forum presented by the Illinois Latino Law Student Association (ILLSA). John Marshall Professor Rogelio Lasso presented a mock law class, and student organizers presented a mock trial.
Chief Judge Ruben Castillo of the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois was the keynote speaker for the March 1 program at John Marshall. Student participants also heard from lawyers and judges who discussed various fields of law: criminal law, litigation, civil rights, government and public interest, corporate law and sports law.
Bobby Martinez, a co-chair of the ILLSA Forum, participates in the mock trial presentation for high school and college students.
Lasso and Jennifer Crespo, president of John Marshall’s Latino Law Students Association, helped organize the event in conjunction with the eight other law schools in Illinois. The ILLSA event also serves as a great networking opportunity for law students.
ILLSA students organized this program to help raise awareness of the legal needs in the Latino community and encourage Latino students in high school and college to consider a career in law. Informational programs, such as the March 1 event, are meant to raise awareness among young Latinos.
Only four percent of American lawyers are of Latino decent, according to the latest statistics, yet expectations are that by 2050 the U.S. population will be more than 50 percent minority.
Maritza Martinez, commissioner on the Illinois Court of Claims, and Illinois Appellate Court Justice Jesse Reyes (J.D. ’82) show off their style at the Illinois Latino Law Student Association Forum.
U.S. District Court Chief Judge Ruben Castillo addresses students at the 11th annual Illinois Latino Law Students Association Forum.
