{"id":103770,"date":"2023-09-05T07:15:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-05T11:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=103770"},"modified":"2023-11-13T12:24:25","modified_gmt":"2023-11-13T17:24:25","slug":"orourke-scholarship-impact","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2023\/orourke-scholarship-impact\/","title":{"rendered":"A Leap of Faith"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin record-block-editorial-leadin is-style-side-by-side has-media has-wider has-flip has-box has-media-focus-center-bottom has-tertiary-theme\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1900\" height=\"1650\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"Burak Sirrik (\u201925), Samantha Ligori (&#039;25), and Sharon Mamuya (\u201925) in New York City with the Brooklyn Bridge in the background\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC.jpg 1900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-636x552.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-1024x889.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-768x667.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-1536x1334.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-951x826.jpg 951w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-785x682.jpg 785w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-1188x1032.jpg 1188w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-1521x1321.jpg 1521w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-396x344.jpg 396w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-609x529.jpg 609w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-792x688.jpg 792w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-1218x1058.jpg 1218w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-1571x1364.jpg 1571w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Sirrik-Ligori-Mamuya-in-NYC-1152x1000.jpg 1152w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1900px) 100vw, 1900px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin-caption wp-prepress-component-caption\">Burak Sirrik (\u201925), Samantha Ligori (&#8217;25), and Sharon Mamuya (\u201925) met in Professor David Webber&#8217;s class their 1L year at BU Law. | Photo courtesy of Samantha Ligori.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-prepress-tag\">Impact<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tA Leap of Faith\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"deck\">O\u2019Rourke Scholarship opens doors for first-generation student.<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar record-prepress-layout-metabar\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">September 5, 2023<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/authors\/laura-ernde\/\">Laura Ernde<\/a><\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-introparagraph record-block-editorial-introparagraph is-style-dropcap-dimensional has-dropcap has-dropcap-color-primary has-dropcap-color-tertiary\"><div class=\"wp-block-editorial-introparagraph-content\"><p>When Samantha Ligori (\u201925) set out to become the first person in her extended family to attend law school, she faced a difficult choice. She could stay in Georgia and live with her family outside of Atlanta, comfortably commuting to a nearby law school. Or she could come to Boston University School of Law, try a new school in a new city, sight unseen, where she didn\u2019t know anyone.<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Ligori took a leap of faith.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI chose Boston just having a gut feeling \u2026 this is where I should go,\u201d she says. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t until I got here that I fell in love with the city; I fell in love with the school, the professors, and the people around me. I love the winter, surprisingly. The snow is amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A significant factor tipping the scales toward BU Law was the financial support the Mary T. and John J. O\u2019Rourke Scholarship offered her. The <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2018\/orourke-scholarship-honors-bu-law-dean\/\" target=\"_blank\">scholarship was created<\/a> to honor BU Law Dean Emerita and current Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/provost\/people\/deans-and-senior-administration\/maureen-orourke\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Maureen O\u2019Rourke<\/a>, a first-generation legal professional, and bears the name of her parents, who supported her journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ligori\u2019s parents have also supported her decision. Her dad is a school bus driver, and her mom works in technical support for a software company. She is the first person in her family to attend college, let alone law school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI think deep down they wanted me to stay (and go to school in Georgia),\u201d she says. \u201cBut my parents are the people who want the best for me, so they took a step back and let me decide for myself. I\u2019m very fortunate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-photoessay record-block-editorial-photoessay alignwide wp-block-photoessay js-block-editorial-photoessay\"><div class=\"photo-row-tall-1-1\">\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"799\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-799x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Samantha Ligori ('25) and her family stand in front of a restaurant\" class=\"wp-image-103775\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-799x1024.jpg 799w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-496x636.jpg 496w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-768x985.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-644x826.jpg 644w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-532x682.jpg 532w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-805x1032.jpg 805w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-1030x1321.jpg 1030w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-268x344.jpg 268w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-413x529.jpg 413w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-537x688.jpg 537w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-825x1058.jpg 825w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-1064x1364.jpg 1064w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family-780x1000.jpg 780w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-family.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 799px) 100vw, 799px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"photo-1\"><div class=\"wp-block-photoessay-media\"><figure><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"662\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-662x1024.jpg\" alt=\"Samantha Ligori ('25) and her cousin\" class=\"wp-image-103776\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-662x1024.jpg 662w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-411x636.jpg 411w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-768x1189.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-992x1536.jpg 992w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-534x826.jpg 534w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-441x682.jpg 441w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-667x1032.jpg 667w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-853x1321.jpg 853w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-222x344.jpg 222w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-342x529.jpg 342w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-444x688.jpg 444w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-684x1058.