First-generation law students are making their presence known across college campuses nationwide, and Georgia State University College of Law is no different.
This fall, 196 out of 237 students enrolled at Georgia State University College of Law identified as first-generation law students.
While attending law school, first-generation students often face challenges stemming from their background. For example, they are more likely to enter law school without any prior knowledge of the curriculum or any idea about how to navigate the legal profession. This lack of knowledge comes from not having a parent, sibling or close loved one who has experienced law school to guide them through the process, leading first-generation students to have a harder time adapting. With the high percentage of first-generation students enrolled at Georgia State Law, there is a heightened necessity for additional resources to ease this learning curve.
Brooke White (J.D. ’26), and her peers established the First-Generation Law Students Association in 2022. The organization has expanded to more than 60 members, and they work closely with Professor Pam Brannon who serves as the organization’s faculty advisor.
White, who is also a first-generation law student, believes that the pressures experienced by first-generation law students are different than other college students.
During her first year as a part-time student at Georgia State Law, she noticed the difficulty first-generation students faced when adjusting to the new environment. “As a first-gen student you tend to walk around law school feeling clueless, as you enter with no idea about what an OCI or moot court is,” said White.
Seeing that there was no current organization designed to address this issue, White stepped up and created the First-Generation Law Students Association. “I felt like first-gen students needed a way to get to know each other and share our experiences, and being in community with others helps ease the anxiety,” she said.
White was also a first-generation undergraduate college student at New York University (NYU) where she majored in individualized study with a concentration in politics, gender studies and education.
“Growing up, I always felt I needed a college degree that was big enough for my dreams, but also my parents’ dreams,” White said. “My grandparents both had to drop out of high school. Luckily, my parents were able to complete high school, but college was never really an option for them.”
Being the first one in her family to receive the opportunity of higher education placed greater expectations on White to succeed.
She always knew she wanted to go into law, and her parents wanted her to succeed but after completing her undergraduate degree in 2006, she put her law school plans on hold to support her parents during a period of economic downturn. White began working and established a career at College Board where she specialized in addressing college enrollment and outcome discrepancies between low-income and high-income families.
Fifteen years later, White enrolled in Georgia State University College of Law in the fall of 2022. As the founder of the First-Generation Law Students Association, White acted as president of the organization up until the 2025 academic year, when she decided to step down and take a more advisory role over the organization’s board.
She passed the baton to Fatima Reyes (J.D. ’26) who serves as the organization’s current president. Reyes shares the same first-generation background as White, and plans to carry out the founder’s goals and establish new ones. “I always wanted to take a leadership position and this organization really stood out to me as something I wanted to put my name on,” Reyes said. “I felt like I could really be part of the growing process.”
As the organization’s membership grows, it attracts people with a similar purpose from many different backgrounds. “The organization isn’t just made up of one group of people,” said Reyes. “It includes unique individuals all united in taking a swing at the legal profession, and we are putting everything we have into doing so.”
As president, Reyes has major plans for growing the organization. Her primary goal is to host a first-generation law student’s reception. “I hope to invite attorneys in the area, judges and law professionals in general. It would be an opportunity for students to create connections as well as have a keynote speaker,” she said.
Reyes believes having an organization like this can help students with the uphill battle of figuring out law school, and she hopes it will generate more successful outcomes in employment.
This student organization isn’t the only opportunity to support first-generation law students at Georgia State Law. Several resources have been established for first-generation students to ensure their success while in school and beyond.
The Student Bar Association (SBA) represents and advocates for the student body, and if first-generation students have concerns, require advocacy, or simply seek peer support, the SBA is a resource available to them.
The Career Development team supports students through the job searching process. They offer first-generation students advice about networking and how to properly navigate the legal profession.
Cody Teague, the director of Student Life, oversees programs like orientation, commencement and student organizations. He also dedicates his time to general student support, assisting with difficulties that arise. Teague’s assistance extends to issues beyond academic work, providing first-generation students an additional resource for any issues they encounter.
-Written by Kyle McCaffrey (J.D. ’27)