**Question 1: I plan to begin law school in Fall 2025. I have applied to several law schools, including Western New England University School of Law (WNE), New England Law | Boston (NEL), Widener University Delaware Law, and Suffolk University Law School. As of now, I have been accepted to WNE, NEL, and Widener, and I’ve placed a seat deposit for WNE. I’m still waiting for responses from Suffolk and Howard University Law School, and I recently received a waitlist offer from Suffolk and Howard. I have not placed a deposit with any of the remaining schools yet. **Question 2: In the coming yearsf, my goal is to attend law school and build a strong foundation in public interest law, with a focus on civil rights, housing law, and racial justice. I want to learn from both professors and peers while actively contributing to discussions and initiatives that foster social change. I plan to focus on legal clinics and pro bono work that involve tenant defense, criminal justice reform, and community empowerment. However, my vision is to be a civil rights attorney dedicated to fighting systemic inequality. Specifically, I want to advocate for the protection of low-income tenants facing eviction, support marginalized communities in navigating the legal system, and work on issues related to racial justice and economic inequality. I see myself either starting in a nonprofit organization, providing legal services to underserved communities, or starting my own firm that focuses on public interest law. I also hope to eventually contribute to legal education and mentorship, guiding future generations of diverse attorneys who share my passion for justice. **Question 3: I pursue intellectual growth through independent research, volunteering, but mostly real-world experiences that allow me to apply legal principles to everyday situations. For example, during my time at BronxWorks as an Administrative Assistant, I worked directly with attorneys in the Tenant Defense Program, where I helped organize case exhibits right before trial, managed communications between executives, and interacted with clients facing eviction. This experience exposed me to the practical application of housing law and sparked my desire to pursue a legal career that would allow me to advocate for the most vulnerable populations in my community. I’ve also learned a great deal from my role as a Policy Intern with the NYC Commission on Human Rights, where I gained experience drafting anti-racism policies and working on initiatives related to combating discrimination. These experiences outside of formal education have helped me develop a clearer sense of purpose and direction in my legal aspirations, reinforcing my commitment to fighting for social justice. Question 4:One moment that stands out is when I was working at a community event and learned about a housing discrimination case that was being handled in an unethical manner. The organization was hesitant to take action because the potential legal costs outweighed the possible outcomes. I knew that the individuals involved had been unjustly targeted and were at risk of losing their homes, so I decided to speak up about the moral obligation to provide legal assistance, regardless of the costs. I presented my concerns to my supervisor, who initially resisted, but I made a case for why it was important to act based on ethical and legal principles rather than financial considerations. In the end, my supervisor agreed to take the case, and we were able to provide the tenants with much-needed representation. This experience reinforced my belief that the right thing to do isn’t always the easiest or most financially advantageous choice, but it’s the choice that can make a real difference in people’s lives. It taught me the importance of standing up for justice, even when facing opposition or uncertainty. Question 5: If I had the resources to create a philanthropic initiative, I would focus on providing legal services to low-income tenants facing eviction and housing instability. The current housing crisis, especially in urban areas, disproportionately affects marginalized communities, including people of color, immigrants, and low-income families. Too often, these individuals are unaware of their legal rights or are unable to access legal representation to defend themselves against unlawful evictions and housing discrimination. I would create an initiative that offers free or low-cost legal services, along with educational resources, to help tenants navigate the complexities of housing law. The initiative would also provide a platform for tenants to advocate for their rights, support affordable housing initiatives, and work to eliminate discriminatory practices within the housing market.

My name is Brandon Boadu. I plan to use my legal education to advocate for equity, justice, and diversity and to become the very change I needed growing up as a young Black man in the Bronx. Where I’m from, the law isn’t something you study—it’s something you survive. The courtroom isn’t a place of hope, but of fear. And lawyers? Rarely look like us. I grew up witnessing tenants face eviction without defense, young Black men pulled into the legal systems that do not serve them, and everyday people silenced by structures they did not build and couldn’t afford to fight. Nevertheless, I always held dear to the truth that young Black individuals need to understand the system in order to not be against the system. Instead of running away from that reality, I’ve chosen to walk toward it. To become the kind of lawyer who doesn’t just represent clients, but represents communities. To build justice not from the top down, but from the grassroots up. After graduating from Tufts University with a degree in Political Science, I could’ve coasted. Instead, I got to work. First, as a Policy Intern at the NYC Commission on Human Rights, drafting anti-Black racism initiatives and helping manage a citywide anti-discrimination survey. Now, I am the administrative assistant for the entire legal department at BronxWorks, a nonprofit deeply embedded in one of New York City’s most underserved boroughs. I was originally brought on to support the Tenant Defense Program, but quickly expanded into Immigration, Domestic Violence, and Crime Victim Legal Services. My title may say “assistant,” but in reality, I am learning to be a social engineer: coordinating with attorneys, speaking directly to clients in crisis, and serving as the right hand to the Vice President of Legal Services. That’s why, when I begin law school this fall at Western New England University as a Public Interest Scholar, I’m not just showing up—I’m arriving on assignment. My life’s work is to continue serving the same communities I come from. The ones whose stories get left out of legal textbooks. The ones who deserve more. I plan to focus my legal studies on civil rights and public interest litigation. My goal is to empower low-income residents, protect families from displacement, and challenge discriminatory practices that disproportionately target communities of color. At the same time, I’m interested in how intellectual property law intersects with racial and economic justice, specifically how Black creators and innovators are often excluded from protections and profit. I want to change that. The law is powerful. But without equity, it’s incomplete. Without representation, it’s one-sided. And without people like you and I in the courtroom, the system will never truly reflect the people it claims to serve. I don’t come from a legacy. I come from survival. And through that, I’ve built discipline, resilience, and purpose. This scholarship would be more than a financial blessing—it would be a recognition of the future I represent. A future where Black lawyers don’t just “make it,” but lead. A future where the law works for us, not against us. I am ready to carry that torch. To serve. To fight. To uplift. To change lives.