LexisNexis Publishes Collection of Advocacy Papers Created by 2022 Fellowship Recipients

By Adonica Black, JD | Director, Global Talent Development and Inclusion, LexisNexis®

LexisNexis has published a new report, Increasing Equity in the Legal System, which showcases the research and practical recommendations produced by the 2022 recipients of the LexisNexis African Ancestry Network & LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation Fellowship.

The report, which is available for free download, consists of a collection of legal advocacy papers developed by 18 law students who comprised the 2022 cohort of the innovative fellowship program that is placing a spotlight on how we can advance the rule of law by eliminating systemic racism in the legal system. All 18 Fellows attend an institution from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) Law School Consortium.

The report organizes the research work of the 2022 Fellows into six clusters:

• Cluster 1: Equity for Youth in the Legal System

Reports regarding the inequitable application of waivers to adult court and the adverse effects of discriminatory school discipline practices.

• Cluster 2: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Legal Education

Reports regarding an app that provides legal education to adolescents, pathways toward a diversified legal profession, and uncovering untold U.S. history through the law by means of an inclusive law school curriculum.

• Cluster 3: Diversity in Leadership of Legal Profession

Reports regarding how to build bridges for HBCU law school students to legal fields lacking diversity, moving the needle on Black ownership in the law, and breaking down barriers to create a pipeline to the bench.

• Cluster 4: Diversity and Equity in the Courts

Reports regarding the potential of artificial intelligence to alleviate racial bias in jury selection, combating racism within the judicial system, using big data to create jury pool lists, and a digital path to the courtroom that ensures equality under the Sixth Amendment.

• Cluster 5: Equity in the Criminal Justice System

Reports regarding a call in Georgia to abolish the death penalty, the notion of capital punishment as modern-day lynching, and the over-criminalization of Black youth for marijuana usage and possession.

• Cluster 6: Racial Equity in Wealth and Ownership

Reports regarding how to combat systemic racism by providing Black creators with tools to safeguard their intellectual property, creating transparency between appraisers and American consumers in the real estate industry, and protecting Black property ownership through estate planning.

Each Fellow was awarded a $10,000 tuition grant and given nine months to conduct their research, working alongside LexisNexis employees to identify potential solutions to systemic racism challenges in the U.S. legal system. The Fellowship Program launched in 2021 with a class of 12 Fellows and grew by 50% to a class of 18 Fellows last year.

The 2022 Fellows included:

• Oyinade Adebayo; Howard University School of Law
• Marian Anderson; Southern University Law Center
• Nija Bastfield; University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law
• Mikel Brown II; Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law
• Antavis L.J. Chavis; Southern University Law Center
• Dominique Douglas; North Carolina Central University School of Law
• Aquilla Gardner; Howard University School of Law
• Kristina Hall; Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law
• Brianna Joaseus; Southern University Law Center
• Joanne Louis; Howard University School of Law
• Nicolle Londoño; Florida A&M University College of Law
• Alexus McNeal; University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law
• Amari Roberts; Florida A&M University College of Law
• Lauren Skarupsky; Southern University Law Center
• Edrius Stagg; Southern University Law Center
• Talia Thomas; Howard University School of Law
• Zuri Ward; North Carolina Central University School of Law
• Songo Wawa; University of the District of Columbia, David A. Clarke School of Law

This unique Fellowship initiative is an extension of LexisNexis’ commitment to eliminate systemic racism in legal systems and to build a culture of inclusion and diversity within our company. Our vision is that we must do what we can, where we can, whenever we can, to keep moving forward in the pursuit of justice and equality. For more information about how your firm or organization can participate by substantively partnering and financially supporting the LexisNexis African Ancestry Network & LexisNexis Rule of Law Foundation Fellowship program, please contact me at Adonica.black@lexisnexis.com.

Also, you can watch a webinar of the 2022 Fellows’ presentations. Learn more about the 18 individual Fellows and their research interests here.