2025 Cleveland State University College of Law graduate Deedra Thompson’s law school journey has been defined by an extraordinary commitment to service. Her leadership and volunteerism in the greater Cleveland community reflect a deep, personal dedication to justice—not just as a legal concept, but as a lived practice .For her leadership and the commitment and passion she demonstrated as a law student, Deedra was selected by Dean Lee Fisher as the 2025 recipient of CSU|LAW’s Dean’s Learn Law Live Justice Award.
Each year, the Dean selects a graduating student to receive the Dean’s “Learn Law Live Justice.” Award based on academic success (learning law) and demonstrating what it means to live justice–to be committed to making clients’ lives better and our communities stronger. The recipient is a student who has demonstrated selflessness, care for their classmates, respect for the faculty and staff, perseverance, and shows promise for embracing his or her new law degree as a force for good.
“To be named the Learn Law Live Justice Award recipient is gratifying,” said Thompson. “The easy path in law school would’ve been to just go to class, take notes, get good grades, and move on. And believe me, even that isn’t always easy. But from the beginning, I knew that just learning the law wasn’t enough—not for me. I came to law school not to simply understand the system, but to help change it.”
Whether addressing food insecurities or mentoring youth within the Greater Cleveland area, Deedra has consistently used her time, talents, and legal training to uplift others and strengthen the community. Despite the demands of law school, Deedra contributed over 200 hours of service to The Greater Cleveland Food Bank, helping to distribute food and essential supplies to families in need.
Her service has also extended to mentoring first-year college students from Cleveland Public Schools through College Now Greater Cleveland. She served as a Teaching Assistant for the Torts course through the Legal Career Opportunity Program (LCOP), supporting first-year students as they adjust to the demands of legal education. She served as Community Service Chair for the Black Law Students Association during the 2023–2024 academic year, where she organized meaningful volunteer initiatives that fostered a culture of service within the law school community.
“I believe leadership gives me the platform to challenge the status quo and create environments where everyone is heard and valued,” Thompson explained. “By stepping up, I can help ensure that issues affecting marginalized communities are addressed and fought for.”
Deedra grew up in inner-city Cleveland and graduated from Glenville High School. She feels the neighborhood is full of talent, resilience, and potential—but that it has been underserved and underrepresented for too long.
“I’ve seen what happens when communities like mine are overlooked: gifted students without access to basic resources, families navigating systems that weren’t built with them in mind, and voices that go unheard,” explained Thompson. “I’ve also seen the power that exists when someone
steps up and says, ‘we deserve more.’ That’s what drives me. My roots in Cleveland are what ground me, and they’re also what push me forward.”
Deedra graduated from Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies. She holds a Master’s Degree in Labor Relations and Human Resources from Cleveland State University. Prior to law school, she worked in employee relations for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Holding a Professional in Human Resources certification and being a Society of Human Resource Management Certified Professional, she took courses at CSU|LAW including Employment Law, Employment Discrimination, and Disability Law to deepen her understanding of workplace rights and legal protections.
Several of Deedra’s work and externship experiences during law school focused on labor and employment law. She completed externships with Cleveland State University’s Office of General Counsel and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Deedra was a Judicial Extern for Ohio Supreme Court Justice Melody J. Stewart ’88. She also worked as a Summer Associate for Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP and Benesch Law.
Deedra will take the Ohio Bar Exam in July, before starting her legal career as an Associate Attorney at Benesch Law, where she hopes to make a meaningful impact both within the firm and in the broader legal community. She plans to seek out pro bono opportunities and volunteer at expungement clinics to assist individuals in clearing their records and gaining access to better opportunities.
Deedra also intends to remain actively involved in the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, where she sits on the Emerging Professionals Board and helps design outreach strategies to inspire and mobilize the next generation of community advocates. She continues to be committed to working with Toward Employment, an organization dedicated to reducing recidivism and helping individuals overcome barriers to employment after incarceration.
Her message in addressing her fellow Class of 2025 graduates harped on using their legal education and the opportunities ahead to be a force for good.
“The law belongs to everyone—but it doesn’t always feel that way. Wherever your career takes you, look to the margins. Bring justice to those who are pushed out, overlooked, or unheard.”