4th Annual Break Into Law Conference

Khiara M. Bridges is a professor of law at UC Berkeley School of Law. She has written many articles concerning race, class, reproductive rights, and the intersection of the three. Her scholarship has appeared in the Harvard Law Review, Stanford Law Review, the Columbia Law Review, the California Law Review, the NYU Law Review, and the Virginia Law Review, among others. She is also the author of three books: Reproducing Race: An Ethnography of Pregnancy as a Site of Racialization (2011), The Poverty of Privacy Rights (2017), and Critical Race Theory: A Primer (2019). She is a coeditor of a reproductive justice book series that is published under the imprint of the University of California Press.

She graduated as valedictorian from Spelman College, receiving her degree in three years. She received her J.D. from Columbia Law School and her Ph.D., with distinction, from Columbia University’s Department of Anthropology. While in law school, she was a teaching assistant for the former dean, David Leebron (Torts), as well as for the late E. Allan Farnsworth (Contracts). She was a member of the Columbia Law Review and a Kent Scholar. She speaks fluent Spanish and basic Arabic, and she is a classically trained ballet dancer.

Angela Winfield is the Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer for the Law School Admission Council. In this role, she provides leadership, vision, energy, and a unified philosophy to LSAC’s diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts on behalf of member law schools and the students who seek a career in law. Prior to her current position, Winfield was associate vice president for inclusion and workforce diversity at Cornell University, where she led the university’s affirmative action and federal contractor compliance programs, managed the university’s five identity/affinity-based colleague network groups, provided training opportunities for the 7,000+ member staff, oversaw religious accommodations, and served on the university’s ADA coordinator team. Winfield earned her JD from Cornell Law School and is admitted to the New York bar. She earned her BA from Barnard College of Columbia University.

Sydney received her B.A. in English and Certificate in French Language and Culture from Princeton University and her J.D. from Harvard Law School. As the first lawyer in her family, She has used her platform since 2012 to help 4,000+ students break down generational barriers and step confidently into their future. She holds a graduate certificate in Independent Educational Consulting through UC Irvine and is in the process of obtaining her Graduate Certificate in Anti-Racism in Urban Education online from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Sydney is an MDiv/MACEF Candidate at Princeton Theological Seminary. She is a member of the Ethics Committee, the current Graduate School Committee Chair of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, and a member of the National Association for College Counselors, among others.

Ms. Shani J.P. Butts joined the administration of The Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law (Catholic Law) in the fall of 2004 after practicing Bankruptcy and Civil Litigation with a small firm in Virginia. Assistant Dean Butts received her B.A. in Economics from The George Washington University in 1998 and her J.D. from Catholic Law in 2003. During law school Assistant Dean Butts served in leadership roles with the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, the Black Law Student Association, the Student Bar Association, and was one of two student members on the Admissions Committee. Assistant Dean Butts serves in a variety of volunteer leadership roles with the Law School Admissions Council. She began her involvement with the LSAC as an annual meeting presenter in 2007 and has served as a member of the Services and Programs Committee from June 2009 to May 2011and the Finance and Legal Affairs Committee from June 2013 to May 2017. Assistant Dean Butts served as appointee-at-large on the LSAC Board of Trustees and as trustee liaison to the Finance and Legal Affairs Committee from June 2017 to June 2019. She served on the LSAC Candidates and Schools Committee from June 2019 – May 2021. Later serving as a member of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, chairing the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Research and Data Workgroup from June 2021 to May 2023. Assistant Dean Butts currently serves on the LSAC Board of Trustees chairing the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. She is a member of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) serving as programming chair for the PreLaw Education and Admission to Law School section. Additionally, Assistant Dean Butts is a founding member of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) Legal Profession Chapter.

Vernadette Horne, Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, joined St. John’s Law School in June 2021 after serving as Senior Director of Career Services and Diversity Initiatives at Hofstra Law School for 15 years.  Ms. Horne currently serves as a member of the Diversity Committee for the New York State Bar Association and as the Co-Chair of the Diversity Committee for the New York State Bar Association’s Commercial & Federal Litigation Section.

