Chelsea Ogan, a member of the University of Houston Law Center Class of 2023.
July 6, 2021 - As Chelsea Ogan enters her second year as a University of Houston Law Center student this fall, she will have two new added responsibilities as President of the Association of Women in Law student group and Chair of Diversity and Inclusion for the Student Bar Association.
“In order for us to thrive as a community, we must have dedicated positions whose primary function is to provide an unwavering commitment to diversity, as well as organizations that promote the advancement of underrepresented groups in the legal industry,” Ogan said.
Ogan said she and her colleagues in the Association of Women in in Law are planning for an active slate of events next semester.
“I am extremely excited for what the Association of Women in Law has to offer for the upcoming school year. With the shift to in-person classes, the executive board and I will be working throughout the summer to plan engaging events for our incredible women law students at UHLC," Ogan said. “Women are underrepresented in the legal industry and face many unique challenges.
“AWIL‘s goal is to bring awareness to these unique issues, help our law students navigate difficult situations, educate all students on how to be effective allies, and prepare our female law students for a successful legal career.”
Ogan said her inspiration to work with the Student Bar Association stems from a desire to provide others with support and mentorship opportunities. She was also interested in the Student Bar Association's unique responsibility of providing support to the Law Center's student body, including acting as a liaison between the administration and students, providing students with social and networking opportunities, and helping students navigate the challenging environment of law school.
“When I learned that SBA would be creating a dedicated position for diversity and inclusion, I immediately knew that was something I wanted to be a part of,” Ogan said. “Personally, diversity and inclusion has played an important role in my life. I was shocked and intimidated when I came to law school and learned that Latin women only make up approximately two percent of attorneys in the U.S.
“However, through my community involvement, I was fortunate enough to have met incredible Latina attorneys and law students who provided me with invaluable advice and opportunities that have helped me through my journey in the legal profession. While the legal industry is making great strides, there is still a surprising lack of representation across the board. As the inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Chair for the Student Bar Association, my hope is that we can provide our diverse students with meaningful resources, opportunities, and support to help ensure their success in the legal industry.”
Ogan is currently working as a Summer Associate at Baker McKenzie's Houston office, in the firm's Litigation and Government Enforcement practice group.
“I have enjoyed having the opportunity to gain exposure to a wide variety of challenging and exciting projects this summer, including researching and drafting memorandums and mediation statements for complex lawsuits and even attending a virtual international arbitration hearing,” Ogan said. “I am very fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from extremely talented and accomplished attorneys who always make themselves available for questions and meaningful feedback.
“The attorneys at Baker McKenzie want you to reach your full potential and become the best attorney you can be, which is absolutely reflected in the firm culture.”
