Brielle K.

Hill
Xavier University of Louisiana

Aiming to always put my best foot forward is how I have pursued my goals, so
when I realized my love for law I knew I would not pursue this goal with anything less
than my best. I have come to realize that in pursuing this law degree I will have the
power to make changes in society that I have always seen issues with, such as lack of
access to lawyers for certain communities or even lack of determination to become
lawyers and use this profession to impact our world. For this drive, myself and those
around me expect no less than the highest standards when speaking of my future
endeavors.
I have always viewed law school as the next step in my journey for excellence.
My childhood goal was always to gain a law degree, which represents scholarship at its
highest. Southern University Law Center’s law program, with its training areas in both
civil and common law, is the best fit for me in preparing me to become a highly effective,
competent, and ethical professional with a deep sense of community. I recognize that
many people view law as a profession that is chosen strictly based on salary, however, as
a law student, I desire to use my education as a way to break barriers, educate
communities, and nurture those who may come after me with the same dreams.
I want the freedom to study in a university that will not only further my education
but will also allow me to flourish in a diverse environment. Graduates such as, former
Unites States Attorney Stephanie Finley and Louisiana Court of Appeal Judge John
Guidry, have taken their unique and diverse Southern University Law Center educations
and used them to flourish in their professions as well as serve their communities. I want
to develop an expertise in civil law and suitably apply it to any community issue.
Becoming a lawyer, to me, means arming myself with the knowledge and the skills to
add to the lack of representation for those who may not be able to afford a lawyer. With
my law degree, I plan to make my mark in changing policies and issues that directly
affect both my race and my community.
I want to be known as a scholar, a professional, and a servant of my community
and I believe I can accomplish and embody both traits. Many Southern University Law
Center graduates have entered into the professional world and made their mark both
professionally and through community service. It is because of previous graduates, as
well as the representation and legacy of the school, that I wish to attend. Southern
University Law Center as a whole embodies qualities for diversity, education, and
community service that I value and would like to continue to use to further my personal
and professional goals.
I have learnt valuable lessons from my journalistic and pre-law experiences so far
that have prepared me significantly for work and study in this field. At Xavier University,
I wasted no time and I immediately got involved in my major, mass communication, as
well as my pre-law minor. I became a staff writer my first semester for the campus
newspaper, a member of both the Public Relations Student Society of America club as
well as the Pre-Law/Public Policy Club, and soon after, I became vice-president of
PRSSA. I believe my training in mass communication prepared me to be an effective
writer, communicator and investigator. It sharpened my knowledge of public issues and
prepared me for the legal profession.
Becoming the vice-president of PRSSA as well as being a member of the Pre-Law
club, I knew I had to tap into my leadership and teamwork skills in order to help both
these organizations meet their full potential. In joining these organization, I learned the
value of serving my community and the value of representation to those that look like me.
While in this organization, my new goal became to inspire others much like myself that
achieving your goals is a possible task and to get as many people involved as I could.
I have always been a very eager and assertive student. I have found these traits to
serve me well as a young woman in pursuit of a law degree. I recognize that it takes
perseverance, drive and sometimes aggression to make it in this very competitive field of
law. My undergraduate experience as a mass communication major has taught me much
about how to navigate and set myself a part from others in a competitive atmosphere. I
have gained valuable experience in teamwork, knowing how to work with a team and
knowing how to stand out as well.
While interning for Heart N Hands, a non-profit organization based in New
Orleans, I had to quickly put my leadership, communication, and analytical skills to the
test as the sole public relations professional for the entire organization. Being a full-time
student and essentially a full-time employee was a challenge that I gladly accepted and
enjoyed. Being able to handle every crisis, coordinate every event with the media, and
help spread awareness about a great cause helped me become a better professional in the
field of public relations. Working with a non-profit organization dedicated to help young,
African American women achieve better health was also very beneficial in my pursuit to
help my community.
Through my field of choice, I think Southern University Law Center along with
its experienced professors such as, Shenequa Grey and Russel Jones, as well as its diverse
student body, will help me further my goals. I believe that Southern University will help
me to become an expert and will lead me to make my mark of excellence as a lawyer as
well as a helpful servant of my community.