What makes the experience of a first-generation law school student or attorney unique?
What we know from our own experiences, and what we are learning from members of the FirstGen5 community, is that first-generation law school students and attorneys face unique challenges the minute they begin considering a legal education.
While research on the first-generation law school student experience is scant, we do know that first-generation college students generally borrow more money to finance their education, are statistically older, and are less affluent. In their 2018 article, “First-Generation Students in Law School: A Proven Success Model,” Jacqueline M. O’Bryant and Katharine Traylor Schaffzin identified these common traits among first-generation law students and first-generation college students.
Further, we sense that first-generation law school students and lawyers initially lack the social capital afforded to those who grew up sitting down for dinner with a judge or a paralegal each evening. These relationships are powerful, providing guidance, support, and a fountain of opportunities that first-generation law school students and lawyers have to cultivate while juggling the typical demands of the field.
First-generation law school students lack the guidance that comes in the form of access to pre-law resources, assistance through coveted email introductions, support while preparing application materials, and honest and relevant feedback as it relates to their responses to mock interview questions. These general safety nets are typically reserved for those who grew up surrounded by legal professionals.
When a judge or lawyer mentions a notable public figure in the legal community, and you find yourself heading to the restroom to google his or her biography while everyone else adds their two cents about his or her esteemed career, you are quickly reminded of your first-generation status.
Of course, every first-generation law school student’s experience is different. The FirstGen5 movement hopes to capture the stories and experiences of first-generation law school students while sourcing the best tips to help level the playing field.