3L Angelys Torres began her pursuit of justice in the seventh grade. When the Archdiocese of Chicago announced that it was closing the Catholic middle school she attended, Torres spoke out on behalf of her teachers and fellow students at vigils and Sunday Mass about why it was important to the community that the school remain open. Although the school eventually was shuttered, the experience sparked an “advocacy light” in Torres, and she’s been shining that light ever since.
Torres’s leadership and commitment to advocacy led to her being named a 2020-2021 Ms. JD Fellow. One of only 12 women across the nation selected for this prestigious fellowship, Torres will join a cohort of the top female law students at events hosted by the American Bar Association (ABA) and Ms. JD Foundation, and she’ll be matched with a mentor whom the ABA has been recognized as a leader in the legal field.
The fellowship will allow Torres to expand her already deep commitment to advocating for those in need in her community—a commitment she has shown since her start at Kline. “Angelys has challenged the status quo since her first semester at the law school,” said Danielle Boardley, director of diversity, inclusion and student belonging. “Angelys has a keen desire to bring people together. She developed a program on how to be an ally, which highlighted our collective responsibility to impact change.”
Elizabeth Dunn, director of careers and professional development, said, “Angelys brings an unwavering thoughtfulness that pushes those around her to rise to the challenge.”
As a summer Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) intern at Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights, an organization that focuses on community development and housing, education, and voting rights in Chicago, Torres has added to her advocacy toolkit by, among other things, joining in the fight to protect Chicagoans’ voting rights in November.
Through her work at the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee, Torres says she’s been excited to learn how to be a more effective advocate and that she’s added another dimension to her understanding of community lawyering. “I think now more than ever I am reminded that there is still so much to be done in the name of justice,” said Torres. “I’m curious to explore how I may play my part.”