Our Interview With Helena Rashid, President Of The Rider University L&J Society

By the Juris Education Interview Team

Helena Rashid is the President of the Rider University L&J Society.

What inspired you to pursue leadership within the pre-law community at your school?

I decided to pursue leadership within the pre-law community at Rider University because I wanted to make sure everyone had a space where they felt welcomed and comfortable asking questions about law. My passion for helping others allowed me to help those who were curious about this path but did not know where to start. Coming into Rider, I did not expect to start down a path of government and shift to the pre-law path, but it allowed me to channel my passion into a path where I would have the opportunity to challenge myself and explore another avenue for a future career. Leading in the Law and Justice Society has allowed me to turn the vision of helping others into a reality, helping them navigate the same path toward law school and experience in public service as well.

What’s one initiative your society has introduced that’s had a meaningful impact on its members?

One initiative we have been working on this semester is professional development. I feel that with a group that is striving towards the next steps in life, I have been able to provide them with the roles and confidence to take the steps necessary to succeed. We have focused on holding workshops to work on resumes and even help those out with the interview process, strengthening these crucial skills. We have also been working to partner with students who have graduated from Rider and are currently in law school, who can speak on their experiences and help those on the same path. This initiative has allowed me to make a meaningful impact to help students build the bridge between their undergrad and future law school career.

What do you think are the skills aspiring law students can gain from joining an organization like yours?

Aspiring law school students can gain the critical skills needed to succeed in law school and future careers. We work on sharpening skills that each student can improve on, working with each member to make sure their needs are being addressed throughout our work as a group. Members can learn from each other and those we invite to speak, so we can teach collaboration and professionalism with rigor. We want to prepare our members for the rigor of law school while ensuring students have the resources they need to excel.

What advice would you give to law students on how to make the most out of joining a pre-law association?

The biggest piece of advice I can give to those interested in a pre-law association is to be proactive. It is more than just being in the environment. You have to continue to work and improve, which means you have to admit your mistakes and work on them. The more you can invest in your professional development, the more you get back in terms of skills, connections, and clarity about your journey to law school. Asking questions gets you a lot farther than people think. Make sure to absorb as much information as you can from those around you and those who have experience in fields that you do not know a lot about. Listening and taking note is the biggest thing you can do in the professional world.

Juris Education is proud to interview experts like Helena Rashid to help future lawyers understand the benefits of extracurricular involvement in college. Learn more about how our experts can help you get into law school today.