Noor Shater, Founder of Underrepresented
Noor is a first-generation Muslim law student of Palestinian, Egyptian, and Sudanese heritage. As a first-year law student, she launched "Underrepresented." Noor's commitment to educational equality is driven by her experience as a Sunday school teacher and youth mentor at her local mosque. At Penn, she serves as president of the Muslim Law Students Association and on the executive board of the Middle Eastern Law Students Association. Additionally, she serves as the Project Lead on The International Human Rights Advocacy Pro Bono Project. She is also a Global Justice Fellow and a Wharton NonProfit Board Fellow. Noor graduated from American University in 2020, earning a BA in Law and Society. Her undergraduate career included internship experiences, such as working on Capitol Hill with Senator Cory Booker, at the Democratic National Committee Headquarters, the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, and the United Nations. These internships further fueled her passion for public service work. In her free time, Noor spends her time cooking Palestinian food, spending time with family/friends, and watching reality TV (namely RHONJ).
Our team consists of dedicated mentors who have either graduated from or are currently enrolled in the nation's top law schools such as Harvard, Penn, Columbia, University of Chicago, Georgetown, and Cornell. Many of our mentors are first-generation law students and come from diverse backgrounds. We understand the inherent stress of the admissions journey, especially for underrepresented applicants. Our goal is to alleviate some of this stress by offering cost-free law school admissions support. Having successfully achieved their own law school dreams, our mentors are eager to support the next generation of diverse applicants on their path.
Note: Our mentors are not professional admissions consultants. However, we have all successfully navigated the law school admissions process and can provide valuable insights based on our firsthand experiences.
Alexis
Alexis is an advocate, avid writer and recent law school graduate. As a woman of color with a disability, Alexis is passionate about assisting other underrepresented individuals in navigating higher education. Alexis received her bachelor’s degree in journalism from American University and graduated from Georgetown University Law Center with a Juris Doctor degree. During her time in law school Alexis served in various leadership roles and worked with the office of admissions to encourage increased diversity in law student recruitment. Alexis will be starting her legal career as a litigation associate at a law firm. She is eager to serve as mentor for Underrepresented!
Isamar
Columbia Law School
Isamar is a Washington, D.C. native who holds a Master's and Bachelor's degree from Pepperdine University. As a first-generation Mexican American, Isamar is passionate about giving back to her community and hopes to help others achieve their dreams of attending top law schools. Isamar has extensive federal government experience as a former intern in the Obama White House, U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Senate, and the U.S. Department of State. Most recently, Isamar worked on the deployment of a cloud-based, data sharing technology to modernize the way the U.S. Department of Defense Intelligence Community shares and analyzes intelligence. Isamar spent her 1L summer at Cooley LLP in Washington D.C., where she primarily worked with the firm's cyber, data, privacy group. During her 1L summer, Isamar also did a secondment at Meta, where she gained insights into in-house tech counsel work. Isamar hopes to focus her legal career at the intersection of law, data privacy, and technology. In her free time, Isamar enjoys trying out new coffee shops and catching up on 90-day fiance.