Dr. Nadia Castriota has over 20 years of experience in professional/graduate school admissions and student development and is truly dedicated to student success. She has previously been the Assistant Director of Admissions and Financial Aid at Florida International University – College of Law, the Director of Admissions at Case Western Reserve University School of Law, the Assistant Dean at Albany Law School, and most recently the Director of Admissions at St. Thomas University School of Law. Dr. Castriota is originally from New York and relocated to South Florida to be closer to family and continue her career in academia, specifically enrollment management, student development, and DEI initiatives. Dr. Castriota earned her BS from Florida International University, MS from Nova Southeastern University, and her PhD in Ethical Leadership at St. Thomas University.

Jasmeene Burton, Esq. is a litigator practicing in Washington, D.C., and a proud Barrier Breakers® alum. Before practicing law, Jasmeene helped hundreds to cultivate confidence and conquer educational obstacles as a private LSAT and academic skills coach, writing coach, and Barrier Breakers® Boot Camp Instructor. Jasmeene is passionate about about furthering educational equity by helping students become the best learners and lawyers that they can be. Throughout her journey, Jasmeene has worked extensively with neurodiverse students, nontraditional students, students of color, and English-language learners on developing academic skills and navigating the accommodations process. Jasmeene holds degrees from Princeton University (A.B., Sociology) and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law (J.D.).

Phillip Harrinarine is a Former Admissions Officer with InGenius Prep based in Wilmington, Delaware. Born in Trinidad & Tobago, Phillip moved to the United States at the age of 2, where he was raised in South Florida. As a first-generation high school graduate, Philip went on to complete his undergraduate degree in Political Science at Florida Atlantic University, an MA in Public Administration at Villanova University, and a Juris Doctor at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law.

In his professional career, Phillip has worked as the Associate Director of Admissions & Diversity Initiatives at Yale Law School and as the Assistant Dean of Admissions at Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law. In his most recent role at Villanova Law, he was responsible for making all final decisions for students applying to the school. Over the last several years, Phillip has worked privately with students, helping them craft successful applications to get admitted into their top schools of choice. Phillip also worked as a Senior Ambassador and Director of School Accounts for the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), and now he brings his experience and education to his counseling services.

Phillip finds fulfillment and joy in supporting students through their journeys to higher education. By strategizing ways to highlight their life stories and the driving forces behind why they wish to pursue advanced education, Philip specializes in helping students become the ideal candidates in their college admissions—learning more about themselves and making the process an enjoyable one.

Jenna Conosciani is a certified school psychologist who earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology at James Madison University. While completing her undergraduate studies, she also spent a semester abroad in Paris, France studying cultural diversity. Jenna went on to earn her Master of Arts Degree and Certificate of Advanced Study in school psychology from Towson University. Prior to LSAC, Jenna worked for over a decade in public education, serving as a

school psychologist for grades K-12 in the suburbs of Philadelphia, PA. During that time, her primary focus concentrated in the areas of comprehensive psycho-educational assessment, academic accommodations, consultation and training, crisis prevention and intervention, program development, and school-based mental health counseling at the secondary level. Looking for growth and new opportunities, Jenna joined LSAC in July 2019 as a Disability

Specialist before transitioning to the role of Senior Accommodated Testing Specialist in April 2023. She has served as the Manager of Accommodated Testing since September 2024, and supports her team in the review and processing of accommodation requests for the LSAT, as well as coordination and implementation of approved accommodations. Throughout her career, Jenna has been an advocate for students with disabilities and is committed to ensuring equity, fairness, and access for candidates with disabilities as they pursue law school admission. Jenna resides in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with her husband of almost 13 years, two young daughters, and their rescue dogs Reggie and Rocky. She enjoys spending time with her family, supporting Philadelphia sports teams (Go Birds!) and traveling~ especially to any beach location!

At Georgetown Law, Thomas served as Co-President of the South Asian Law Students Association, Academic Affairs Chair for the Student Bar Association, and Managing Executive Editor of the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal. He also held North American leadership as Membership Co-Director for the North American South Asian Law Students Association and co-founded the 2025 North American SALSA Summit.

His legal experience includes externships with the New York Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Trade Commission, where he focused on financial crimes enforcement and international consumer protection. He was also selected to serve as a panelist for the International Bar Association’s global forum on student wellbeing.

For Thomas, law school was not just about achievement — it was about staying grounded through pressure, building community, and leading with purpose. He now prepares to take the New York Bar and begin his clerkship with a strong foundation in service, resilience, and advocacy.

