Giving back to immigrant communities through legal practice

Rossiel Reyes grew up in a Spanish-speaking, immigrant household in Great Bend. She witnessed firsthand the challenges many families face when trying to navigate the immigration system in rural communities with limited access to legal resources. Those experiences shaped her future goals long before she arrived at law school.

“I wanted to come to law school to help address that gap and become a tool for my community,” she said.

Before attending KU Law, Reyes earned a degree from Tufts University in International Literary and Visual Studies, concentrating in Latin American and Japanese literature. While she valued her time studying out of state, she found herself drawn back to Kansas.

“After studying out of state — and being homesick and missing my family — I really wanted to be closer to home,” Reyes said. “I knew that I would eventually want to end up in Kansas to give back to my community.”

KU Law offered both the proximity and educational opportunities she was seeking, but it was the welcoming atmosphere during Admitted Students Weekend that ultimately convinced her to enroll. Reyes attended with her non-English speaking mother, aunt and uncle, whispering translations for them throughout the day. She recalls the impact Dean Stephen Mazza had when he took the time to introduce himself and welcome her family.

“I felt very touched at how welcoming and caring everyone was,” she said. “I was convinced that day that KU was the right place for me.”

At KU Law, Reyes immersed herself in student leadership and advocacy. She served as vice president of the Hispanic American Law Student Association, also known as Somos LawHawks, co-president of Student Ambassadors, founded the Immigration Law Association and participated in OUTLaws & Accomplices.

Of those experiences, Somos LawHawks had the greatest impact.

“Somos LawHawks has been incredibly impactful for me as a first-generation college and law school student. Through Somos, I was able to find a community of people that shared similar backgrounds and experiences, which created a space for us to help address gaps in resources for our Latine population,” Reyes said. “I was especially impacted by the wonderful group of attorneys and professionals who have shared their own experiences in the professional world as Latines. Now more than ever, during a time where our community has been consistently under attack, I have found it necessary to find solace with others, and I was lucky enough to have found that through Somos LawHawks.”

Reyes also found mentorship and encouragement in the classroom, particularly from Professor Kyle Velte, who taught her small section during her first semester.

After students received their grades from a Torts midterm, Reyes remembers Velte beginning class with a reminder that every student belonged in law school, regardless of their performance on the exam.

“I carry that memory with me and cherish it because of how much it impacted me,” she said. “1L is really tough, but knowing that we had a professor rooting for us really meant a lot to me.”

Some of her favorite memories, however, happened outside the classroom. During her first year, Reyes and her friends regularly gathered around a cluster of tables in Green Hall’s first-floor commons area to eat lunch, share stories and decompress from the demands of law school.

“No matter what we had going on that day, whether it was a long, double session property day or a rare, stressless day when a professor cancelled class, we would all sit at those tables and create a space of laughter and community,” she said.

Beyond community, Reyes gained practical experience through the Legal Aid Clinic, where she represented clients, managed cases and even participated in a trial during her first semester with the clinic.

“Although it was definitely a scary feeling to have such responsibilities as a student, I was glad to get this experience knowing that I had the full assistance and support from my supervisors,” she said.

Working alongside Professors Melanie Daily and Meredith Schnug helped Reyes build confidence in her abilities and prepare for legal practice.

After graduation, Reyes will complete a two-year fellowship with Kivu Immigration Law in Worthington, Minnesota. There, she will gain experience handling a wide range of immigration matters while serving immigrant communities in rural areas.

The opportunity aligns closely with her long-term vision.

“After my fellowship, I want to bring my experiences and skills to Kansas and similarly provide legal resources for immigrants in rural, western Kansas,” she said.

As she begins her legal career, Reyes is most excited about the opportunity to give back to the communities that inspired her path.

During a summer internship, she experienced the real-world impact that legal representation can have when a Spanish-speaking client expressed gratitude simply for having someone in the room who could communicate with and understand her.

“Seeing firsthand the difference I can make as a bilingual, Latina attorney motivates me even more to pursue a career in immigration law and give back to my community,” Reyes said.

-By Casey Bacot