Fatou
A self-identified Black Muslim feminist and proud Gambian-American, Fatou is a recent graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and she completed her undergraduate education at New York University (NYU). Currently, she is a Litigation Associate at Shearman & Sterling, where she also works on the firm’s pro-bono maters. Prior to law school, she was a Corporate Paralegal at the law firm Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz and a Civic Organizer at an African immigrant rights organization called African Communities Together. As a Civic Organizer, Fatoumata helped advocate for the unique challenges facing African immigrants on the local and national landscape. She successfully helped mobilize the inclusion of French and Arabic into New York City’s language access plan and coordinated a coalition to combat the refugee ban and the termination of TPS and DACA. Also, she helped organized a number of rallies and protests to combat President Trump’s Muslim Ban and Refugee Ban. On the eve of the Muslim Ban, she spoke at Washington Square Park to over 500 individuals. On World Refugee Day in 2017, during the holy month of Ramadan, she organized a 300 person rally and inter-faith Iftar outside of the United Nations to counter President Trump’s action that restricted the migration of refugees into the United States. She has also facilitated Know Your Rights workshops for her community, including organizing one at her local Masjid which drew over 150 community members. She has also transcribed a Know Your Rights session in her native language, Soninke, in which she informed individuals on what to do when in contact with immigration enforcement. She has been featured in the New York Times and The Observer for her activism as an Organizer. Fatou is also a co-founder of the Smiling Coast Women Empowerment Network (SCWEN), an initiative that mentors young West-African Muslim females and help them in their journey towards college. In her role with SCWEN, she has organized college readiness workshops and discussions sessions around women empowerment and social justice issues at her local Masjid. She is the co-curator of a social media platform called "Black Muslim Series," which seeks to uplift the Black Muslim voice and experience in America. Fatou is also a member of the Muslim Democratic Club of NY and the Muslim Bar Association of NY.
Tyler
University of Chicago Law School
Tyler (she/her) is a current third-year student at the University of Chicago Law School. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2020 with a B.A. in Political Science and has had a long interest in fighting the systematic racism in the criminal justice system. As a Black Woman, she is passionate about helping other minority students navigate the difficult path of law school applications. In law school, she served as Secretary of the University of Chicago’s Black Law Students Association, Vice President of the Defenders Association, founded and serves as President of the International Arbitration Club, and currently serves as a research assistant to a Black professor working on abolition research and as Comments Editor of the Chicago Journal of Law. During her first summer of law school, she served as an International Human Rights Fellow for her school by working in Lucerne, Switzerland as a research assistant. She is currently planning to work at a corporate law firm in New York as an M&A attorney upon graduation but has plans to eventually become a full-time public interest attorney. In her free time, Tyler loves to explore Chicago, figure skate, and hang out with friends!
Thea
Columbia Law School
Thea is an associate in Ropes & Gray’s asset management group. During law school, Thea served as the professional development chair of the Black Law Students Association and the mentorship chair of First Generation Professionals. Thea also was a student attorney for the Entrepreneurship and Community Development Clinic, where she represented low- and moderate-income entrepreneurs.
Olive
Cornell Law School
Olive is a second-year Cornell Law School student from Delta State, Nigeria. She holds a BSc. in Accounting and Finance from Immaculata University, Pennsylvania and is very passionate about the intersection of business and law. She is excited to use her business and legal expertise to drive strategic and ethical decision-making within the corporate world. As a first-generation law school student, Olive understands the challenges of being the first in one’s family and is dedicated to assisting others in their path to law school. Olive has experience in various public accounting roles. Before her law school journey, she served as a tax intern at Global Tax Management and later as an Audit & Assurance intern at Deloitte. During her first summer in law school, Olive interned with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals in their compliance division, and she is set to spend next summer at Davis Polk & Wardwell, with a keen interest in their transactional practice. Olive is currently the President of the Women's Law Coalition and serves as an Associate for the International Law Journal at Cornell. In her leisure time, you're likely to find Olive immersed in the beauty of nature, indulging her passion for cooking and relishing the delectable flavors of Nigerian cuisine.
Dania
Cornell Law School
Dania is a third-year law student at Cornell Law School, with a deep-seated interest in technology, specifically artificial intelligence, and its fascinating intersection with privacy law. She will be joining the tech transactions and privacy practice of a firm post-graduation, ready to dive headfirst into the challenges and innovations that this field presents. Beyond the legal world and serious discussions, Dania finds her balance in the thrill of water sports and boxing. And when it’s time to kick back and relax, she’s likely indulging in the dramatic twists and turns of Love Island UK!
