In celebration of Black History Month, we asked Adelayo “derin” Adesanya, president of the Black Law Students Association at STCL Houston, to share her unique story and experience at the law school.
Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: I’m a third-year student (3L) here at STCL Houston. I began in spring 2021, but I’m graduating a semester early because I took as many summer classes and intersessions as I could handle. I am currently the president of the Black Law Students Association. I was born in Long Branch, N.J., but I consider Dallas my hometown because I grew up there. I got my bachelor’s degree from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, and my master’s in legal studies from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law in Malibu.
Q: Why did you choose to attend law school — and particularly, why South Texas College of Law Houston?
A: I came to Houston because I knew I always wanted to practice in Texas. It has been my home no matter how far I traveled. I applied to five schools and got accepted into all of them the same week. But I visited South Texas first and spoke to people here, and it just felt like the right fit for me.
Q: What achievements or activities are you most proud of during your time at South Texas? Why?
A: I am most proud of our community service outreach and our academic sessions in BLSA. It genuinely helps our members to remember that we are more than ourselves; we are also part of a community. With our academic sessions, we are making our members understand that we are law students first before anything, so exceling in our academics comes first.
Q: How does having a diverse student population enhance the legal education at South Texas?
A: I believe it is important for the legal profession to have lawyers from groups traditionally under-represented in the practice of law. As much as I would love for the law to provide equality, it is likely not possible due to several factors. However, what I do believe is possible is equity. Equity in the legal field means that everyone is provided with what they need to succeed. In Grutter v. Bollinger, SCOTUS held that the law school’s compelling interest in attaining a diverse student body was substantial and beneficial. Justice O’Connor said that major American businesses have made clear that skills needed in the global market can only be developed through exposure to widely diverse people, culture, ideas, and viewpoints. She ended her opinion by saying that “…in order to cultivate a set of leaders with legitimacy in the eyes of citizenry, it is necessary that the path to leadership be visibly open to talented and qualified individuals of every race and ethnicity.”
Q: What have you enjoyed most about attending STCL Houston so far? Have any particular classes or professors stood out to you? Why?
A: Professor Shelby D. Moore was my first professor my 1L year, and she is a phenomenal educator, person, and mentor. I am blessed to have had class her my first year. The other two professors who have really made my time at STCL Houston wonderful are Professor Rocky Rhodes and Professor Daniel Correa. I got my lowest grade in Professor Rhodes’ class and my highest grade in Professor Correa’s class — but I still learned a lot from both of these men and appreciated their professionalism and grace in the way they taught.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: I will be working as an assistant district attorney in the Harris County District Attorney’s Office.
Q: Tell us a bit about your family and background outside of law school.
A: I am Nigerian and come from a huge extended family. Although I am an only child, I never felt lonely in my family because my family was always around. They have been my biggest motivating factor in working hard in law school. They will ALL be at my graduation because this law degree — although it will have my name on the paper — feels like my entire family is being awarded this honor.