Drumee Shah is a 2L at NYU School of Law with a strong interest in corporate and international law. She grew up in Mumbai, India, and spent her 1L summer interning at Nishith Desai Associates and DSK Legal in Mumbai, where she worked on cross-border M&A transactions and regulatory research. She holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Politics from Pomona College. At NYU, she is involved with the South Asian Law Students Association and serves as a staff editor on the Journal of Law and Business. In her free time, Drumee enjoys scuba diving, playing the drums, and reading biographical and postcolonial fiction.

Kristen Perez is a JD candidate at the University of Michigan Law School with over 20 years of experience in sales, leadership, and business development. A native of East Los Angeles, she previously served as the youngest female branch manager for a major bank and now works as a senior account manager at Liberty Paper. Kristen is also a certified advocate for survivors of violence, a former coach in bodybuilding, growth mindset and empowerment, and an 11-time professional natural bodybuilding champion. Her work and passions centers on community empowerment, operational equity, and legal advocacy.

Jai is a first-year law student at Howard University School of Law who driven by a passion for social justice. Her  academic journey is rooted in ensuring fair representation and promoting diversity and inclusion, which she  intends to pursue throughout her legal career. Before law school, she graduated Cum Laude from Loyola University New Orleans, where she double majored in Mass Communication and Sociology. Jai was invested in volunteer work, social justice advocacy, and student government on campus. These experiences have shaped her understanding of the legal landscape and fueled her desire to make a meaningful impact through the law.

As a law student at American University Washington College of Law, Delisha brings a strong foundation in education policy, youth advocacy, and public interest work. Her professional journey began in education, where I focused on addressing systemic inequities affecting low-income adolescents in both domestic and international contexts. She remains committed to using legal tools to advance justice—whether in the classroom, the courtroom, or beyond. Delisha’s academic interests include civil rights, disability law, and international justice, but she is actively exploring a broad range of legal areas including litigation, clerkships, and intellectual property. She believes that strong legal advocacy can transform policy into practice and create meaningful change for underserved communities.

Jupiter is a non-traditional law student in every sense of the word. As a first-gen queer, non-binary student at Tulane Law in New Orleans, Louisiana, they have made it their mission to expand the concept of what a lawyer looks like by being unapologetically themselves in every space they enter. Their interests vary widely and include international law (both human rights and business), post-conviction capital appeals, entertainment law (think: influencers), and, most recently, real estate law.  This summer, Jupiter is working with Southeast Louisiana Legal Services to provide expungement services to remove the barriers to economic opportunity placed in front of those who have formerly been convicted of criminal offenses. Jupiter uses they/them pronouns.

LeAndra is a senior-level relationship manager responsible for territory development and maintenance; educational trainer, delivering dynamic financial educational workshops and presentations in person and online; content expert, assisting with the creation of financial education programming and materials for 26 member law schools within the Southern region (Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas).

Yolanda D. Ingram. Esq. is currently the inaugural Director of Access to Law School Education Programs at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School. She joined Penn Carey Law in August 2021. Immediately prior to her current role, Director Ingram was the inaugural Bar Success Director at Drexel Kline Law for two years. Before Drexel, Mrs. Ingram served as Dean of Students and Director of Academic Success at Penn State’s Dickinson Law and Dean of Admissions for Washburn University School of Law. In addition to a variety of administrative roles, Director Ingram has also taught a range of courses, including prelaw, legal writing, legal ethics/professional responsibility, and bar preparation. Over the course of her twenty plus year career in legal education and higher education administration, she has volunteered and served on a variety of boards, committees and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the non-profit, Barrier Breakers, which seeks to support first generation, and minority students apply to law school. For ten years, she was the Asst. Dean for Student Affairs and the Director of the state’s only conditional admissions program and diversity pipeline program for college students, the Tennessee Institute for Pre-Law (TIP). During her decade at Memphis Law, the TIP program was able to substantially increase the state law schools’ diversity enrollment each year. Professor Ingram co-founded the Memphis Bar Association’s Summer Law Internship Program (SLIP) for diverse high school students. Prior to entering legal education and serving in various administrative roles, Ingram clerked for Judge Jay A. Daugherty of the Jackson County Circuit Court in Kansas City, Missouri. Before her judicial clerkship, she taught legal research and writing at Temple University Beasley School of Law. Prior to teaching at Temple Law, she was an associate with the Kansas City, Missouri firm, Polsinelli Law Firm where she practiced in the areas of condemnation (eminent domain law), land use/zoning, landlord/tenant disputes, and property tax appeals. She earned her Juris Doctor (with Dean’s Honors) from Washburn University School of Law in Topeka, Kansas after graduating summa cum laude from the University of Mississippi with a B.A. in English.

