California Lawyers Association
Congratulations to the 2025 Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Distinguished Law Student Writing Competition Winners
California Lawyers Association’s (CLA) Diversity, Inclusion and Outreach (DIOr) Committee is excited to announce the First Place Honoree and Second Place Winner for the annual CLA’s Diversity Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Distinguished Law Student Writing Competition.
Congratulations to Faith Whatley-Blaine, First Place Honoree
Faith Whatley-Blaine is a 3L at Saint Louis University School of Law, where she is also pursuing a graduate minor in Women’s and Gender Studies. Driven by a strong commitment to advocacy and social justice, Faith spent last summer as a law clerk with the MacArthur Justice Center, contributing to impact litigation focused on systemic prison reform. She currently serves as a student attorney at the Saint Louis University School of Law Human Rights at Home Legal Clinic, which works to secure fundamental human rights for vulnerable individuals and communities. Faith aspires to pursue a career in civil rights litigation and appellate advocacy, with a particular focus on LGBTQIA+ and women’s rights.
Congratulations to Ashley Arrellano
Ashley Arellano, from Lamont, California, is a proud first-generation Latina and second-year law student at Monterey College of Law. She earned her bachelor’s degree from UCLA and is pursuing her passion for law with aspirations of becoming a family law attorney. Ashley is committed to using her education and experiences to advocate for families and give back to the communities that have shaped her.