Stetson Law Student Wins National Public Service Award
A major national nonprofit has chosen a Stetson Law student as one of just eight recipients of an award honoring law students who excel in their public service endeavors.
A Washington, DC-based nonprofit, Equal Justice Works aims to foster the next generation of legal professionals committed to public service through fellowships and other opportunities. The organization named Stetson Law student Jessica King among the 2023 winners of its Regional Public Interest Award.
“These exceptional law students have demonstrated their commitment to increasing access to justice on their campuses and in their communities,” said Aoife Delargy Lowe, vice president of law school engagement and advocacy at Equal Justice Works, in an announcement.
Advocating for social justice
King’s work on an array of public interest initiatives, which she performs on top of the rigorous demands of law school, is truly extensive.
She is a student within Stetson Law’s Social Justice Advocacy (SJA) concentration, which inspires students to see themselves as effective leaders on campus, in the surrounding community, for the state and nation, and in the world at large. The program connects students with important opportunities to advocate for social justice in concrete ways that give them real-world experience.
The program has helped King harness her passion, drive, and growing legal prowess, which has manifested in her tireless efforts promoting racial justice, disability rights, mental health awareness, and LGBTQIA+ rights on campus and beyond.
Those familiar with King and her work are not surprised she was selected.
“Jessica is a great example of how a student can channel their passion in ways that can be transformative both within the campus community as well as in the world at large,” said Law Professor Judith Scully, King’s faculty mentor and a coordinator of the Social Justice Advocacy concentration. “She is just one of many exceptional SJA students who are poised to make a difference in this world.”
An exceptional level of service
The SJA program has helped connect King with numerous opportunities.
In the last academic year alone, she has been a community associate with the National Alliance for Mental Illness, served as a Racial Justice Fellow with the St. Petersburg/Pinellas Higher Education for Racial Equity (SPHERE), was named chair of the legal redress committee at her local NAACP chapter, and mentored minority undergraduate students at the University of South Florida. The nascent NAMI chapter has tabled bi-weekly and held events like a pottery-painting group and a discussion called “Identity and Law School,” a Diversity Week event that invited students from marginalized backgrounds to speak on their law school experiences.
“I came to law school with a focus on public interest law and my commitment to public interest law has only grown since,” said King.
Promoting accessibility on campus and beyond
A key area of importance for King is promoting accessibility for all.
Her passion for disability rights has inspired her to advocate for more accessible features on campus and serve as a legal intern at Disability Rights Florida, the only statewide designated protection and advocacy system for those with disabilities. She also founded Stetson Law’s first National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
“While at Stetson Law, Jessica has been at the forefront of advocacy for underrepresented groups on campus, including students with disabilities and mental health initiatives,” said Kathryn Pelham, ’06, Associate Director of Accessibility Resources and ADA Coordinator at Stetson Law. “She has brought students, staff, and faculty together for important discussions surrounding the social justice needs of our community. It is fitting that Equal Justice Works chose to honor her tireless work with this award, which I know will only motivate her further.”
For King, the work has only just begun.
“Public interest law is and will be my focus for the rest of my life,” King said. “Serving others is my duty and my passion, and I look forward to a long life of fighting for exactly what I believe in: equal and equitable treatment for all regardless of race, disability, sexual orientation, or gender.”
Post date: June 12, 2023
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
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