Jasmine Felder is currently a 1L at the MSU College of Law and will start her 2L year in August. She recently began her term as a member at large for the National Black Law Students Association.
In late February, ahead of its annual convention, the National Black Law Students Association Instagram page announced that it was hosting an informational meeting via Zoom for people interested in serving on its board of directors for the 2024-25 term.
NBLSA, founded in 1968, is a nationwide organization formed to articulate and promote the needs and goals of Black law students and effectuate change in the legal community. With over 7,500 members, NBLSA is the largest student-run nonprofit in the United States.
I was interested in joining the board, so I attended the informational meeting. It was then I decided to run for member at large, so I submitted my application.
I was approved as a pre-certified candidate and began posting my campaign flyers on my Instagram page, LinkedIn page and non-NBLSA group chats with which I'm affiliated.
Once I arrived at the convention's host hotel in Houston in early March, I began posting my campaign flyers in pre-designated areas and advertising my running for member at large.
After answering questions and talking about my plans for the association, the assembly voted on who would be members at large for the 2024-25 term, as well as national chair, vice chair, attorney general, secretary and treasurer.
The last event at the convention, our annual gala, was where election result were announced, and I was glad to hear that I was elected as member at large!
After the convention ended, the newly elected board of directors and I had a transition meeting with the outgoing elected members. I officially began my position on April 1 and got to work immediately.
Some of my tasks as a member at large include scouting out hotel locations for next year's national convention, planning events so more black law students can get a foot in the door of working in the federal court system and expanding our partnerships with law firms in all areas of law.
In addition to my new role in NBLSA, I am involved in several organizations at MSU Law, including Dean's Public Service Social Justice Fellow, Admissions Liaison for the Student Bar Association, Student Attorney for the Housing Justice Clinic for the Fall 2024 semester. I’m also a general member for the MSU Black Law Students Association, Women's Law Caucus, Public Interest Law Society and First-Generation Law Students Association.
This summer, I will be a legal intern for the Office of the State Attorney for the 13th Judicial Circuit of Florida (Hillsborough County, FL). I will be given attorney-supervised work assignments, such as legal research, reviewing jail calls and assisting in preparing discovery documents.
My long-term goal is to prosecute federal crimes as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for either the Middle or Southern District of Florida. But my ultimate goal is to be nominated by the president and confirmed as the U.S. attorney for either the Middle or Southern District of Florida.