Hon. Constance Baker Motley Essay Competition- 2nd Place Winner

The Federal Bar Association’s Hon. Constance Baker Motley Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Young Member Essay Competition is created to celebrate the life of Hon. Constance Baker Motley (1921-2005) and promote her legacy by encouraging law students and younger federal practitioners to promote, achieve, and sustain diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession.

The competition is named after Judge Baker Motley, the first African American woman appointed to the federal judiciary and the first woman judge in the Southern District of New York. She was a key leader of the African American civil rights movement, a lawyer, judge, state senator, and Borough president of Manhattan, New York City.

Isaac Manchego, 2nd Place Winner of the Hon. Constance Baker Motley Essay Competition

A free national program focused on youth impacted by the legal system would increase diversity and create a pipeline to federal practice. This program would promote equitable representation in the law, reflecting the lived experiences of these young people, and offer comprehensive support, partnerships, and a unique travel initiative.

1. Pay and Prepare: Bridging the Gap

The program would make direct payments to enrolled youth, addressing economic barriers to pursuing a legal education. It should include a technology stipend and equip participants with computer skills to prepare for remote employment and educational opportunities. Volunteers would provide tutoring for reading and writing to bridge educational gaps to prepare and support participating youth in obtaining a GED, undergraduate degree, or law degree. These payments and supportive services would aim to facilitate entry into law school and federal practice.

2. Building a Supportive Network: Nurturing Potential

The proposed program should forge partnerships with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), The National Association of Women Lawyers, the National LGBT Bar Association, the National Bar Association, the Hispanic National Bar Association, and others. Tutoring volunteers–recruited from those organizations–would expose youth participating in the program to diverse legal professionals. Through these alliances, the program would bring together expertise, resources, and tailored support to address the unique challenges faced by diverse youth impacted by the legal system.

3. Federal Partnerships: Opening Doors to Opportunity

This program should establish partnerships with federal agencies, such as The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, to provide a pipeline to fill employment opportunities offered to legal professionals, including non-attorney support staff. The program should also promote The Attorney General’s Honors Program, offering its participants a pathway to paid student internship programs for law, graduate school, and undergraduate students. Through these federal partnerships, the proposed program could cultivate existing efforts, providing broader access to internships, employment opportunities, and mentorship programs. This would provide a sustainable pathway for entry into the legal profession. Honorable Constance Baker Motley, a trailblazing figure in the federal judiciary, began her legal career in an era that devalued women in leadership. It is important to empower leadership in others who are devalued in the legal system.

4. The Travel Initiative: Expanding Horizons

A travel initiative would expose youth impacted by the legal system to new opportunities, offering them access to new locations and experiences. This initiative would aim to broaden participants’ perspectives and cultivate curiosity. This program would go beyond sightseeing, offering participants a chance to engage with diverse legal experts in different cities. Through events and workshops, participants would gain insights into various legal environments and establish valuable connections.

Bars to Briefs: A Pathway to Justice

This program would embody the words of Toni Morrison from her 1979 Barnard College commencement speech, “The function of freedom is to free someone else.” It would be dedicated to empowering youth impacted by the legal system and promoting equitable representation in federal practice by supporting these young people and forging partnerships with federal agencies and legal organizations.

About the Author

Isaac is a 2L student at Mitchell Hamline School of Law and a recipient of the Hennepin County Bar Foundation Scholarship. He works as a Research Assistant for Dr. T. Anansi Wilson, studying the intersectionality of race and sexuality, and serves as a Certified Student Practitioner at Owatonna’s Public Defender office. Holding a Bachelor’s in Legal Studies from the University of Maryland Global Campus, he’s also a Volunteer Deed Reviewer with JustDeeds Minneapolis. Professionally, he’s been with Funders Together to End Homelessness in Washington, D.C., and collaborated with Manna Food Center and Public Allies DC in Silver Spring, MD. Isaac is affiliated with the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers and the Federal Bar Association and enjoys live music, international travel, and crime documentaries.

About the FBA

Founded in 1920, the Federal Bar Association is dedicated to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence and to promoting the welfare, interests, education, and professional development of all attorneys involved in federal law. Our more than 14,000 members run the gamut of federal practice: attorneys practicing in small to large legal firms, attorneys in corporations and federal agencies, and members of the judiciary. The FBA is the catalyst for communication between the bar and the bench, as well as the private and public sectors. Visit us at fedbar.org to learn more.