​Mena Pirone, Esq., is a Harvard Law School graduate and founder of LSAT Logic Pro, a specialized tutoring service focused on LSAT Logical Reasoning. After scoring in the 99th percentile on the LSAT, she began her career in intellectual property litigation before transitioning to full-time LSAT tutoring. With over 15 years of experience, Mena has developed a targeted approach that has helped hundreds of students gain admission to top law schools, including Stanford, Columbia, Yale, and Harvard. She is particularly dedicated to supporting first-generation and underserved students, emphasizing a personalized and dynamic tutoring style.

Fady Yatooma is an incoming 3L at Yale Law School who moved to the U.S. from Iraq in 2013. On his first attempt at the LSAT, he earned a 166 and found that he struggled with the Reading Comprehension section as a non-native English speaker. After a year of learning stronger study techniques, he improved his score by 13 points, earning a 180, and was admitted to Yale Law School. Through LSAT Mastery, he shares his proven study methods to help applicants achieve their maximum potential.

Marvin is a JD candidate at Stanford Law. He is an experienced Community Advocate working in the civic & social organization industry. Marvin has a strong business development background with a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago.

Carwina was born in Taipei, Taiwan, and immigrated to the US in 1968 as part of the "brain drain" that resulted from the abolition of national origin-based immigration quotas. She is a first-generation US college and law student. Carwina practiced in legal services for both the New York Legal Aid Society and Greater Boston Legal Services. Carwina became a clinical professor because she realized that she enjoys helping students to be better lawyers as much as she enjoys representing indigent clients. Now, she work for the Law School Admission Council to develop programming on professional identity formation, inclusive instruction, and pre-law preparedness. To relieve her stress, Carwina loves to bake, be in nature, read cozy mysteries, and travel. Carwina’s High 5 strengths are: coach, empathizer, focus expert, strategist, and catalyst.

Jannell Lundy Roberts’ nineteen-year tenure in higher education includes admissions, student services and financial aid. She joined the Loyola community in 2005 and works closely with senior deans and faculty to implement enrollment goals and policies. Ms. Roberts is an active member of the Law School Admission Council (LSAC) including service on LSAC’s Investment Committee, Services and Programs Committee, and Diversity Committee, has served on the LSAC Board of Trustees, and has chaired several LSAC subcommittees and work groups. Ms. Roberts also serves with the American Association of Law Schools (AALS), as chair-elect for the Prelegal Education and Admission to Law section and as a board member of the Part-time Division Programs section.

Prior to joining Loyola, Ms. Roberts worked at USC Law School, Southwestern Law School and her alma mater, Loyola Marymount University.

exter Smith is a seasoned higher education executive with over 20 years of experience in law school enrollment management, strategic planning, and innovative program creation. With a proven track record of reviewing 40,000+ applications, admitting 20,000+ candidates, and allocating $50M+ in scholarships, Dexter has consistently driven measurable results at top-tier institutions. His expertise spans domestic and international recruitment, diversity initiatives, strategic marketing, and stakeholder collaboration.

Currently serving as the Assistant Dean of Law Admissions & Recruitment at Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University, Dexter oversees enrollment operations, develops strategic marketing plans, and establishes pipeline programs to expand access for underrepresented students. His work includes forging partnerships with HBCUs and other institutions to create pathways for diverse talent.

Previously, Dexter held leadership roles at Emory University, the College of William & Mary, Campbell University, and Florida Coastal School of Law.

A graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, Dexter also holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership and a Bachelor’s in Sociology. His commitment to equity, access, and inclusion is evident through his active involvement with the Law School Admission Council (LSAC), where he has contributed to initiatives like the DiscoverLaw Plus Program, the Recruitment Calendar Subcommittee, et al.

A sought-after speaker, Dexter has presented at numerous LSAC Annual Meetings and panels, addressing topics such as “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou? The Curious Case of Black Men in Legal Education.” He has earned recognition as a Fellow of the Higher Education Leadership Foundation and accolades for his contributions to diversity in legal education.

