“This has always been my dream. I wanted to go to law school because I admired how powerful knowledge of the law makes lawyers, and how they’re able to use that power to protect others in the interest of justice.”
Kofi Robinson, J.D., is a recent graduate of Southern University Law Center. She earned her Juris Doctorate at just 23 years old, graduating in January and completing a goal she’s nurtured since she was a child. Dr. Robinson grew up in Lafayette, attending Early College Academy on the South Louisiana Community College campus; she credits ECA with giving her a place to design her future.
“I chose ECA because I knew that its unconventional program was just right for me. The teachers welcomed and encouraged my critical thinking. I felt that the environment nourished me much more than a “normal” high school would. At ECA, my intelligence was celebrated,” she explains.
The Lafayette Public School System and SLCC teamed up to create the Early College Academy with students like Dr. Robinson in mind. The academy is based on the early college high school model. Early college high schools blend high school and college work in a rigorous yet supportive program, compressing the time it usually takes to complete a high school diploma and a college degree. Dr. Robinson appreciates that ECA was able to give her a jump start on her career path; she accumulated many college credits and was able to enter her undergraduate degree program as a junior. She cites her high school math teachers as particularly encouraging and helpful.
“For a visual learner like me, they explained things in a way I understood, and challenged me to strengthen those skills. I would see an intimidating equation up on the board, but by the end, I could solve it. It was the outlet I needed at the time, and it showed me that no matter how hard something seemed, I could solve it.”
She was also part of ECA's mock trial team, the Legal Eagles, where she served as lead attorney for two years, giving her insight into the legal profession. Despite her accomplishments, Dr. Robinson has had to overcome many challenges. She describes her feelings of anxiety, depression, and even imposter syndrome entering law school. However, she kept at it, attending class, and putting in the work she knew would pay off.
“There were peers who resented me for being next to them in their classrooms because of my age. For a while, I did not share with anyone that I was younger because they treated me differently. When you are younger and have older peers, it can be fun, but you must be careful. You don’t have as much life experience as they do.”
Her age seemed to matter less and less as she advanced through her classes at Southern University. Now, with her Juris Doctorate in hand, Dr. Robinson has bigger plans in store.
“Now that I've completed my Juris Doctorate, I’ll be taking the Louisiana Bar Exam.”
After a few years gaining further knowledge and experience, she plans to practice independently in Torts, Family Law, and Succession Law.
Visit our Early College Academy page to learn more about the program.