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-881x1364.jpg 881w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-1067x1652.jpg 1067w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin-646x1000.jpg 646w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/09\/Ligori-and-cousin.jpg 1170w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 662px) 100vw, 662px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-caption\">Left: Samantha Ligori with her parents and siblings.<br>Right: Samantha Ligori with her cousin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ligori had wanted to go to law school since she was a little girl, when her family fought a legal battle to get custody of her younger cousin. The effort was not successful, and the cousin ultimately moved to Mexico to live with her paternal father, leaving the 12-year-old Ligori and her parents confused and with many questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI was a bit frustrated with the whole legal system,\u201d she says. Yet she was determined to turn the heart-wrenching experience into a positive one by learning as much as possible about how the legal system works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt led me to law school to get answers, and that continues with me. Law school is all about solving problems and getting answers to help fix the situation someone\u2019s in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ligori credits her two closest friends for helping her adjust to law school life in a new city. She met Burak Sirrik (\u201925) of New Jersey and Sharon Mamuya (\u201925) of Iowa on the first or second day of Professor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/profile\/david-h-webber\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">David Webber<\/a>\u2019s civil procedure class. The three bonded over their shared experiences being first-generation law students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe were the blind leading the blind, I like to say. We all had no idea what was going on, so we kind of just stuck to each other and figured it out together,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-bu-pullquote record-block-bu-pullquote alignwide is-style-modern has-image-focus-center-middle has-tertiary-theme\"><div class=\"wp-block-bu-pullquote-inner\"><blockquote><div class=\"container-lockup\"><div class=\"container-icon-outer\"><div class=\"container-icon-inner\"><\/div><\/div><div class=\"container-text\"><hr\/><div class=\"quote-sizing\">I was a bit frustrated with the whole legal system. It led me to law school to get answers, and that continues with me. Law school is all about solving problems and getting answers to help fix the situation someone\u2019s in.<\/div><footer class=\"caption\">Samantha Ligori (&#8217;25)<\/footer><hr\/><\/div><\/div><\/blockquote><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>In the classroom, Ligori learned to appreciate the demanding \u201ccold calls\u201d Professor <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/profile\/nancy-j-moore\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nancy Moore<\/a> is known for doling out in her first-semester 1L torts class. The possibility of being unexpectedly asked to answer a detailed question about the case discussed in class that day kept Ligori and her classmates on their toes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cHer strict cold calls, even though they\u2019re so scary and nerve-wracking at the time, made every other cold call I had in law school feel like a breeze,\u201d Ligori says. Likewise, Moore\u2019s feedback on her written case briefs helped prepare her for the next two years of law school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ligori was also grateful for constitutional law Professor <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/profile\/jessica-silbey\/\" target=\"_blank\">Jessica Silbey<\/a>, who created a safe space for students of all political persuasions to discuss their feelings about the momentous decisions coming from the US Supreme Court. Professor Silbey made class fun by having each student select a song for the semester and choosing one to play at the beginning of each class. Ligori\u2019s song: Bon Jovi\u2019s \u201cWanted Dead or Alive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reflecting on her first year, Ligori recalls how hard she has worked to get here and how the scholarship has enriched her law school experience. \u201cMy parents don&#8217;t have that stress of trying to take out loans or me trying to take out more loans than needed, which has been very relieving,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That freedom from financial stress has allowed her to explore fantastic new opportunities. Ligori spent this past summer working for Greater Boston Legal Services and is interviewing for a summer associate position next year at one of the city\u2019s top law firms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She is already setting her sights on staying in Boston after graduation. She is also encouraging her brother, a high school senior, to consider Boston University for his undergraduate studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The best advice Ligori has for incoming law students is to remember that everyone feels a bit lost at first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-end-of-article\">\u201cIf you put aside your pride or your ego and turn to someone, you\u2019ll find out they\u2019re probably in the same position as you, and you\u2019ll be able to solve things together,\u201d she says. \u201cLaw school isn\u2019t meant to be managed by one person. It takes a village.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"wp-block-editorial-aside record-block-editorial-aside has-light-background\">\n<h4 id=\"headline-0\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-headline record-block-editorial-headline\">Support students like Samantha with a gift to the Mary T. &amp; John J. O&#8217;Rourke Scholarship Fund<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p><a class=\"wp-block-button wp-block-bu-button record-block-button has-tertiary-theme icon-navigateright align-icon-left is-style-outline\" href=\"https:\/\/trusted.bu.edu\/s\/1759\/22\/form.aspx?sid=1759&amp;gid=2&amp;pgid=420&amp;cid=1057&amp;dids=428&amp;appealcode=WEBLAW&amp;bledit=1\">Make a gift<\/a><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories is-style-card has-three record-block-editorial-relatedstories\">\n\t\t<h3 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-title\">Related<\/h3>\n\t\t<ul class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Dean Angela Onwuachi-Willig sits at a table with participants in the 2022 Summer PreLaw Academy at BU Law\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-636x424.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-992x661.jpg 992w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-1500x1000.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-500x333.jpg 500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-1984x1323.jpg 1984w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-450x300.jpg 450w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/06\/SPLA-2022-600x400.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-category\"><span>Mentorship<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2023\/onwuachi-willig-mentorship-award\/\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title-link\">Helping Others Reach Their Potential<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-date\">June 12, 2023<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1500\" height=\"1100\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Kaye-Alese Green (LAW&#039;25, MED&#039;25) stands in front of a blooming tree on BU&#039;s campus\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape-636x466.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape-1024x751.