Personal jurisdiction is one of the most critical concepts in civil procedure, determining whether a court has the authority to hear a case involving a particular defendant. This is the doctrine that I have spent my first four weeks of law school in Civil Procedure focused on. I think its implications are not only pivotal … read more
Blog
Justice In the Making – First Week as a 1L
My First Week as a First-Year Law Student Hi everyone, I know I’ve been away for a little while, but that’s because I have officially started my law school journey! I recently moved to Washington, D.C., completed orientation, and finished my very first week of classes. What an absolute whirlwind it has been. I went … read more
Justice in the Making – Reflecting on Sentencing Disparity
Something I have been reflecting on recently is sentencing disparity in our justice system. In college, I minored in Women and Gender Studies, which I think is an interesting lens through which to view this subject. One of the biggest disparities in sentencing is gender based, with men typically receiving much longer sentences for similar … read more
The Wall So Many Criminal Justice Reformer Hits (And Why You Shouldn’t Turn Back)
You wanted to make a difference in criminal justice reform. The data and stories were clear: the system was broken, communities were hurting, and change was desperately needed. You decided to get involved with a nonprofit working on these issues, armed with ideas, passion, and that bright confidence that comes from knowing just enough to … read more
Justice in the Making – The Responsibility of Proximity
As I prepare to take my first steps into my life as an official law student, I’ve been reflecting deeply on the power that lies not just in the degree I’m pursuing, but in the place I’ll be pursuing it. DC is the hot spot of lawyers, and I will be surrounded by young aspiring … read more
The Only Comparison That Actually Matters
We all do it – compare ourselves to those around us. That colleague who always speaks up confidently in meetings, the friend who runs their own business, the neighbor who has the perfect garden and somehow always looks put-together. It’s natural to notice these people and wonder what they’re doing differently. We’re wired to be … read more
Justice in the Making – I Am Officially a Law Student!
I’m Officially a Law Student! It’s official!!! I got into law school! Starting this Fall 2025, I will be attending American University Washington College of Law, obtaining my JD with a concentration in Intellectual Property Law. It has been a week and still writing those words, it’s hard to believe. All those years of dreaming, … read more
How Gen Z’s Truth-Seeking Is Reshaping the Courtroom
I was doing research for our upcoming community live event. It seemed pretty straight forward on the surface, but it got interesting quickly. Comparing the view of truth telling from sections of the legal landscape showed significant distinctions between cultures. As Generation Z enters jury boxes and law schools, their fundamentally different relationship with truth … read more
The Art of Future’s Thinking: Building Tomorrow’s Readiness Today
We just wrapped up our first live community event with guest speakers from the Institute for the Future (IFTF). It’s about being able to anticipate change, envision what’s possible, and actually do something about it. Why Most of Us Get the Future Wrong Most of us plan like tomorrow will just be today with minor … read more
Stories, Our New Community and Staying Curious
Striking a balance between the stories we tell ourselves and letting the stories drive parts of our lives is not easy. Stories matter. Our belief in ourselves often come from stories. They hold so many of our values. For some people and some stories… we hold on too long and for the wrong reasons and … read more
Justice in the Making – Traveling as a Future Law Student
Before diving headfirst into law school applications and the nail-biting waiting game of the Fall 2025 cycle, I leaped across the ocean and spent a transformative semester studying abroad in Florence, Italy. I knew law school would require absolute focus, and I had committed to its completion for a lifetime. As someone who had never … read more
Being “Pushed Around”.
I just finished reading the latest ABA Journal, and honestly, the front cover made me pause: “Pushed Around.” We’ve all seen headlines like this before, but something about it felt different this time. The stories inside were relatable to comments I have heard over the years. The article reveals that workplace bullying in the legal … read more
It’s Permission…Why Online Communities Feel So Real
Have you ever noticed how “we” can be one person at work or school, another with your family, and someone completely different in your online community? It’s not that you’re being fake—you’re just finally being allowed to be yourself. Here’s something that might sound backwards: Communities attract people by giving them permission to EXPRESS parts of … read more
Justice in the Making- Reflections on Prison Art and Advocacy
When I first heard of Impartial and its Criminal Justice advocacy work, I was immediately drawn to its mission, ideas, and programs. This was when I first reached out to begin working with Impartial, but my main interest began to shift once I discovered the prison art program and was introduced to some of the … read more
Summer Interns are here.
Next week, we’re welcoming our fourth cohort of summer interns from the University of Chicago. They are feature writers, app builders, volunteer managers, and video game developers who are stepping from the academic world into real-world impact. After wrapping up another year of rigorous coursework, summer offers them a chance to learn in a completely … read more
“It’s Summer” Finding Your Seasonal Vibe
“Well, it’s summer…” You know that phrase. There’s something about summer that gives us permission to live differently. The longer daylight hours make me feel like I should be productive well into the evening, but there’s also social pressure to have vacation plans when honestly, the summer heat isn’t my favorite thing. Here’s what I’ve … read more
Justice in the Making – A Week of Reflection and Realization
New York City This past week, I graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in History and Political Science. I am proud to have graduated with honors in both majors and to be a member of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national Political Science Honor Society. With my … read more
Volunteering
A Personal Reflection Over the past few years at Impartial, I’ve been deeply moved by the dedication of hundreds of volunteers who have stepped forward to contribute their time and talents. Their collective generosity has been nothing short of transformative. Without these individuals, our organization simply would not exist in its current form. This extraordinary … read more
We are all Commencing…
I had the privilege to go to my two daughters’ college graduations this past week. Interestingly, they were in two different cities about 2.5 hours apart on the same day. Besides the fact that I was proud of them and overjoyed at their accomplishments, I have to admit, I look forward to hearing the commencement … read more
Justice in the Making- The Climb
Graduation “I can almost see it, that dream I’m dreaming…” Those lyrics from “The Climb” by Miley Cyrus have never felt more personal, and I feel more universal for the human experience. One of my generation’s favorite childhood hits has a far different meaning to me now. As I prepare to walk across the graduation … read more
