Scholar Entries - Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund of Illinois

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Are you a past recipient of an Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund award?

Name

Joshlyn Soto

Current Mailing Address

727 W. Madison St
APT 1303
Chicago, Illinois 60661
United States
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Permanent Address (only if different from Current Mailing Address)

United States
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Phone

(847) 596-0726

Connection to Illinois

Native Illinoisan; lived and studied only in IL.

In what city do you intend to practice law upon graduation?

Chicago

Name of Law School

Chicago-Kent College of Law

Class year

2nd year law student

Full Time or Part Time Student?

Full Time

Date you began attending THIS law school

08/19/2024

Anticipated Graduation Date

05/15/2027

Current GPA

3.0

Law School Honors, Awards or Special Recognitions

Student Bar Association (SBA) Secretary
Hispanic Latinx Law Student Association (HLLSA) Philanthropy Chair
Member of the National Trial Team

Name of Undergraduate Institution

Western Illinois University

Degree (BA, BSE, etc.) and Concentration/Major

Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration

Undergraduate Graduation Date

12/16/2023

GPA

4.0

Undergraduate Honors, Awards, or Special Recognitions

Dean’s List: Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022, and Spring 2023
Enrolled in the Pre-Law Honors College of Western Illinois University
Member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Selected as a Student Marshall at Commencement Ceremony based on GPA

Were you employed in 2025?

yes

If yes, please identify your employer(s).

Law Clerk – Susan E. Loggans & Associates, P.C.

What was your immediate family’s (including you and your spouse or domestic partner, if applicable) estimated income from all sources for the 2025 Tax Year?

$0.00

Do you expect to be employed in 2026?

yes

If yes, please identify your employer(s).

711 Law Clerk for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office

Please estimate your immediate family’s (including you and your spouse or domestic partner, if applicable) income from all sources for the 2026 Tax year

$0.00

Please estimate your parent's average annual household income over the last five years

$80,000

Do your parents own or rent their home? Please describe, if necessary

own

Describe your parents' health insurance situation. Do they have employer-sponsored health insurance, health insurance through the exchange, or no health insurance?

heath insurance benefits per there place of work

LIST below your total EXPENSES for attending law school for ONE YEAR (Please refer to example in FAQs)

Total Tuition Cost $

$44,312.00

Books Cost $

$1,216.00

Fees Cost $

$1,299.00

Housing Cost $

$28,800.00

Food Cost $

$3,411.00

Other Costs $ (describe)

$0.00

Total Expenses $ (add above entries)

$79,038.00

LIST below your total FUNDING sources you plan to use to pay for these expenses (Please refer to example in FAQs)

Student Loans $

$65,586.00

Scholarships and Grants $

$11.000.00

Work Study, if any $

$0.00

Personal Contribution (Savings/Employment) $

$0.00

Family Contribution $ (include parents, spouse, partner, etc.)

$5,000.00

Other Sources $ (describe)

$0.00

Total Funding $ (add above entries)

$81,586.00

For 2Ls and 3Ls, what is your current TOTAL loan debt from the previous law school years?

$108,903.00

Please list any community service activities with which you have been involved in the last ten years, paying particular attention to activities in support of the Hispanic community. For each activity, please include the dates of your participation, a short description of the organization and the community they serve, and a description of the activity you performed to help them. (Please read FAQs before completing)

Throughout high school and college, I was deeply involved in my church, which serves a predominantly Hispanic community. I participated in community service efforts such as soup kitchens, food drives, and clothing donations, supporting families in need. I also sang in the church choir and danced Ballet Folklórico, using music and dance to celebrate and preserve Hispanic culture. Through performances at fundraising and philanthropy-related events, I was able to share my cultural heritage while giving back to my community in meaningful and impactful ways.

Choir 2008-2023
Ballet Folklórico dance 2010-2019
soup kitchen/food drives/clothing donations 2016-2023

Please provide a statement describing your background and focus your statement on your reasons for pursuing a legal career and your legal career goals. This statement is important. Please give it appropriate attention. (min. 1000 characters) (Please read FAQs before completing)

I am the person I am today because of where I come from and the people who raised me, supported me, and struggled alongside me. I am a first-generation Latina and the first in my family to attend law school. I grew up in poverty in a community made up almost entirely of Hispanic and Black families, where opportunity was limited but resilience was abundant. From a young age, I learned that success was not guaranteed and that systems often failed the very people who worked the hardest. These experiences shaped my identity, my values, and ultimately my decision to pursue a legal career.
My parents immigrated in search of opportunity and worked tirelessly to ensure that their children would have access to education and possibilities they never had. I watched them endure long hours, physical exhaustion, and constant uncertainty, all while prioritizing our future over their own well being. Their sacrifices taught me the value of perseverance, responsibility, and gratitude. I learned that success is not accidental, but the result of relentless effort and belief, even in the face of hardship. These lessons shaped the person I am today and continue to guide the person I hope to become.
Growing up in a low-income household meant navigating challenges that extended beyond finances. As a first-generation student, I often lacked guidance on how to navigate academic institutions and professional spaces. I learned to advocate for myself early on, to seek out information independently, and to persist even when I felt out of place. Race and background played a significant role in my experiences, particularly in spaces where people who looked like me were underrepresented. At times, this reinforced feelings of isolation, but it also strengthened my resolve to succeed and to make space for others like me.
My ancestry and culture are central sources of inspiration and strength. Being Latina has shaped my worldview, my values, and my sense of purpose. I was raised in a culture that emphasizes community, humility, and collective responsibility. I carry these values with me in every space I enter and believe that embracing one’s culture is essential, not something to be hidden or minimized. It is our culture that shapes our perspective and makes us stronger advocates, leaders, and professionals.
Today, I am inspired to do more for my community than ever before. With ongoing immigration challenges affecting families across the country, I feel a deep responsibility to be a voice for those who are often unheard. I owe my aspirations to my community and to the culture that shaped me. My goal is not only to practice law, but to serve with compassion, cultural understanding, and integrity. I want to be a role model for young Latina women and show them that dreams such as becoming a lawyer are possible, regardless of background.
Ultimately, my legal career goals center on advocating for marginalized communities and providing representation that empowers individuals to navigate complex legal systems. I hope to honor my roots by using the law to create meaningful change and to open doors for others who come from where I come from.

Please upload a copy of your financial award letter labeled as follows: LastName.FirstName.FinAwardLtr*

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Soto.Joshlyn.FinAwardLtr.pdf

Please upload a copy of your resume labeled as follows: LastName.FirstName.Resume*

Please upload a copy of your law school transcript labeled as follows: LastName.FirstName.LSTranscript*