Catherine Toppin is a dynamic business partner and intellectual property strategist with broad experience across the USPTO, law firms, and a Fortune 10 in-house legal team. She specializes in IP portfolio management, litigation support, commercial transactions, government contracts, and patent preparation and prosecution across diverse technologies—including software, hardware, and industrial systems. Catherine is also skilled in small business counseling and aligning IP, contractual, and data rights strategies with business goals. Known for her leadership in team building and process improvement, she brings a collaborative and business-minded approach to IP strategy.

Ali is an associate with the Intellectual Property group. She focuses her practice on assisting clients with a variety of trademark, copyright, trade secret, and patent matters, including litigation, enforcement, prosecution, and agreements.

Ali gained valuable experience as a paralegal and legal research intern at full-service and personal injury firms. While in law school, Ali was a representative on the Pro Bono Board, a Comments Editor for the Chicago Journal of International Law, and a recipient of the Thomas Mulroy prize for Appellate Advocacy. In addition, Ali volunteered at Chicago Volunteer Legal Services, where she was a research assistant focusing on First Amendment law. Most recently, Ali was a Summer Associate at NGE.

Experienced Attorney, NFL Agent & Former Athlete With over 25 years of legal experience, Edy Lawson-Jackson is a dedicated attorney and NFLPA-certified contract advisor committed to serving both individuals and professional athletes. As the founder and owner of The Law Office of E.A. Lawson-Jackson, LLC, she has successfully litigated high-conflict divorce, custody, domestic violence, and child support cases, providing strategic legal counsel and resolution-focused representation. Her expertise extends to contract analysis, drafting legal agreements, and complex negotiations, making her a trusted legal resource for individuals and families. Since 2010, Edy has also been an NFL certified contract advisor with Affiliated Sports Advisors, representing over 20 NFL athletes, including retired player Corey Peters and current professionals such as Demone Harris and Nate Hobbs, Jr. She actively negotiates player contracts, secures marketing and sponsorship opportunities, and supports athletes as they navigate transitions into and out of professional football. Edy made history as an NFL agent, becoming part of the first-ever mother/daughter NFL agent tandem when her daughter, Samira Jackson, joined her as a fellow NFLPA-certified agent. Together, they work within their sports agency, providing elite representation, strategic career planning, and business development for professional athletes. In addition to her legal and sports management expertise, Edy is a former athlete herself. She ran track and field and competed in female bodybuilding for over a decade, earning the prestigious title of Ms. Maryland as a National Physique Committee (NPC) competitor. With a wealth of knowledge in health, fitness, supplements, nutrition, and strength training, she brings a unique advantage to her sports clients—guiding them in optimizing their physical performance, recovery, and longevity in professional sports. A graduate of Howard University School of Law, Edy is licensed to practice in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania. She also offers essential legal services such as Power of Attorney preparation, Living Wills, and Last Will & Testament drafting, ensuring that individuals and families are legally protected. Beyond her legal and sports work, Edy has served as a Court-Appointed Guardian ad Litem, advocating for children in contested custody cases. She is also deeply committed to community service, having served on the Board of Directors for Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County, Maryland to provide pro bono legal representation to those in need.

Stanzza Y. Patterson is the Owner and Principal Attorney of The Patterson Legal Group, a firm she launched to provide expert legal services in transactional entertainment, intellectual property, and business law. A Dallas, Texas native and Georgia-licensed attorney, Stanzza has represented high-profile clients including Latto, Doe Boy, Young Nudy, BashfortheWorld, Finesse2Tymes, and BigXthaPlug, with experience spanning contract negotiation, licensing, production, publishing, and management agreements. Prior to founding her firm, she gained valuable experience at Warner Music Group and B. Lawrence Watkins & Associates, PC. A proud graduate of Oklahoma State University and Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, Stanzza is committed to both her clients and her community, actively mentoring young Black girls and volunteering with the Atlanta Mission.

Tabatha Robinson was appointed as the Director of the Maryland Cannabis Administration by Governor Wes Moore in January 2025. Robinson previously served as executive deputy director of economic development and acting chief equity officer for the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, where she drove economic programs and social equity licensing policies for New York’s adult use and medical cannabis markets. During her tenure, the office awarded more than 50% of new cannabis licenses to social equity business owners. Robinson holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, and a B.A. from Stanford University.

