Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP

11/17/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/17/2021 15:59

Weil Announces Winners of Second Year Law Student Diversity Fellowships

November 17, 2021

International law firm Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP announced today that Ismail Buffins, a second-year student at the University of Michigan Law School; Jasmine Jones, a second-year student at Texas A&M Law School; Resilda Karafili, a second-year student at the University of Michigan Law School; Peggy Kern, a second-year student at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law; Andrew Lang-Reyes, a second-year student at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law; Grace Okoroafor, a second-year student at Georgetown University Law Center; Juliet Sato, a second-year student at Brooklyn Law School; Megha Sorot, a second-year student at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law; and Sarah Yue, a second-year student at SMU Dedman School of Law, are the winners of the Weil progressive 2L Diversity $30,000 Fellowship award for 2021. The nine winners will be Summer Associates in the Dallas, New York, and Silicon Valley offices.

Announced in February 2012, the Weil 2L Diversity Fellowship is open to students who are enrolled in an ABA-accredited law school and intend to practice law in a major city of the United States in which Weil has an office. Eligible students must have successfully completed their first year of a full-time JD program, with an expected graduation date of spring 2023, and may not be the recipient of a similar scholarship award from another law firm.

Ismail Buffins received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, magna cum laude, from Purchase College in May 2012. He went on to receive his Master of Divinity from Harvard University in May 2020. During his time as an undergraduate, he was a Presidential Scholar and a recipient of the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. He was also a member of Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society. Ismail currently serves as Outreach Chair for the Black Law Student Association and Leader of the Michigan Access Program. This past summer, Ismail worked as a law clerk at the Office of General Counsel for the University of Michigan.

Jasmine Jones received a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, summa cum laude, from Southeast Missouri State University in 2019. While she was an undergraduate, Jasmine participated in her school's debate team and was awarded first place at the Redhawk Rumble Tournament and the National Debate Association Championship in the spring of 2018. Jasmine currently serves as 1L Liaison for the Black Law Association and Staff Member of Law Review at Texas A&M University School of Law. This past summer, Jasmine was a Legal Intern at the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney's Office in Fort Worth, TX.

Resilda Karafili received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology from the University of Michigan in 2013, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa honor society. During her time as an undergraduate, she was Philanthropy & Fundraising Chair of Kappa Omega Alpha. She was also heavily involved in immigration advocacy work. Resilda is currently an Associate Editor for the Michigan Journal of Law Reform, and a member of the Michigan Immigration and Labor Law Association, International Refugee Assistance Project, and First-Generation Law Students. This past summer, Resilda was a Law Clerk at the Immigration Law Offices of Antone, Casagrande & Adwers, P.C. in Farmington Hills, Michigan.

Peggy Kern received a Bachelor of Arts in English and a minor in East Asian Languages & Culture from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2019. During her time as an undergraduate, Peggy was President of the Pre-Law Honors Society, Secretary-General of the Model United Nations and Clerk of the Judiciary of the Illinois Student Government Judiciary. Peggy is currently President of the Students Mental Health Alliance, Treasurer of the International Law Society and Vice President of Membership for the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA) at the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. This past summer, Peggy was a Legal and Risk Intern at the Government Employees Health Association (GEHA) in Kansas City, MO.

Andrew Lang-Reyes earned a Bachelor of Arts in Politics from Hillsdale College in June 2018. As an undergraduate, he received the Hillsdale Tradition Award Scholarship and the Hillsdale Women Commissioners' Scholarship. Andrew serves as the Vice President of Sponsor Relations for the Black Law Student Association, the Vice President of Membership for the Federalist Society, and is an active Staff Member of the Northwestern University Law Review. Additionally, he competes in Northwestern's Moot Court Society. His team placed third in the 2021 Evan A. Evans Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition, and he was recognized as the third best oralist. This past summer, Andrew worked in Chicago, IL as a 1L summer associate at a global law firm and a litigation boutique.

Grace Okoroafor received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics, summa cum laude, with a minor in Finance from the College of William & Mary in May 2020. During her time as an undergraduate, she was a Division I Track & Field athlete, tutored student-athletes, and was a member of the Pre-Law Minority Association, Economics Club, and Phi Mu Sorority. Grace is currently a staff member at Georgetown Law Journal, a RISE Fellow, and an active member of the Black Law Students Association and GYA. Last spring, she served on GYA's Professional Development & Pro Bono Committee. This past summer, Grace was a Kinship Caregiver Law Project Intern with the Mobilization for Justice in New York, NY.

Juliet Sato received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Public Policy, summa cum laude, from Hunter College in January 2016. During her time as an undergraduate, she received the CUNY STOCS Scholarship for her study abroad program in Guatemala. She was also a member of the Sociology Honors Society. Juliet currently serves as Vice President of Alumni Relations for the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and is an active member of the Brooklyn Law Review. She is a recipient of the Dean's Merit Scholarship, Prince Scholarship, and Barbara & Irving Gutin Scholarship. This past summer, Juliet was a Law Clerk at American Express in New York, NY.

Megha Sorot received a Bachelor of Arts in Government and International Politics from George Mason University in May 2017. During her time as an undergraduate, she was a recipient of the Distinguished Senior Leader Award (highest student honor), and Outstanding Council Member Award. She achieved Departmental Honors and was a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society. Prior to transferring from the University Of Richmond School Of Law, Megha was one of the founders of the South Asian Law Student's Association. She was inducted into the Phi Delta Phi Legal Honor Society and was a recipient of the Dean's Opportunity Scholarship Award and CALI Award for the highest grade in Legal Analysis & Writing I. She is currently a Staff Editor for the Northwestern University Law Review. This past summer, Megha was a Legal Intern at the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York in New York, NY.

Sarah Yue received a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Business from Ji Lin University in May 2010. She then went on to receive her Master of Science in Accounting from Texas A&M Commerce in December 2014. Prior to transferring to SMU Dedman School of Law, she completed her first-year of law school at Baylor Law School, where she was a recipient of the George and Albina Kacir Memorial Award. This past summer, Sarah was a Law Clerk at Chamberlain Hrdlicka in San Antonio, TX.