Spotlight: NSU law student attends nationwide diversity initiative

By Bryce Johnson •

COURTESY OF JULISSA PEREZ
Julissa Perez, second-year law student in the juris doctor degree program, attends a keynote session by Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City

In the winter 2024 semester, Julissa Perez, second-year law student in the juris doctor degree program at NSU, was one of 20 students chosen in the U.S. for the Shook Scholars Institute in Kansas City, a diversity initiative by law firm Shook, Hardy & Bacon.

“They fly us in and they teach us a variety of career skills. We sit on panels, we learn intensive cross examination, how to review a case. We get to network with local judges and attorneys that are a part of the firm. And it was just a real professional growing experience,” Perez said.

At the Shook Scholars Institute, Perez attended a keynote speaker session by Quinton Lucas, mayor of Kansas City. She also worked closely with a mentor, who helped her build her resume and apply for a position at Shook.

“We connected with so many people who genuinely cared about up and coming professionals and sharing their wisdom and helping us,” Perez said. “It’s just so invaluable having somebody on the inside who wants to take you under their wing and show you the ropes essentially. It was huge. So that’s what makes Shook different.”

The Shook Scholars Institute is open to first-year law students in the U.S. While Perez was hesitant to apply for the program, Laura Varela, assistant dean of Career and Professional Development in the NSU Shepard Broad College of Law, gave her the encouragement to do it.

“We had to fill out an application, send in the grades that we got for the first semester, and write an essay on how we feel we would contribute to diversity in the legal profession,” Perez said.

Perez is Puerto Rican, a first-generation professional and a disabled veteran. Originally from Connecticut, she was drawn to NSU because of the welcoming atmosphere.

Carlota Toledo, former professor of practice in the College of Law, remembers how nervous Perez was when she first met her.

“Honestly, I just really think her confidence level has skyrocketed,” Toledo said. “She wasn’t very sure about whether or not she had the chops, if you will, to be an attorney, to even be a law student. And now, I’ve seen her blossom into this empowered, confident, young Latina woman that’s just going to kick down doors and be an advocate.”

Perez’s hobbies are shopping, listening to true crime podcasts, dancing and watching movies. In the future, Perez wants to start a scholarship for aspiring Puerto Rican law students.

“Yes, there is a Hispanic community in law school, but I think people make the mistake of thinking that every Hispanic culture is the same. Being Puerto Rican, being Mexican, Dominican, Cuban, it’s all different. And looking around and realizing I’m the only Puerto Rican person in my class, at first it upset me, and then it turned into ‘I want to change that,” Perez said.