Courtesy of Lawtinas

Last spring, Yale Lawtinas was established as the first Latina pre-law organization on campus. 

The group was founded by Samantha Suazo ’26, Charlize Leon Mata ’26 and Alex Guzman Caceres ’26 to empower Latina students interested in a legal career. The organization aims to foster an inclusive community that provides mentoring for members, networking and pre-professional legal opportunities. 

The idea for the organization came to Suazo before her time at Yale. The summer before her first year, she attended the Future Latino Leaders Summer Law Institute in Washington, where she received mentoring from Juris Doctor candidates. 

“I vividly remember one such afternoon in a hallway at Georgetown, the air thick and still, when one of the mentors, Daisy Ramirez, spoke passionately about her involvement with the Lawtina Network Summit from her time at St. Mary’s University School of Law,” Suazo wrote. “Her story planted the seed in my mind.” 

Suazo said she worked with Guzman Caceres and Leon Mata to create Yale Lawtinas to fill a gap at Yale, creating a community that promotes diversity and supports aspiring Latina lawyers. Before the creation of the organization, all of the founders recalled struggling to find guidance and communities that reflected their experiences.

Even though Latinas represent around one of five women in the U.S., they make up less than 2 percent of lawyers. Part of Yale Lawtinas’ vision is to create an environment with more accessible legal resources for Latina women, working towards a more diverse future in the legal landscape. 

“As a first-generation Latina, navigating the complexities of pursuing a legal career often felt isolating and overwhelming,” said Guzman Caceres. “For me, this isn’t just about building an organization; it’s about creating a lasting legacy of empowerment, mentorship, and representation for future generations of Latinas at Yale.” 

Yale Lawtinas welcomes all Yalies regardless of their gender or background, understanding that marginalization and underrepresentation in the legal space are interconnected with other backgrounds, and anyone can share their mission towards equity and justice.

This year, Yale Lawtinas is built around three core pillars: mentorship, knowledge acquisition and community engagement. The founders expressed that mentorship was a guiding principle in creating this space on campus. 

The organization has partnered with Yale Law School students to serve as the club’s “Madrinas” and “Padrinos,” where students mentor members of Yale Lawtinas and advise them on topics such as professional development and admission to law school.

Yale Lawtinas’ constitution outlines that the “Madrinas” and “Padrinos” aim to offer “a more intimate and culturally resonant layer of mentorship, recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Latinos in the legal field.” 

The group has also partnered with Red sin Fronteras, a non-profit organization that focuses on providing spaces for indigenous and immigrant women from Latin America who are survivors of violence. Suazo told the News that they are working to help create a group of volunteers to support the women survivors of Red sin Fronteras, helping share information and assist in actions towards autonomy, such as accompanying the women to medical appointments.  

For all of the founders, being a part of Yale Lawtinas is not just being a member of any club; it is deeply connected to their personal experiences. This past summer, Leon Mata had the opportunity to work for an immigration lawyer; the same lawyer who reunited her family after years of separation. She explained how she was very grateful to be able to wait through the extensive and challenging immigration process because many families don’t have the same luxury.

“The current political discourse on immigration often dehumanizes immigrants, reducing their stories to statistics and policies,” explained Leon Mata. “Reflecting on my experience this summer, I’ve come to understand just how transformative the work of lawyers can be. I would not be in the position I am today if it weren’t for the dedication of immigration lawyers who fought for my family.” 

Looking forward, the group plans to reach out to alumni, faculty and practicing lawyers to collaborate on a ‘community syllabus’ to outline the skills needed in law. Their goal is to create real-life experiences, such as internships and workshops, so members will be supported to work towards their career goals. 

For some members of Yale Lawtinas, being a part of the organization is a continuation of working towards a dream since they were a child. Casey Arias ’27, Yale Lawtinas’ New Member Liaison, expressed that the lack of representation of Latinas in the legal field has been discouraging in the past. 

“Being a part of Yale Lawtinas reminds me that I am not alone,” wrote Arias. 

Yale Lawtinas’ Instagram is @yalelawtinas.