Marishonta Wilkerson
About Marishonta: I am a first-generation law student who has had many obstacles to overcome, but now that I am in law school living out my dream, I can look back and say it was all worth it. I have known I wanted to be a lawyer ever since I was a little girl. I am interested in public interest law, criminal law, immigration law, and international law.
Previous Legal and/or Professional Experience: I worked at a law firm for a summer before college, which confirmed my desire to attend law school. Before my last year in college, I participated in the PLUS program, where I took mini law school courses and prepared for the LSAT. After college but before coming to NIU Law, I had an internship in Madrid, Spain teaching English to business professionals for six months. When I returned from Spain, I worked as a bi-lingual representative rehabilitating defaulted student loans.
What activities are you involved in on campus? I am a part of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA) and the Women’s Law Caucus (WLC). I love doing community service, traveling, reading, shopping, and spending time with my family and close friends.
This interview was conducted in Fall 2012.