Page 17 - Briefcase Volume 38 Number 1
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everywhere,” Kotun said. “The Black student or Black
lawyer feels like they are representing their entire race
and culture.”
“I’ve found that affinity organizations, including the
Black Law Students Association and the Black Law
Alumni Association, serve as a home base of sorts.
They provide a place to recharge in order to fight
the battles coexistent with the Black student/lawyer
experience. If done well, a Black student or lawyer
can thrive within an affinity organization and gain the
confidence necessary to bring leadership qualities to
bear in their practice and among the Bar at large.”
Kotun said that the Law Center has made strides in
its commitment to diversity, and she has thoroughly
enjoyed Black Law alumni programming. Kotun has
also supported the BLA Alumni Building Fund.
“I’ve had opportunities to meet those that came before
and to hear from authorities on various legal topics as
they speak on current events,” Kotun said. “Gathering
the Black Law Alumni to give to the new facility and
be reflected in the brick and mortar building has been
yet another opportunity for us to join forces and show
the importance of diversity to generations to come.”
Kotun said that the need for diversity in the legal
ABBY KOTUN ’13 profession is especially pronounced, as attorneys
represent clients in every facet of life and from
various backgrounds.
“Diverse teams come up with better solutions to
UHLC ALUMNA KOTUN problems because thinking out of the box is somewhat
built in,” Kotun said. “Diverse individuals bring a
SHOWS SUPPORT diversity of experience and approach. It only makes
THROUGH NEW BLACK sense that the individuals representing clients be
able to understand and connect with those clients.
LAW ALUMNI GROUP Racial diversity is not the only type of diversity, but
it certainly helps in broadening a team’s range of
cultural acumen, which can be invaluable.”
The law school process can bring unique challenges In her current role as an associate at Reed Smith,
to any person. University of Houston Law Center Kotun represents employers in disputes with their
graduate Modinat “Abby” Kotun ’13 acknowledges employees and former employees.
that these obstacles can be compounded internally “I love being able to use my various experiences to help
and externally as a student who comes from a employers do the right thing for their employees,” Kotun
minority background. said. “I bring to every case my diversity of experience
“Individuals have to combat imposter syndrome. from my race, culture and gender as well as my prior
Macroaggressions, however unintentional, exist career as an individual contributor and engineer.”
2020 BRIEFCASE 17
