When I came to law school, I was inundated with emails and flyers from clubs, organizations, and various groups. It was difficult to decide which path to take. When I saw the flyer that JURIST was accepting applications, my first thought was that I could never get through the application review, audition and interview process. JURIST stood out to me because of the prestige they seemed to possess. I was more than surprised when I received an email, informing me that I had landed an audition!

Now that I am a part of JURIST, I have a deep respect for the organization. Not because of the prestige, but rather, because of the dedicated staff that keeps JURIST a top priority. The students who work for JURIST, including myself, are unpaid and trying to maintain high ranks at a top law school. The staff dedicates a minimum of five hours a week to JURIST, and most of them exceed the minimum hours because they enjoy it and believe in its mission. We are told that maintaining a job in law school is a near impossibility. The JURIST staff, however, work everyday, and they do it well.

Without grades or pay, one may wonder why a law student would give themselves extra work each week. For me, it is because I feel a sense of pride knowing that my peers and academic professionals can see the work that I have done. Without readers and supporters, we would have no reason to work so hard. It is the idea that we are doing something worthwhile–informing others–that is the motivation for putting in the time everyday.

The best part of working for JURIST is that I feel like I am part of a team that supports me. It has been a great way for a 1L like myself to make friends that share a common set of interests. Our Publisher and Editor-In-Chief, Bernard Hibbitts, is also my academic advisor. It is comforting to walk into his office because he knows me as both his advisee and a JURIST staffer. This type of support surrounds me at the law school, and I am happy to have found it.

In conclusion, supporting JURIST is not just supporting a publication. It is supporting students, full-time staff, and dedicated professor volunteers. We need the support of our readers to continue delivering our services and to further our mission.

Kimberly Bennett
Senior Editor and JSSA President