In this episode of Reimagining Law, we talk to Y’Noka Bass, a rising 3L at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and Rummana Alam, a teaching assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Law. Y’Noka and Rummana discuss the importance of diversity in law schools, initiatives in Illinois law schools that support diversity, and how law schools can better support people of color.
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Timestamps
- 1:18 – Why is diversity important in the law school setting?
- 2:32 – How can law schools better support people of color?
- 5:50 – Could you talk about Loyola University School of Law’s Cultural Impact Initiative?
- 7:28 – What will the University of Illinois College of Law’s Diversity Committee focus on in the coming year and beyond?
- 12:12 – As a rising 3L, where do you see your opportunities and challenges in the next few years?
- 12:44 – As a law professor, what will you tell your students when you rejoin the classroom? What suggestions do you have for the law students who are listening?
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Y’Noka Bass
Y’Noka Bass is a rising 3L at Loyola University Chicago School of Law, where she serves as the president of the Cultural Impact Initiative (CII), a Child Law Fellow, and a Corboy Fellow. During her time at Loyola, Y’Noka has served as a judicial extern in the Circuit Court of Cook County and participated in Loyola’s Legislation and Policy Clinic. Committed to public service, Y’Noka served as the vice president of CII, the social chair for Loyola’s National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) chapter, and as the director of pre-law affairs for the Midwest region of NBLSA during her 2L year. Throughout the summer, Y’Noka has continued her work as an experiential learning and professional development research assistant and as a judicial law clerk in the Illinois Court of Claims. She hopes to become a district court judge.
Connect with Y’Noka Bass
Rummana Alam
Rummana Alam joined the legal writing faculty at the University of Illinois College of Law as a visiting assistant professor in 2010 and now serves as a teaching assistant professor. She holds both a JD and LLM from the University of Illinois College of Law. Rummana practiced for over four years as in-house contracts counsel for Carle Foundation Hospital, where she focused on health care transactional law. She now teaches legal writing and analysis, introduction to advocacy, and drafting for transactions and health law practice.
About Reimagining Law
The Reimagining Law video series explores how legal and judicial professionals are adapting the delivery of services to meet the unique needs of today’s consumers. The first episodes will focus on the ways that attorneys and judges are continuing to deliver justice amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Reimagining Law is produced by the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism. This episode was recorded on July 23, 2020.