Elizabeth Carlson Robinson focuses her practice on complex commercial disputes. She has experience representing clients across industries in litigation in federal and state courts, mediation, and regulatory enforcement matters. Liz also assists clients conducting internal investigations involving compliance and risk assessment. Before joining the firm, Liz was an associate at an international firm, working on complex commercial matters and white-collar investigations and defense. She received her J.D. from Harvard University, where she served as the editor in chief of the Harvard Journal on Racial and Ethnic Justice and participated in the Harvard Criminal Justice Institute clinic. She maintains an active pro bono practice, focusing primarily on criminal justice reform matters.

Roshni is an associate in the Litigation practice group. She assists with drafting memoranda, conducting research, reviewing pleadings, and preparing motions to dismiss. 

During law school, Roshni was a student attorney in the Civil-Criminal Litigation Clinic, where she counseled and represented clients facing eviction. She also served as an Executive Editor for the Michigan Law Review and on the Executive Board for the South Asian Law Students Association. She previously interned within the Political and Economic Section of the U.S. Embassy to the Netherlands, where she assisted with creating policy briefs and researching international policy issues. In addition, she worked as a Litigation Case Clerk for Farella Braun + Martel in San Francisco. Most recently, Roshni was a Summer Associate at NGE.

Attorney Jessica Tehlirian is the founder of Tehlirian Law Group. After a decade of practice, she started the firm to provide a firm that focuses on respect and open communication. 

She began her career as a prosecutor in Tallahassee, Florida, where she advocated for thousands of victims in the community. She had more than twenty jury and non-jury trials ranging from misdemeanors to rape and murder. Thereafter, she was the Head of the Litigation Department for The Cochran Firm Jacksonville. There, she supervised other litigation attorneys while maintaining her caseload of personal injury cases involving serious injuries and death. She has personally recovered millions of dollars for her injured clients.

Additionally, she served as The National Social Media Manager for The Cochran Firm. Next, she became a managing partner for a law firm based out of Florida. She helped the firm grow from one office in Florida to offices in Atlanta and nationwide.

Attorney Tehlirian is admitted to practice law in the states of Florida and Georgia. She has practiced all aspects of personal injury litigation, including premise liability, car accidents, and truck accidents. She takes pride in treating all her clients as if they are family members. She works closely with clients to develop case strategies and obtain successful results. She has a sincere passion for helping others, not just as part of her job but also outside of work. 

After graduating from The University of Michigan in 2011, she obtained her Juris Doctorate from Florida State University along with a Business Law Certificate with Honors in 2014. Thereafter, she obtained her Master of Business Administration from Florida State in 2019. She is licensed to practice in Florida and Georgia. She has been awarded The Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers and The National Black Lawyers for multiple years. She was also awarded the Nation’s Best Advocate “40 Lawyers Under 40” by The National Bar Association in 2022. 

She also enjoys volunteering with various organizations in Georgia. Attorney Tehlirian is also the founder of The Tehlirian Foundation, a charity that helps underrepresented students navigate their academic careers. In the last year her foundation has given out over $40,000.00 to pre-law and law students in need.

Experienced Attorney, NFL Agent & Former Athlete With over 25 years of legal experience, Edy Lawson-Jackson is a dedicated attorney and NFLPA-certified contract advisor committed to serving both individuals and professional athletes. As the founder and owner of The Law Office of E.A. Lawson-Jackson, LLC, she has successfully litigated high-conflict divorce, custody, domestic violence, and child support cases, providing strategic legal counsel and resolution-focused representation. Her expertise extends to contract analysis, drafting legal agreements, and complex negotiations, making her a trusted legal resource for individuals and families. Since 2010, Edy has also been an NFL certified contract advisor with Affiliated Sports Advisors, representing over 20 NFL athletes, including retired player Corey Peters and current professionals such as Demone Harris and Nate Hobbs, Jr. She actively negotiates player contracts, secures marketing and sponsorship opportunities, and supports athletes as they navigate transitions into and out of professional football. Edy made history as an NFL agent, becoming part of the first-ever mother/daughter NFL agent tandem when her daughter, Samira Jackson, joined her as a fellow NFLPA-certified agent. Together, they work within their sports agency, providing elite representation, strategic career planning, and business development for professional athletes. In addition to her legal and sports management expertise, Edy is a former athlete herself. She ran track and field and competed in female bodybuilding for over a decade, earning the prestigious title of Ms. Maryland as a National Physique Committee (NPC) competitor. With a wealth of knowledge in health, fitness, supplements, nutrition, and strength training, she brings a unique advantage to her sports clients—guiding them in optimizing their physical performance, recovery, and longevity in professional sports. A graduate of Howard University School of Law, Edy is licensed to practice in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Pennsylvania. She also offers essential legal services such as Power of Attorney preparation, Living Wills, and Last Will & Testament drafting, ensuring that individuals and families are legally protected. Beyond her legal and sports work, Edy has served as a Court-Appointed Guardian ad Litem, advocating for children in contested custody cases. She is also deeply committed to community service, having served on the Board of Directors for Community Legal Services of Prince George’s County, Maryland to provide pro bono legal representation to those in need.

