Legacy of Leadership: HBCU Students in Law
Leadership is one of the most important characteristics in our society. With politics being the focal point in numerous areas of our justice system, it is important that people of color continue to raise awareness around these issues. HBCUs are one of the biggest forces to relentlessly highlight the challenges within our culture. Through courses, organizations, and community service acts, HBCUs are known to make Civil rights, public service, and social justice their passion points. One way that HBCUs are implementing these actions in their educational institutions is through the legacy of leadership. That's right! One amazing student that is continuing the legacy of leadership, through law, is senior political science major, Eli Cooley.
Originally from California, Eli is currently on the prelaw track at Morehouse College where he is making a name for himself. Cooley began his journey of breaking into the field as a junior college student after many life changing moments that prompted him to find his true passion. Prior to aligning with his interests, he was heavily involved in sports. Football was at the forefront of his goals being that many of the students around him were also athletes. However, his drive and GPA led him to focus more on academia and hone into a mission. The decision wasn't difficult for him, as his mother has an illustrious background in the law. Not only did her work inspire him but it also landed him an internship at her firm where he learned to conduct legal research, court drops, legal documentation, telephone etiquette, and appointment scheduling from 2018-2022.
Now, as a senior, he continues to make great impact at his university. Despite the transition from California to Atlanta being a culture shock , the scholar instantly utilized the opportunities and mentors around him to excel. Before graduating he has already been featured on CBS, participated in two summer programs: “University of Alabama Law Summer Scholars program” and “Syracuse Law Summer Residency Program”, shadowed legislative fellow senator Cory Booker, and became an Adams Scholar.
Furthermore he has become a part of the Environmental Justice and Sustainability Fellowship Program championed by Morehouse alumni, Raphael Warnock. Throughout his time at Morehouse, the 6x dean's list and 10x honors list student, has held several prominent positions on campus. He served as Morehouse prelaw society executive board SGA representative and Phi Alpha Delta law firm fraternity president. In the midst of contributing to his school’s success, he founded his very own mentorship program called Rising Stars Mentorship program, where he will assist other students with hopes of conquering their dreams in respective fields. Cooley says he owes his exceptional performance not only to his HBCU but to his mentor and inspiration at the college, Dr. Winfield Murray.
The professor has been an incredible role model for Cooley through his ability to teach and get him out of his comfort zone as well as through his accomplishments. Murray attended Howard University School of Law and has served in multiple prominent positions throughout his tenure. Opportunities like this show the various possibilities to students like Eli. He believes underrepresentation and the lack of knowledge regarding rights is the reason why more men like himself should continue to enter the field. “ Five percent of lawyers are people that look like us. That's why I find it imperative, because we are seeing a lot of people improperly represented. “ The scholar stated that he would like to bridge the gap between African Americans and their lack of knowledge as it pertains to the legalities surrounding their rights. “I feel like it is my calling to be a representative for the Black community in the legal system and help my people that may not have fair representation.”
Postgrad, Cooley has hopes of attending law school and eventually opening his own law firm and hiring HBCU students in order to present opportunities to students. He even has ambitions to open multiple firms across the country!
We wish the best to Eli Cooley and his bright future!