By Vincent Morretino, Communication & Design Specialist • Office of Communication, Education & Outreach
The Indiana Conference for Legal Education Opportunity program provides support and opportunities to aspiring lawyers from underrepresented backgrounds. The program offers financial assistance, mentoring, and a network of over 650 alumni.
The 2024 ICLEO Summer Institute took place at I.U. McKinney in Indianapolis from June 9 to July 18. The Summer Institute is an intense, 6-week summer residential preparatory law school experience designed to help participants get a head start before they begin their formal legal education. Participants receive academic instruction on legal foundations, case and statutory analysis, opportunities for volunteer service, and leadership and professional development.
“ICLEO set the foundation for my law school journey. It equipped me with essential skills like case briefing, issue spotting, and writing essays. More importantly, it helped me build a strong community and reinforced my belief that I belong here in Indianapolis. This opportunity has inspired me to continue paying it forward, just as ICLEO has done for me.”
—Sylvia Smith, 2024 ICLEO Fellow
Established in 1997 by the Indiana General Assembly at the urging of former Chief Justice Randall Shepard, the ICLEO program has been instrumental in shaping the careers of many successful Indiana attorneys. The graduating class of 2024 is now embarking on their journey with a presence at every Indiana law school. Sixteen new ICLEO Fellows successfully completed the Summer Institute, have enrolled in an Indiana law school, and will receive a fellowship award each semester of enrollment for up to three years to offset the cost of tuition.
2024 ICLEO Class:
Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law
Tahj Borom
Luis Milano Chambert
Yoselin Fonseca
Kyla Jackson
ZaMeishia Marsh
Chloe Sessoms
Anna Smethers
Sylvia Smith
Kendal Tidwell
Citlaly Torres
John Vance
Gabriel Vaughn
Gibran Williams
Indiana University Maurer School of Law
Nicholas Duncan
Cecilia Gutierrez
Notre Dame Law School
Aidee Barajas