School of Law Admissions Blog

The Civil Rights Movement is well known throughout not only the United States, but the world at large. Figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Hamer—these names are synonymous with the movement of the 50s and 60s. So, why isn’t Juneteenth as widely known?

The LGBTQ community and its progressive allies have been fighting for equality, equity and justice for more than 50 years. Ever since the confrontation between police and gay patrons of the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village in 1969, the Pride movement of LGBTQ people to demand fair treatment in society has grown bit by bit to become a global campaign across countries, cultures and creeds.

Law School is a daunting challenge all by itself, but the thought of attempting to take it on as a non-traditional student and a mother of two was especially frightening. Should I try? Or, like many others, should I run for the hills accepting less than I wanted or quite honestly deserved? I chose to push forward, beating back doubts and overcoming obstacles. Nothing has been more satisfying!

The Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic (FVWRC) was founded to fight for the justice and safety of victims of intimate partner violence. Their work spans nearly three decades and continues to fill the gap to ensure victims of violence are properly represented and cared for across the legal spectrum.

When the Buffalo Public Interest Law Program was founded in 1979, the inaugural members wanted to use BPILP—as it’s affectionately known—as a way to encourage law students to bring equal access to those in need of legal help. Now, more than 40 years later, BPILP is still achieving that goal through funding fellowships and connecting students with valuable placement opportunities.