Felix Mitchell, Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago Program Coordinator

The 2025 Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago (FJLOC) officially began on their program January 11, 2025, marking another year of committed student engagement in pressing legal and social justice issues. The purpose of our FJLOC program is help local students understand how they can pursue careers focused on making the legal system fairer, more impartial, and accessible. We connect these students with mentor lawyers and other like-minded students to provide them with practical experiences and learning opportunities aimed to build their foundation for a future public interest career.

We are thrilled that this year’s FJLOC cohort—our largest group to-date—includes 51 undergraduate students and 11 high school students.

The undergraduates are balancing both group projects of their choosing and individual projects that involve court-watching, research, and writing focused on fighting injustice. Meanwhile, the high school students are dedicated to crafting individual essays on social justice issues they have personally selected.

The FJLOC undergraduate students come from 12 area colleges and universities:

• Nineteen (19) students from University of Illinois at Chicago,
• Nine (9) students from Northwestern University,
• Eight (8) students from the University of Chicago,
• Five (5) students from Chicago State University,
• Two (2) students from Elmhurst University,
• Two (2) students Illinois Institute of Technology, and
• Individual students (6) from DePaul University, DePauw University, Loyola University Chicago, Northern Illinois University, Purdue University, and Roosevelt University.

These impressive undergraduate students have organized themselves into three focused groups for their collaborative research projects:

As I reflect on my journey with FJLOC, I am filled with gratitude for the experiences and knowledge I have gained. These experiences have not only reinforced my belief in the transformative power of law as a tool for social change but have also deepened my commitment to advocating for fairness, equality, and accessibility within our legal system.

Yaquelin Hinojosa-Fuentes

• The Criminal Courts Group, which is concentrating on the economics of the criminal legal system. This group has finalized subtopics including Mandatory Supervised Release (MSR), rehabilitation within prisons, and the role of prosecutors’ offices in advancing systemic reform of the criminal legal system.
• The Health Care Group, which is investigating health care within prison systems, addressing critical concerns about the quality and accessibility of medical services for incarcerated people.
• The Immigration Group, which is focusing on the history of immigration policy and the immigration court system, focusing on the impact of U.S. immigration policy both locally and nationally, protections for those adversely affected by immigration policy, and the economics surrounding immigration.

Each undergraduate report group is tasked with a comprehensive approach that includes identifying a specific injustice within their focus area; describing the injustice in detail, including the scope and impact, supported by data on the number of people affected and the nature of the effects; and reviewing national and local efforts to address the injustice, drawing on literature reviews and interviews with key stakeholders.

The high school FJLOC is comprised of 11 dedicated students drawn from 10 diverse public and private schools across Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.

The mission of FJLOC is to cultivate high school students’ legal acumen through active mentorship provided by volunteers from Chicago Appleseed and members of the Chicago Council of Lawyers. This mentorship supports both individual and collaborative projects, alongside engagement in enriching opportunities designed to deepen each student’s understanding of legal practice. By connecting students with practicing lawyers and peers committed to justice, FJLOC hones essential legal skills through workshops, panel discussions, and sustained research initiatives. Ultimately, FJLOC strives to increase the number of lawyers devoted to justice work; these high school students are passionately committed to advocacy addressing a spectrum of community issues throughout Illinois. Each participant will produce an individual essay highlighting often-overlooked injustices within society.

FJLOC has been one of the most beneficial programs I have participated in! The advisors and mentors are all very accessible, and I was able to learn so much about the law, law school applications, and important skills for my future career.

Ananya “Anna” Ramesh

Each undergraduate and high school student is paired with a dedicated Lawyer Advisor who plays a crucial role in their development throughout the program.

These advisors are integral to the success of these students and the program generally, providing targeted skills training, answering questions about the legal profession, and offering ongoing mentorship. Our students maintain regular communication with their Lawyer Advisors, at least twice a month, to ensure consistent guidance and support throughout the program and after.

On August 8, 2025, the 2025 FJLOC program will culminate with an in-person Capstone Event at ArentFox Schiff.

Participating in FJLOC has been an impactful experience, providing valuable insights into what a future career in justice could entail. FJLOC has allowed me to network with and learn from many prominent professionals in Chicago, which will undoubtedly be beneficial for my future aspirations.

Anthony Menjivar Calixto

The Capstone Event allows our students to present the work they’ve completed throughout the program year, and share space to build community and network with their fellow members and other Lawyer Advisors. At the completion of the 2025 session, all FJLOC members will receive information about public interest internships, fellowships, seminars on the law school application process, as well as admission to the FJLOC Alumni Association.

Recruitment for the 2026 FJLOC cohort is set to begin September 2025; application materials and information for prospective students will be posted here in late July or early August. The FJLOC continues to provide a platform for young scholars to engage deeply with social justice challenges, fostering research, advocacy, and leadership skills that will serve them and their communities well into the future.

If you’re interested in supporting our Future Justice Lawyers of Chicago, you can do so by making a donation here.

We’re also actively recruiting new Lawyer Advisors to help mentor students in future cohorts. If you are interested in learning more about getting involved, please contact me at fmitchell@chicagoappleseed.org.