Stanzza Y. Patterson is the Owner and Principal Attorney of The Patterson Legal Group, a firm she launched to provide expert legal services in transactional entertainment, intellectual property, and business law. A Dallas, Texas native and Georgia-licensed attorney, Stanzza has represented high-profile clients including Latto, Doe Boy, Young Nudy, BashfortheWorld, Finesse2Tymes, and BigXthaPlug, with experience spanning contract negotiation, licensing, production, publishing, and management agreements. Prior to founding her firm, she gained valuable experience at Warner Music Group and B. Lawrence Watkins & Associates, PC. A proud graduate of Oklahoma State University and Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, Stanzza is committed to both her clients and her community, actively mentoring young Black girls and volunteering with the Atlanta Mission.

Ashley Hyman is Immigration attorney at Lupton Law, LLC, specializing in asylum support, crimmigration, and adjustment of status. She holds a JD from Temple University and a BS in Sociology from Saint Joseph's University.

Born in Vienna, Austria to Yogoslavian parents, Mr. Andrej Milic is the Director of Development at FIU College of Law. He obtained his Bachelor of Applied Science Degree from Miami Dade College, where he was a member of the Honors College. Milic then obtained his Master of Management Degree with a specialization in Justice Administrations from St. Thomas University and his Juris Doctor of Law from University of Florida. He earned his LL.M. in Intercultural Human Rights at St. Thomas University School of Law. Mr. Milic is a licensed attorney in Florida and is a participant in the Florida Bar Leadership Academy Class X. He has developed courses for aspiring attorneys and teaches at numerous universities.

Attorney Jessica Tehlirian is the founder of Tehlirian Law Group. After a decade of practice, she started the firm to provide a firm that focuses on respect and open communication. 

She began her career as a prosecutor in Tallahassee, Florida, where she advocated for thousands of victims in the community. She had more than twenty jury and non-jury trials ranging from misdemeanors to rape and murder. Thereafter, she was the Head of the Litigation Department for The Cochran Firm Jacksonville. There, she supervised other litigation attorneys while maintaining her caseload of personal injury cases involving serious injuries and death. She has personally recovered millions of dollars for her injured clients.

Additionally, she served as The National Social Media Manager for The Cochran Firm. Next, she became a managing partner for a law firm based out of Florida. She helped the firm grow from one office in Florida to offices in Atlanta and nationwide.

Attorney Tehlirian is admitted to practice law in the states of Florida and Georgia. She has practiced all aspects of personal injury litigation, including premise liability, car accidents, and truck accidents. She takes pride in treating all her clients as if they are family members. She works closely with clients to develop case strategies and obtain successful results. She has a sincere passion for helping others, not just as part of her job but also outside of work. 

After graduating from The University of Michigan in 2011, she obtained her Juris Doctorate from Florida State University along with a Business Law Certificate with Honors in 2014. Thereafter, she obtained her Master of Business Administration from Florida State in 2019. She is licensed to practice in Florida and Georgia. She has been awarded The Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Lawyers by The National Trial Lawyers and The National Black Lawyers for multiple years. She was also awarded the Nation’s Best Advocate “40 Lawyers Under 40” by The National Bar Association in 2022. 

She also enjoys volunteering with various organizations in Georgia. Attorney Tehlirian is also the founder of The Tehlirian Foundation, a charity that helps underrepresented students navigate their academic careers. In the last year her foundation has given out over $40,000.00 to pre-law and law students in need.

