BLOG | Renee Lopez
The Power of Opportunities
June 1, 2020
My interest and passion for the law started when I learned about the horrible incidents involving “Las Mujeres de Juarez.” In Juarez, Mexico, women who worked in factories were being kidnapped, raped, and killed at an alarming rate. The Mexican government and American government who owned the factories were aware of this and never did anything.
As a result, a movement swept through Mexico called, “Ni Una Mas”—not one more. Women throughout Mexico put up pink crosses to represent the women who died and went through such horrific atrocities. Although the movement became big and inspiring, it did not change anything in a legal sense for these women, nor did it offer them the justice that they deserved. After becoming aware of this, I knew I wanted to advocate for not only women, but for all individuals who have been denied their voice. However, I was not familiar with the process involved in being admitted to law school or becoming a lawyer.
Therefore, I was lucky to—almost literally—stumble upon Law School… Yes We Can (LSYWC). I was volunteering for an unrelated organization, and I was responsible for escorting people to an informational event that was being held on campus. Although I did not know beforehand, it turned out that the event was a LSYWC information session that was about becoming part of this amazing program.
I was interested to hear that LSYWC was established to help people like me, who had thought law school seemed like an almost impossible goal. I ended up staying for the entire event. I learned so much about what it takes to become a law student and the amazing mentorship and resources that LSYWC could provide. Right away, I knew that this was not a coincidence at all; I knew that I was meant to be part of LSYWC so my dream of becoming a lawyer could become a reality.
Now that I am a LSYWC Fellow, my mentors have been instrumental in helping me understand what it will be like to be in law school. They have also exposed me to many of the different opportunities that exist within the legal profession. Their thoughtful advice makes me feel like they truly care for my success and are rooting for me no matter what. Having their mentorship as a resource has helped me more than they know, and I am very grateful and lucky to have them be a part of my law journey. Being a part of LSYWC has contributed immensely to my overall academic and career goals and I know it will continue to make a long-lasting impact that will help me reach my goal of becoming a successful lawyer.
“Sí, Se Puede” is a phrase born of farmworkers, who, under the leadership of the UFW, César Chávez, and Dolores Huerta, fought valiantly for equal protection under the law. As a result of the efforts of the UFW, “Sí, Se Puede” has become well known as a call that engenders hope and inspiration in those who face similar battles. We thank the UFW, whom we acknowledge to be the sole and exclusive owner of the Trademark SI SE PUEDE, for granting us a limited license to use“Sí, Se Puede” in connection with our efforts to recruit, in Colorado, students of Hispanic or Latino descent for our law school pipeline program. For more information about the programs offered by the UFW, please see UFW’s webpage (www.ufw.org); UFW Foundation’s webpage (www.ufwfoundation.org); and UFWF’s immigration services webpage (www.sisepuede.org)