Cleveland State University College of Law 2023-24 Student Bar Association (SBA) President Jalela Jallaq came to law school to become an agent for positive change. As she addressed her fellow graduates during commencement, she recognized she and her fellow classmates are well on their way to having the ability to drive the changes they want to see.
“We will hold power in whatever we do. With great power comes great responsibility. Some of us may have come to law school because we wanted power, power to help others, make changes, improve communities, create laws, the power to bring justice where there is injustice. I myself am all too familiar with injustice, and before applying to any law schools I told everyone I want there to be liberty and justice for all. Yes, that is from the pledge of allegiance, but those five words have infinite meaning behind them, and I have wanted to make that statement true.”
Jalela knew that she wanted to become an attorney when she was 12 years old. Jalela credits this to growing up in a single parent household where she held extra responsibilities as a child.
As an undergraduate at the University of Cincinnati studying criminal justice, Jalela interned at the DC Corrections Information Council. There she worked with incarcerated people and provided tools and resources for re-entry into society. The experience only confirmed for Jalela that she was heading down the correct path.
“As I answered our clients phone calls and letters, I felt I was their voice outside of the penitentiaries. Being a lawyer, to me, means being a voice to those whose voices aren’t always heard,” Jalela explained.
During law school, Jaelea has partaken in several positions that have further confirmed her career path. She has worked as a law clerk at Meyers, Roman, Friedberg, & Lewis, Plevin and Gallucci, personal injury attorney Keith Lamar Jr, and the Cuyahoga County Prosecutors Office. She applied her classroom knowledge hands-on as a member of the Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial that finished third nationally in 2022-23. Jalela has served as President of the Arab Law Student Association (ALSA) and volunteered as a teacher at the John Marshall Civic & Business Leadership School.
Jalela served on the Student Bar Association since her first year of law school. She was proud to serve as the Association’s President this past year though she is quick to credit the group’s leadership team including Vice President Grace Warren, Academic Committee Chair Philipp Corfman and Secretary Ellenia Matthews, the incoming SBA President for 2024-25, for their accomplishments the past year.
During her time as SBA President, Jalela learned the importance of a leader being able to rely on their team and unafraid to ask for help. She also learned there are times where there are decisions that cannot make everyone happy and to accept what she could and could not control.
Jalela will take the Ohio Bar Exam this Summer. She hopes to work in international affairs and would ultimately like to work for the United Nations as a Human Rights Attorney.