First-Generation Law Student Panel
L-R Elaine Barr, Erin Bartels, Brooke Johnston
First Generations Students student organization at MSU Law hosted an alumni panel of first-generation MSU law graduates about their experiences as students and legal professionals. Alumni Elaine Barr (’11), Erin Bartels (’21), and Brooke Johnston (’19) offered insights and advice to current first generation law students as part of First-Generation Student Week.
Supervising Attorney at Legal Services of South Central Michigan, Ms. Barr shared that, “I definitely feel like [being a first-gen student] things were harder. It was harder to get started, I didn’t have the connections my peers did, I didn’t have the at-home examples, I, quite often, didn’t know what I was doing.”
Ms. Barr says she hopes she can soothe students’ concerns regarding life after law school. “Even when you’re in law school, it still feels like the barrier to entry to the profession is very high. I want students to see that’s not true. You can get through it, even if it doesn’t feel like it.”
An Assistant Defender with the Michigan State Appellate Defender Office in the Juvenile Lifer Unit, Ms. Bartels spoke passionately about her journey through law school as a mother and older student. “I know what it feels like to sit in those seats, to feel like you don’t belong, or to compare yourself to other people. I think it’s helpful to be able to say I’ve been there, I see you, I’ve been through it – there’s hope!”
Ms. Bartels accepted the panel invitation because she felt it was important to reach out to students. She believes her status as a former first-generation student has given her a strong sense of fulfillment at this stage in her career. “It’s really rewarding to know I got to where I did on my own – and didn’t let being a first-gen student and the imposter syndrome hold me back.”
A civil litigator at Foley, Baron, Metzger and Juip PLLC specializing in medical malpractice defense, Ms. Johnston feels that being a first-generation student is a strength, not a vulnerability. “When you have a different life experience than the other people that you’re in a room with, you naturally bring skills that other people don’t have.” Ms. Johnston says she considers it her duty to attend these kinds of events. “I think it’s important to create a world that not only ourselves can succeed in, but the next generation as well.”
Moderating the panel discussion was 2L Edward Mosella, who is Event Coordinator for the First-Generation Law Students of MSU. “Not a lot of people think of first-generation students as a diverse group of students, and we deal with a lot of misconceptions. Having first generation students understand they are part of this greater community at Michigan State really opens doors for them to find resources, opportunities, and mentors that they otherwise might not have.”
The Secretary for the First Generations Students, 2L Manisha Misra, encouraged people to learn more about the student organization. “The best way to find us is on Instagram, @firstgenMSU.” Ms. Misra says her organization is working to create more mentorship opportunities for first-generation law students as well as a program for undergraduate students interested in law school.