In mid-October, Jihane Elizee, a fourth-year law student, attended the National Law Students Worker’s Rights Conference in Maryland where, along with other law students from around the nation, had the opportunity to explore current issues surrounding worker’s rights. Specifically, their focus was on the #Fightfor15 movement – the effort to raise the federal minimum wage to $15/hour.
“At the conference, movement organizers shared their personal experiences in the fight to the raise the federal minimum wage to $15.00,” Elizee explained. “I was interested in learning how the movement was collaborating with other workers; specifically with workers who have student loan debt and find themselves struggling to make an honest living. The #Fightfor15 organizers provided a practical framework to help organizers start their own respective movements at a local level.”
Despite her enthusiasm for this area of the law, a future in it wasn’t on her radar until this past summer.
“I took Employment Law over the summer and became extremely interested in this practice area. I spoke with Professor Stone, the faculty advisor for FIU Law’s Labor and Employment Law Society, who gave me meaningful advice on how to immerse myself within the field. After learning about the Peggy Browning Fund’s Annual Law Student’s Worker’s Rights Conference on the Symplicity website, I contacted Dean Bierman, who then helped me coordinate a scholarship which helped cover the majority of my travel, lodging and most of my conference fees expenses.”
During the interactive workshops, panel discussions and keynote address, the conference provided insight into becoming an advocate for workers and their families. Elizee gained a greater understanding of, appreciation for and interest in the issues facing American workers.
Elizee will graduate this December. She has worked full-time as a judicial assistant throughout law school and knows the meaning of good time management! She recently started working at the Miami-Dade Office of Human Rights and Fair Employment Practices and at a private Employment Law firm, Langbein and Langbein, P.A. where she gains valuable real-life experience.
“Each of these positions offers me a different perspective into the world of Labor and Employment Law,” she shared. “Being an evening student has been very rewarding both academically and professionally. Despite having a hectic schedule, I was able to remain active in school organizations, such as the FIU Negotiations Team and the Federal Bar Association. These opportunities have invariably resulted from the stellar support provided by FIU Law administration and faculty.”
Her parting advice to possible future attendees of the conference is this, “the Peggy Browning Fund truly helps facilitate the growth of law students as they enter into the workforce. It is important for FIU law students to take advantage of the opportunities so that FIU Law can continue to shine at a national level.”
