She credits UMass Law for preparing her for her new position at the Legal Aid Society in New York City, where she’ll begin work after graduation as a public defender in one of the city’s boroughs.

“I feel I’m ready, I’m prepared to step out into the real world,” said Davidson, a native of East Orange, NJ. “I have connected with the right people and gained the experience I need for my Legal Aid job. I can speak in a courtroom, and I acquired the right experience in my classes, clinic, and internship.”

Daughter of immigrants aspired to make her parents proud

“I’ve wanted to go to law school since I was 11 or 12 years old,” said Davidson, who majored in Law and Society at Ramapo College of New Jersey. “My parents are immigrants from Guyana. There's a pressure in many underprivileged foreign households to aim for some sort of elite career. And while my parents would have supported me regardless of the route I chose, I always felt that pressure to make them proud. When I was younger, my parents would tell me I should become a lawyer because I loved to argue with my brothers and I was constantly watching ‘Law and Order’ for the scenes in court. I knew I had found my passion when I had the opportunity to participate in a mock trial in middle school, which turned out to be such a determining factor for me.

“Becoming a lawyer is a combination of making my parents proud and enjoying the thrill of being in court and the thrill of arguing. I’m finally going to be a lawyer.”

As a...

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