Jessica is a partner with the law firm of Quintero Broche & Fonseca-Nader, P.A., leads the firm’s appellate division.  She focuses her practice on criminal and civil pretrial and appellate matters. Ms. Fonseca-Nader joined the firm in 2022, after almost twenty years in higher education, most recently, as the Dean for Enrollment and Scholarships at St. Thomas University College of Law where she oversaw the College of Law’s enrollment and taught Appellate Advocacy, a Moral Dilemmas Seminar, and assisted the Academic Success and Bar Prep programs.

Ms. Fonseca-Nader began her legal career as an Associate with the law firm of Bunnell Woulfe Kirshbaum and Birnbaum where she handled pre-suit strategies and appellate matters.  She then joined the Third District Court of Appeal as Senior Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable David L. Levy until his retirement.  She then served as Senior Law Clerk to the Honorable Barbara Lagoa. In these roles, she was exposed to a wide variety of cases arising under many different practice areas.  This experience gave her a unique insight into effective legal writing, oral advocacy, and appellate strategies.

During her time at the court, Ms. Fonseca-Nader was an adjunct professor at St. Thomas University School of Law.  Ms. Fonseca-Nader later joined the full-time faculty at St. Thomas University School of Law as a Professor of Legal Writing where she taught Legal Research and Writing, Advanced Legal Research and Writing, Legal Research Bootcamp—State and Federal, and the Moral Dilemmas Seminar. While a member the faculty at St. Thomas University School of Law, Ms. Fonseca-Nader served as special counsel to Black Srebnick Kornspan & Stumpf where she worked on several large, multi-party commercial cases through the appellate process. 

Ms. Fonseca-Nader earned her bachelor’s degree from Nova Southeastern University and her law degree from St. Thomas University School of Law.  Ms. Fonseca-Nader was Editor-In-Chief of the St. Thomas Law Review and participated in the Appellate Litigation Clinic, where she argued several criminal cases before the Third District Court of Appeal.

Ashley Hyman is Immigration attorney at Lupton Law, LLC, specializing in asylum support, crimmigration, and adjustment of status. She holds a JD from Temple University and a BS in Sociology from Saint Joseph's University.

Born in Vienna, Austria to Yogoslavian parents, Mr. Andrej Milic is the Director of Development at FIU College of Law. He obtained his Bachelor of Applied Science Degree from Miami Dade College, where he was a member of the Honors College. Milic then obtained his Master of Management Degree with a specialization in Justice Administrations from St. Thomas University and his Juris Doctor of Law from University of Florida. He earned his LL.M. in Intercultural Human Rights at St. Thomas University School of Law. Mr. Milic is a licensed attorney in Florida and is a participant in the Florida Bar Leadership Academy Class X. He has developed courses for aspiring attorneys and teaches at numerous universities.

Terel was born and raised in Queens, New York City. He attended public schools and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from the New York City College of Technology-CUNY. He earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where he focused on constitutional law and civil rights.

During law school, Terel worked with students facing suspensions and assisted those needing special education services at New York City Legal Services in the Bronx. He also interned for Judge Ronald L. Ellis of the Southern District of New York.

Since 2016, Terel has been an Assistant District Attorney at the New York County District Attorney’s Office, aside from a brief stint at a civil litigation firm on Wall Street. He has prosecuted serious violent and white-collar felonies and served as Co-Director of the Criminal Prosecution Clinic at New York Law School. Currently, he is the Deputy Director of Legal Training and an Adjunct Professor at the New York City College of Technology.

Terel is dedicated to community development and education, frequently visiting schools to provide career advice and discuss criminal justice reform. He chairs the Alumni Association Board at his alma mater and is a member of the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Appellate Division, First Department.

Terel lives in Brooklyn and enjoys golfing in his spare time.

Ken Massey is counsel at Grant & Eisenhofer, focusing on corporate governance, securities, and civil rights litigation. Prior to joining G&E, Mr. Massey practiced consumer financial services, and commercial litigation at a leading financial services defense boutique and the Philadelphia office of a national law firm.

In 2023, Mr. Massey was named as National Legal Counsel to the Japanese American Citizens League, whose mission is to secure and maintain the civil rights of Japanese Americans.  He additionally serves on the board of directors of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania and has previously served as its President.  Mr. Massey has also previously served on the executive board of the Temple Law Alumni Association.  He was selected for inclusion three times to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list of “Rising Stars” and listed on the Pro Bono Roll of Honor for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. 

Mr. Massey earned his J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2004 and his B.A. in History from the University of Pennsylvania in 1999.