Honoring Black History: Office of DEIB Feature-Sydney Jackson, 3L

Sydney Jackson (3L) serves as president of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA). In addition to her work with BLSA, Jackson worked as a summer associate at Plunkett Cooney and as a judicial intern with the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She encourages students to find a mentor at all points of their educational journey—from high school, to undergrad, to law school.

“I recommend all students find a mentor from a similar background. One of BLSA’s goals is to create an environment for minority students to feel comfortable and empowered in their legal careers. Members receive mentorship through our big-sib, little-sib program where we match 1Ls with 2Ls and 3Ls for guidance and support.”

In addition to mentorship, BLSA offers programming throughout the year. For Black History Month, BLSA will co-host a virtual book discussion featuring By Hands Now Known: Jim Crow's Legal Executioners by author Margaret Burnham, host a panel on the versatility of a law degree, and host a mixer and panel discussion exploring the past, present, and future of being Black in the legal community.

BLSA’s annual signature event—Vegas Night, a casino-style fundraiser—will be April 4, 2024. “We're extremely excited about this. This is our second year of hosting Vegas Night in person again since the pandemic.” commented Jackson.

To learn more about Vegas Night, purchase tickets, or become a sponsor, visit law.udmercy.edu page.