Class of 2020 - 2021 Learn more about the impact of this work by clicking on a student’s profile below! Tiffany Barlow Howard University School of Law, Class of 2021Finding connections and meeting people in your field of interest can often seem intimidating. Participating in The Appellate Project challenged me to get out of my comfort zone and provided me with the opportunity to create a transformative professional relationship. Michael Harding Villanova Law School, Class of 2023Beyond offering practical guidance and networking opportunities, [my mentor] has continually reaffirmed my value and has made me feel “seen” in the truest sense (even more impressive over Zoom!). Emily Harwell Cornell Law School, Class of 2022As a Native American law student, my interest in appellate work stems from my interest in Native American law. The federal appellate courts take an active role in shaping the lives of tribal citizens across the U.S, [yet] so few Native American lawyers litigate appellate level cases. Henry W. Leung UC Berkeley School of Law, Class of 2021I’ve at last come to appreciate networking! Meeting people through the Mentorship Program has felt less like building a network to leverage for personal gain, and more like discovering a pattern that already exists out there—to find my own place within it. Quenessa Long Howard University School of Law, Class of 2023I am the first in my family to attend law school, so my family (though truly supportive in all aspects that they can!) cannot support me in the process of law school and networking. Having a mentor who has connections she is humbly sharing, who is also willing to coach and teach you, is so invaluable. Carlos C. Martinez Harvard Law School, Class of 2023Working with my TAP mentors has helped demystify the process of entering the appellate field. . . Beyond the helpful and substantive advice, speaking with successful attorneys of color is also personally meaningful because their relatable backgrounds prove that the career I aspire to is attainable. Megan Moffett Howard University School of Law, Class of 2021I joined TAP because I did not have any guidance on how to become an appellate attorney. As a first generation law student, I learned most things by trial and error. . . During this experience, I have learned so much about just being myself and bringing that into the appellate space. Anahi Mendoza Pacheco Columbia Law School, Class of 2022I joined the Mentorship Program because I recognized early on that though I may only be one of the less than two percent of Latina lawyers in the U.S., I could also be part of a community working to change these statistics. Nicolas Rodriguez Columbia Law School, Class of 2023Participating in TAP made me realize the significance of networking and mentorship. So many attorneys are willing to mentor law students and young attorneys, but you have to be willing to reach out and form connections. Ramon Ryan Vanderbilt Law School, Class of 2021TAP has connected me with a variety of practitioners who have been generous with their time in mentoring me. Without it, I likely would not have the clerkship I have today. Going forward, I’m committed to being a resource for students . . . as cliché as it may sound, when one of us succeeds, we all succeed. Monica Ayala-Talavera UC Hastings College of Law, Class of 2022I joined because I needed help in creating this path but didn’t know where to start. Being the first in your family or community to do something is exciting, but it can also be intimidating. The Mentorship Program provided me with a way to expand my network to include the resources I needed to succeed. Ty Turley Trejo Vanderbilt Law School, Class of 2021As a first-generation lawyer I have been craving mentors during law school. TAP has provided that for me. I look forward to taking those relationships with me as my career continues.