Emma
Duke University School of Law
Emma is originally from Boston, Massachusetts but grew up outside D.C. and later landed at UCLA to study marine biology and political science. In her third year at Duke Law, she is committed to practicing public interest environmental litigation after graduation and is especially interested in environmental justice issues. As a queer Iranian American woman, Emma believes intersectionality is absolutely vital in law school and the legal profession as a whole. While at Duke she served as the president of the Middle Eastern and North African Law Students Association and was the social justice chair of the Womxn of Color Collective. Emma also works as an admissions ambassador and often sits on student panels and connects with incoming applicants to talk about Duke. She is excited to expand her help for underrepresented applicants and mentor students more personally going forward. In her free time Emma enjoys eating Persian food (pistachio baklava not walnut), scuba diving, and cheering for Boston sports teams. She is always happy to be a buddy at a protest and has a fire Middle Eastern Spotify playlist for those interested.
Vandana
Harvard Law School
Vandana is a recent South Asian graduate of Harvard Law School ("HLS") and an IP Litigation Associate at WilmerHale New York. She holds a B.S. in Biotechnology from Rutgers University and is very passionate about the intersection of biotechnology, law, and reproductive justice. As the first in her extended family to attend law school, Vandana understands the challenges of navigating the law school application process and is dedicated to helping other underrepresented students achieve their law school dreams. During her three years at HLS, Vandana was Co-President of the Harvard South Asian Law Students Association, Submissions Manager of the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology, Communications Director of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau ("HLAB"), and Co-President of the Alliance for Reproductive Justice. At HLAB, a student-run legal aid organization, Vandana was a student attorney in the family practice, and I helped spearhead the first Family Defense practice at HLS. Vandana worked as a summer legal intern at the National Advocates for Pregnant Women (now "Pregnancy Justice"). Since graduating in May 2023, she has worked as a legal intern at Elephant Circle, a birth justice advocacy organization. Outside of school and work, Vandana is an avid foodie and is always looking for her next new favorite restaurant and cuisine. If she's not traveling, eating, or sipping on her Dunkin' iced coffee, you can find me binge-watching reality TV.
Maria
University of Michigan Law School
Maria is a current 2L at the University of Michigan Law School. After graduating from the University of Michigan in 2021 with degrees in History and Arts & Ideas in the Humanities, Maria spent a year serving with City Year, Chicago where she taught 7th and 8th grade science and social-emotional learning. During her 1L Summer, Maria worked in Portland, Oregon at Stoel Rives. She will be returning for her 2L summer. In law school, Maria serves on the boards of numerous organizations including Mock Trial, LLSA (Latinx Law Students Association), and SFF (Student Funded Fellowships). She is also a Peer Tutor, a Graduate Student Instructor, and an Associate Editor of the Journal of Law and Society. She is passionate about mentorship and strives to build meaningful relationships in all aspects of her life. Maria enjoys also running (she just ran her first marathon), trying new coffee shops, and making art of all kinds.
Tyler
Cornell Law School
Tyler is from Southern Maryland. Her academic journey started at Cornell University, where she majored in Industrial and Labor Relations. She is a 2L at Cornell Law School. She will spend her summer at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in their Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group in Washington, D.C., building on the experience gained during her 1L summer at the same firm. Before embarking on her law school journey, Tyler took a year off, during which she worked in Nashville, TN as an Employee Benefits Specialist for a Fortune 500 company. This unique experience allowed her to gain valuable insights into the corporate world, making her a well-rounded legal professional. In addition to her academic pursuits, Tyler is deeply involved in the Cornell Law community. She serves as the Executive Vice President of the Cornell Law Student Association, demonstrating her dedication to enhancing the student experience. Furthermore, she takes on the role of Competitions Chair for the Black Law Students Association, actively contributing to diversity and inclusion in the legal field. As a black woman, Tyler understands the significance of seeing people who look like you in positions of power and influence. Therefore, she is excited to inspire other underrepresented minorities to pursue a legal career. She is not only an advocate for equity in the legal profession, but also a music enthusiast. In her free time, Tyler enjoys playing the piano and viola.