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape-768x563.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape-1126x826.jpg 1126w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape-930x682.jpg 930w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape-1407x1032.jpg 1407w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape-469x344.jpg 469w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape-721x529.jpg 721w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape-938x688.jpg 938w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape-1443x1058.jpg 1443w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/kaye-alese-green-landscape-1364x1000.jpg 1364w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-category\"><span>Health Law<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2023\/seeking-systemic-change\/\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title-link\">Seeking Systemic Change<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-date\">May 2, 2023<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"720\" height=\"432\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/150th-class-banner_720.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"Black and bronze text on a white background reading: The 150th: The Class of 2023 is ready to make its mark.\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/150th-class-banner_720.jpg 720w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/150th-class-banner_720-636x382.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2023\/04\/150th-class-banner_720-500x300.jpg 500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 720px) 100vw, 720px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-category\"><span>Student Life<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2023\/the-150th-class\/\" class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-title-link\">The 150th Class<\/a><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-editorial-relatedstories-article-date\">April 19, 2023<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\t<section class=\"wp-block-editorial-collection-billboard record-block-editorial-collection-billboard\">\n\n\t\t<h3 class=\"collection-billboard-intro-title\">This Series<\/h3>\n\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-article\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"collection-billboard-media\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"collection-navigation-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img width=\"1024\" height=\"819\" src=\"\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-1024x819.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Judge Juan R. Torruella (&#039;57)\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-1024x819.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-636x509.jpg 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-768x614.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-1033x826.jpg 1033w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-853x682.jpg 853w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-1290x1032.jpg 1290w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-430x344.jpg 430w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-661x529.jpg 661w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-860x688.jpg 860w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-1323x1058.jpg 1323w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella-1250x1000.jpg 1250w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/files\/2020\/10\/judge-juan-torruella.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"collection-billboard-media-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2023\/torruella-scholarship\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-billboard-media-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>Former Law Clerks Honor Judge Torruella by Funding a Memorial Scholarship<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<div class=\"collection-billboard-content\">\n\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-small-title\">Also in<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"collection-billboard-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/collections\/impact\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-billboard-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>Impact<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"collection-billboard-list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"collection-billboard-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-date\">December 4, 2025<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2025\/living-the-dream\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-card-article-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Living the Dream: Professor Sapna Khatri\u2019s Vision for Reproductive Justice<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"collection-billboard-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-date\">November 17, 2025<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2025\/a-principled-pioneer-of-corporate-law\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-card-article-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>A Principled Pioneer of Corporate Law<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"collection-billboard-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-date\">November 12, 2025<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4 class=\"collection-billboard-list-item-article-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/articles\/2025\/comrades-in-law-school\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-card-article-title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Comrades in Law School<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/record\/collections\/impact\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"collection-billboard-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>Series home<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t<\/article>\n\n\t<\/section>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>When Samantha Ligori (\u201925) set out to become the first person in her extended family to attend law school, she faced a difficult choice. She could stay in Georgia and live with her family outside of Atlanta, comfortably commuting to a nearby law school. Or she could come to Boston University School of Law, try a new school in a new city, sight unseen, where she didn\u2019t know anyone.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11260,"featured_media":103777,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":"Impact"},"tags":[],"bu-publication":[3742],"record-article-category":[3918,3753,4135,3786,3758],"record-topic":[3914,4283],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/103770"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11260"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=103770"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/103770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":103802,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/103770\/revisions\/103802"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103777"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=103770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=103770"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=103770"},{"taxonomy":"record-article-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/record-article-category?post=103770"},{"taxonomy":"record-topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/record-topic?post=103770"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=103770"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/law\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=103770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}