UMKC Law prides itself on providing a world-class legal education that is open to all who are prepared to take on the rigors of legal education.

Julia Hernandez (J.D. ’24) is one such person. Two things happened on Aug. 6, 2009: Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in as the newest justice on the Supreme Court, and the then nine-year-old Hernandez decided she wanted to one day be on the Supreme Court, too. Hernandez, who is Mexican-Puerto Rican, saw herself in Sotomayor. “I watched her on TV, and she had such poise and grace and at the same time looked so strong and powerful,” said Hernandez. “I remember saying to myself, ‘I’m going to be like her when I grow up. I’m going to be on the Supreme Court.’ The whole reason I got started on this path to law school is because I saw someone who looked like me in that role.”

In recent years, more students have seen themselves represented in law school and at UMKC Law. According to the American Bar Association, the Class of 2023 first-year student body across the entire country are the most diverse class on record. Here at UMKC School of Law, about one in five members of the students identify as students of color, and the majority of the students are women.

The diversity of UMKC Law School is not yet reflected in the profession, however, particularly at higher levels. Glass ceilings within the legal landscape can leave young lawyers adrift, without mentors to learn from who understand their backgrounds and experiences. Without the resources that are readily available for some, opportunities to advance their legal careers can be difficult to find, and the gap in representation continues.

To combat this challenge, alumni from the UMKC School of Law recognized the work still to be done and with the help of the school founded the Diverse Alumni Network in 2020. The organization seeks to foster an inclusive environment in the Kansas City legal community and build a network of alumni and students from a wider range of backgrounds and experiences to help propel the legal profession forward.

Lischen Peso Gibson (J.D. ’18), chair of the Diverse Alumni Network, understands that community and shared experiences are important to success. She got involved in the network to be a resource for students, someone she wishes she had during school.

“When I graduated law school, I wasn’t necessarily nervous about job opportunities,” said Gibson. “I was nervous about understanding the unspoken rules, and I didn’t have anyone to guide me. There still are not many Black people in this space, and it helps to have someone in your corner who understands the experiences and background you bring to the profession.”

Like Gibson, Hernandez did not have anyone to guide her when she began law school. She felt the impact of that from her very first day.

“When I came to orientation, I remember already feeling so far behind because some of my classmates were already using legal terms and I was in the back Googling what they meant,” said Hernandez. “Then on my first day of classes, I looked around and realized there were like five Hispanic students. You don’t notice it until you notice it, and then you can’t stop.”

Hernandez focused on networking and making connections after realizing how important they would be to her career. Many of those connections came from other students and alumni in the Latino community, including from her time as a board member of the UMKC Law Latino Law Student Association (LLSA).

“What I liked best about being part of LLSA is the bond everyone forms,” said Hernandez. “It’s a community built by us and those who came before us. It’s important, having people rooting for you who you can go to if you need something.”

Community and mentorship shaped Hernandez’s time in law school. She received a scholarship from the Hispanic Development Fund and met Judge Justine Del Muro (B.A. ’78, J.D. ’84) at the scholarship reception. She kept in touch with Del Muro and interned for her that summer. During that internship, Del Muro introduced Hernandez to Judge Kenneth Garrett III (J.D. ’02) and encouraged her to pursue a clerkship with him after graduating from law school.

“I’m clerking for Judge Garrett because of the connection I had with Judge Del Muro,” said Hernandez. “She goes out of her way to help Latina women and can relate to our experiences. She overcame a lot during her time as an attorney and now she’s opening doors for others.”

Vice-Chair of the Diverse Alumni Network Claire Wyatt (J.D. ’21) strives to be that person for others, as well as create opportunities for the connections she believes are vital to attorneys.

“Solidarity is so important,” said Wyatt. “There’s this feeling of community in many minority cultures that comes from a genuine desire to help someone who shares your identity. Law school is a grind, and it’s easy as a lawyer to become siloed and buried in your work. Finding your community of support is really helpful.”

An attorney at the Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office, Wyatt works to further inclusivity in the legal profession for everyone in the community, not just attorneys.

“The law touches everyone, right? The law isn’t supposed to discriminate," said Wyatt. “If the people who make laws and enforce them have different lived experiences and perceptions, we’ll all be better off. We need to be inclusive; we will be a healthier profession and community.”

Wyatt is in long-term recovery from addiction, which affected the time it took her to receive her license to practice. She is mentoring a student in long-term recovery, able to use her own experience to help others understand what to expect.

“I didn’t receive my law license until four or five months after everyone else in my class, even those who had submitted for theirs after I did, because of the character and fitness report,” said Wyatt. “I just remember feeling so much shame and panic, like I didn’t belong. I’m glad to be able to share my experience and set expectations for others because I didn’t have that, and it was incredibly challenging.”

Wyatt’s journey is part of a broader shift in law schools, where students increasingly come from diverse backgrounds. These evolving dynamics are reshaping the landscape of legal education, with many students bringing unique life experiences to their studies, often coming to law school after beginning their careers and families.

One of those students is Danny Gamez, an active-duty Army officer in his second year of law school at UMKC. Gamez has been in the Army since enlisting in the reserves at the age of 17, and he knew he wanted to shift his focus. He applied for the Funded Legal Education Program and was one of 25 officers selected to attend law school. After graduating, Gamez will join the Army Judge Advocate General's Corps.

“I was successful in my undergraduate program, but I knew I couldn’t go straight into law school or any other program and continue to be successful,” said Gamez. “I had a lot of financial stress and didn’t have a support system to help me or to fall back on.”

Gamez’s law education is financed by the military, which made it possible for him to pursue his degree even with a family to support. The cost of attending law school can be overwhelming for those without family financial support, those making a career shift or those supporting a family of their own. That burden can be another obstacle to equity in representation. The Diverse Alumni Network recognizes these obstacles and helps to support the endowed Diverse Student Coalition Scholarship through the annual Diversity Banquet. The scholarship seeks to alleviate the financial burden of attending law school, especially for those who seek to use their law degree to support underrepresented communities. UMKC alumni or friends can attend the Diversity Banquet or donate to bolster the scholarship fund.

Gamez appreciates that his colleagues at UMKC School of Law come from a mix of backgrounds, including families entrenched in law, single parents and first-generation college students. He enjoys the opportunity to work with everyone and find common ground in their surroundings.

“I’ve met and become friends with military veterans, traditional students and other non-traditional students with different backgrounds than me,” said Gamez. “We’re all just trying to manage everything the best we can.”

That ability to find common ground while recognizing differences is what Gibson wants to see in the law profession. She works with the Diverse Alumni Network to be part of the change.

“We have to be able to embrace that other cultures exist in this space,” said Gibson. “We need to make room for substantive differences in people and yet give them the same or similar opportunities. We all just want to make something of ourselves and pass it on to the next generation.”

As the legal profession continues to evolve, the commitment to fostering an inclusive environment is crucial. With the help of dedicated alumni and available resources, students from all backgrounds are finding the support they need to thrive at the UMKC School of Law. The success of these students is a testament to their resilience and the community that stands behind them. This continued support ensures that the next generation of lawyers is as diverse and dynamic as the world they will serve.