Reema Doleh
Harvard Law School
Reema Doleh is a 2L at Harvard Law School. She graduated from Baruch College in 2020 with a B.B.A. in Finance. She spent her 1L summer at Brooklyn Legal Services on their Community Economic Development team. As a lawyer, Reema’s goal is to create a sense of belonging within her community through entrepreneurship and community development in NYC and nationwide. At HLS, she is working with the Transactional Law Clinic to develop her mastery of law and entrepreneurship. She is also the President of the Muslim Law Students’ Association, where she pursues her passion for community building. Growing up in South Brooklyn, Reema saw how small businesses empowered her neighborhood’s immigrant community. As a first-generation American and the daughter of a small business owner, she saw the importance of understanding the complex and interdisciplinary legal issues that immigrants face in their attempt to secure financial stability for their families. A lack of legal services should never be a barrier for communities that seek to contribute to economic development. Through public interest transactional work, Reema hopes to serve as a resource to her community after law school.
Christina
Harvard Law School
Christina is currently a 2L at Harvard Law School. She is interested in prison abolition, decarceration, movement lawyering, and civil rights/racial justice work. At HLS, she participates in several student practice opportunities, including the Harvard Election Law Clinic, the Harvard Tenant Advocacy Project, and the Prison Legal Assistance Project. Christina is also a member of several student organizations, including the Harvard Black Law Students Association, the Women's Law Association, the Harvard Plaintiffs’ Law Association, the American Constitution Society, the Equal Democracy Project, and the Harvard Civil Rights-Civil Liberties Law Review. During her 1L summer, Christina interned with the Abolitionist Law Center in Philadelphia, PA where she worked on cases involving inhumane conditions of confinement, police brutality, and wrongful convictions. Christina is a graduate of Clark Atlanta University, where she obtained a B.A. in Political Science. At CAU, she served in various student government positions and founded several campus clubs and initiatives, including CAU Votes. Christina also interned with several organizations including the ACLU of Georgia, the Andrew Goodman Foundation, Campus Vote Project, Common Cause, Fair Fight Action, IGNITE National, Public Citizen, and Rock the Vote. Christina is a proud Philadelphia, PA native and a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In her free time, Christina enjoys cooking, baking, watching reality TV, and making TikToks.
Kevin
University of Michigan Law School
My name is Kevin. I was born and raised in Cuba and settled in Miami when I was 15 years old. I attended Florida International University for a Bachelor's Degree in International Relations and Sociology before coming to U of M for law school. I am one of the current co-presidents of the Latinx Law Students Association, an organization dedicated to celebrating our diverse identities and providing our underrepresented community with the tools to succeed in the law. I hope my experiences and advice will serve as a valuable resource as mentors embark on this law school journey!
Cheyenne
NYU School of Law
Cheyenne is a student at NYU School of Law with interests in Civil Rights, Intellectual Property, and Entertainment Law. She attended NYU for her undergraduate studies and majored in Individualized Study, with a concentration in Journalism, Activism, & the Arts. She is originally from Boston, Massachusetts. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, and spending quality time with her pet turtle.
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NATHALIE
Nathalie currently a student at the University of Pennsylvania, and a proud Afro-Latina and Orlando, FL native. As a first generation American and a first-generation college student, she is passionate about helping underserved and under-resourced communities. She attended Southeastern University and graduated with a B.S. in Political Science and Legal Studies. At Southeastern, she served in the office of Multicultural Affairs and on the Student Government as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion. She brings her passion for advocacy and equity to law school. This summer, she will serve as a judicial intern for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with the Honorable Judge Nitza Quiñones Alejandro. After law school, she is dedicated to working against mass incarceration and systemic racism, and to mentoring young people from similar backgrounds. In her free time, Nathalie loves to try new restaurants and coffee shops, go on walks, and enjoy quality time with her loved ones. She is also an avid weightlifter and passionate reality TV viewer.
