Ep 161: Navigating Law School as a First-Gen Student with Mecca Aikens
In this episode, Mecca Aikens, a second-year law student at Georgetown Law, shares her journey as a first-generation law student. She discusses how her parents' strategic savings plan and her father's military benefits helped minimize her educational debt. Mecca highlights the importance of networking, mentorship, and getting involved in extracurricular activities during law school. She emphasizes the value of seeking guidance from upperclassmen and shares her experiences as a student fellow, journal editor, and academic chair. Mecca also offers insights into the clerkship process and her aspirations to become a judge, aiming to bring more diverse voices to the legal profession.
Meet Mecca Aikens
Mecca Aikens is a second-year student at Georgetown University Law Center. She is from Hinesville, GA. She graduated from Mercer University with a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science, along with 2 minors in Philosophy and Law & Public Policy. At Georgetown, she is the Academic Chair of Georgetown's Black Law Student Association (BLSA), a Student Fellow for the Admissions Office, the Notes Editor for the Georgetown Journal of Law & Modern Critical Race Perspectives, and a Barbri Student Representative.
Episode Highlights
Strategies used by Mecca's parents to finance her education, including a 529 savings plan and utilizing GI Bill and Yellow Ribbon aid.
Mecca's inspiration for pursuing law, sparked by attending a law camp and mentorship from Lloyd Johnson.
Mecca discusses her involvement in mentoring and supporting other students, including her work with the Savannah 100 Foundation and Courts in Session program.
She’s also a student fellow at Georgetown's admissions office, helping prospective students and demystifying the admissions process.
Mecca highlights the importance of networking and socialization in law school, beyond just academic performance.
She advises incoming 1L students to focus on genuine interests and passions rather than stacking resumes.
Gives tips for navigating the law school experience and leveraging resources and upperclassmen advice.
Tweetable Quotes
“Be the diverse voice you want to hear in the legal community, and let your journey demystify the path for others.”
“Success in the legal field isn’t just about stacking resumes; it’s about being passionately involved in what matters most to you, while always remembering to reach back and uplift those who aspire to follow in your footsteps.”