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A portion of Jonelle's winning essay:
I am very fortunate to have two distinguished mentors: the Honorable Judge Pamela Hill-Veal and Attorney Lewis Myers. Attorney Myers is the coordinator of the Criminal Justice program at Kennedy-King College. It was during a conversation with him that I discovered he and my great-aunt attended the University Of Mississippi School Of Law. They worked together to win numerous civil law suits. He has truly been a huge inspiration to me educationally and professionally. It has been his words of encouragement that have given me the determination to apply to law school. He provided me the opportunity to learn aspects of both criminal and civil law by allowing me to conduct intake meetings with potential clients, conduct legal research, and help strategize current cases. I have determined that I, too, can master the field of law.
The Honorable Judge Pamela Hill-Veal was my first criminal justice instructor. As the class progressed, she recognized my interest in law and encouraged me to apply to law school. When I teach Criminal Justice courses, I have Judge Hill-Veal come and speak to the students and share her views on the legal system. She often tells me that my passion for the law will allow me to be as good of a lawyer, if not better than many that appear in her courtroom.
There are numerous reasons I want to attend and graduate from law school. I would like to touch specifically on a couple of my reasons separately.
My experience with the justice system
Although I teach criminal justice, my personal experience with “the system” far more educated me and came at the cost of revealing my sexual orientation.
According to Outfront Minnesota; a gay and lesbian advocacy group, “between 25 and 33 percent of gay, lesbian, and bisexual partners include physical and/or emotional abuse. The National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) reported 3,327 cases of abuse in 1997. The number of reports made by men was 52 percent and reports by women were 48 percent; essentially equal.”
The main problem with gay and lesbian abuse reports is that many go unreported. The services and counseling necessary for abuse victims are not available. Even if reports are made, there is unequal legal protection for victims since many lawyers are apprehensive to get involved in a case dealing with gays or lesbians.
I, too, was a victim of domestic violence in a gay partnered relationship of more than four years. On many occasions, I reverted to the “honeymoon” phase and returned to an extremely emotional and physical abusive relationship. It was only after being stalked, having my head thrown through a window, and sustaining more than six thousand dollars in property damage did I say “I’ve had enough.” What became more frustrating was during the process, my abuser personally filed numerous false police reports causing me to be arrested; only later to have the charges dropped. Adding to my own frustrations was when I had the courage, strength, and confidence to rely on “the system” for justice, my abuser only received thirty-five days in the county jail. During the time of his incarceration, I was faced with harassment and false charges filed by his new partner as well as his son, who continued to run away from his group home to my house.
As a result of the injustice I encountered, I would like to be able to legally assist other victims. I feel one injustice is too many! Law school and a law degree would allow me the opportunity to help others in need.
Working With Inner City Urban Youth and Young Adults
The lack of time, support, and resources that Illinois juvenile defenders have is undermining their ability to effectively represent indigent children in Juvenile Court cases, according to a report written by attorneys at the Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern University and the National Juvenile Defender Center
"There are a range of issues that have a tremendous, long-term impact on a child and their family. Juvenile Court is not kiddie court. It does not all go away anymore," said Patricia Puritz, executive director of the National Juvenile Defender Center and co-writer of the report. "All that child really has is their attorney."
What has become heartbreaking for me is to see young men and women come into my class on probation, parole, and electronic monitoring. They have extensive knowledge on the operation of the criminal justice system; however it has come at the cost of being a part of it. As an educator and empathic person, I find myself working with the student body trying to help in any away possible. From holding expungement seminars to explaining the importance of voting, I have helped to develop and expand their knowledge. I want to be able to continue to shape the minds of my students. I want to continue to expand my knowledge of the law so that I can be an even greater educator and resource.
Having first hand knowledge of the problems with the criminal justice system, I want to become an attorney that can be part of the solution. I want to help those that are not and have not received equal justice. I return to the African proverb, “it takes a village to raise a child” and I want to be part of that village. I want my own injustices and struggles to be the catalyst to the village as a mentor, guide, and role model for change. I want to help people fight for their constitutional and civil rights. I have prevailed through many obstacles and feel I am up for the challenge of law school. As a result of my belief for equality for all, my determination to serve others, and my excitement for the law, I am confident I would be an excellent law student at New York School of Law.
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