The NIU Women’s Law Caucus (WLC) is a law school student organization that prides itself on providing members with support in adjusting to the law school environment.
“I liked the idea of people coming together to learn and uplift other women,” said WLC President Emily Schenberg (3L). She joined WLC as a first-year law student in hopes of connecting with the NIU law and local communities. “I enjoyed events such as bringing in speakers and having meetings where we could open up and talk about real problems that women face in the legal profession,” she added.
The WLC also offers educational support for members and the entire student body in order to bring some “real world” experience into the academic setting. Their main objectives are to address issues faced by women in the field of law, as well as to examine issues faced by practicing attorneys.
The organization’s pride and joy is its Mentor Program which provides the opportunity for a first-year student to be paired with a second or third-year law student who has volunteered to assist the new student with integration into the law school community. The Mentor Program is open to all students, regardless of WLC membership. In addition, membership is gender-inclusive and WLC strives to provide benefits beyond one gender. Male students have played an active role in the caucus in previous years and are invited and encouraged to continue to do so.
Third-Year Law student Shannon McEachern, who serves as WLC Treasurer, also joined the organization in her first year of law school because she wanted to surround herself with strong, intelligent mentors. “I did not come from a family connected with the law, and so in this group, I found great mentors to guide me through law school. Being a part of this organization, especially on the board, has allowed me to give back to our community and support the next generation of attorneys.”
WLC hosts a variety of events throughout the year including hosting guest speakers, career panels, as well as networking and volunteer opportunities. Earlier this month, WLC and the American Constitution Society co-hosted an International Women’s Day Event panel honoring the contributions of NIU Law’s amazing female law professors where they discussed how to be changemakers and advocates.