Holly
Duke University School of Law
Holly Merrill is a rising 2L at Duke University School of Law. She is a member of the Moot Court and Transactional Law Boards, a 2L Representative for the ACLU campus chapter, and an LLM Ambassador. Holly's favorite part of law school is participating in pro bono work. Last year, she joined the Fall Break Pro Bono Trip in Asheville, NC where she assisted clients with obtaining criminal expungements. She also enjoys volunteering at LGBTQ+ Name Change Clinics. This summer, she is a Legal Intern for the Labor Section of the North Carolina Department of Justice. Her primary interests are in labor and employment, antitrust and consumer protection, and administrative and regulatory law. Prior to law school, Holly spent several years working as a paralegal at a small boutique law firm. She graduated from American University in Washington, DC, where she interned in the Office of Senator Dan Sullivan (AK) and as a counterterrorism research intern for nonprofit Rise to Peace. Holly is originally from Alaska, where she was born and raised in a small, rural town of approximately 3,500 people. She is happy to have also lived in several other states, including Florida, Washington State, the District of Columbia, and California. In her free time, Holly enjoys attending Pride with her partner, hiking, board games, thrifting, and making mixed drinks.
Suresh
Duke University School of Law
Hi, I’m Suresh. I’m from New York State’s Hudson Valley, about an hour and a half north of New York City. For undergad, I went to Fordham University, where I majored in International Political Economy. I took two years off before coming to Duke Law, and worked at a multinational consulting firm. I am the VP of Advocacy for Duke Law’s OutLaw chapter, and a member of the South Asian Law Students Association. I’m also part of Duke’s American Constitution Society and National Lawyers Guild chapters. I’m excited to help underrepresented students navigate the law school application process. In my free time, you can find me running and/or cycling on one of Durham’s many trails.
Mickey
Mickey has dedicated her time to participating in diversity programs and serving as a mentor for underrepresented individuals in the legal and political space. Mickey is an alumni and mentor for several programs including the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, the Charles B. Rangel International Affairs Summer Enrichment Program, and the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Foundation. Mickey is a recent graduate of the Georgetown University Law Center. As a law student, she was a Student Ambassador and was involved with several school organizations including the Black Law Student Association (BLSA), the ACLU, the First-Generation Student Union, and RISE – a program at Georgetown Law focused on helping law students from underrepresented backgrounds to navigate the legal world. Mickey is a strong believer in community and civic service. She is a member of the Junior League of Atlanta, and volunteers with several legislators at the local, state, and federal level. Mickey is also an alumnus of D.C. Chapter of New Leaders Council, a progressive leadership program aimed at training the next generation of progressive leaders. Mickey is currently a Civil Litigator with Hawkins Parnell & Young, LLP in Atlanta. Mickey is a huge foodie and enjoys restaurant hopping and gaming with her sister.
Pablo
University of Michigan Law School
My name is Pablo and I am a 2L at the University of Michigan Law School. I am originally from Honduras, and spent most of my childhood in Honduras, moving to the United States in 7th grade. After high school, I attended community college before transferring to a small local school in California, Cal State Long Beach. When I applied to law school, I had no one to guide me. No one in my family is a lawyer, and the process was hard. As the co-chair of Admissions and Outreach for the Latinx Law Students Association, I strive to be that guide for others and to help make the process as accessible as possible to our community.
Antonia
Columbia Law School
Antonia is a current second-year student at Columbia Law School. She graduated from Spelman College with a B.A. in Political Science and has had a long interest in combatting the disparities that are prevalent throughout our education systems. As a Black Woman and first-generation law school student, she is committed to helping demystify the law school application process for others. Prior to law school, she served as a Political Appointee in the Administration of President Barack Obama as a Confidential Assistant at the Department of Education. She additionally worked in Congress and served as a Senior Policy Advisor for the then-House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. During her first summer of law school, she interned in the New York State Attorney General's Office within the Civil Rights Bureau. She is currently participating in an externship with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and continues to have an interest in civil rights law and equitable policymaking. In her free time, Antonia loves attending concerts, trying new restaurants in NYC, exercising, and is a Coach for Solidcore!