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

JESUS EZEQUIEL CABRAKES DURAN

Current Mailing Address

1003 W SUNNYSIDE AVE, APT 3W
CHICAGO, IL 60640
United States
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If mailing address is temporary, expected date when current mailing address is no longer valid

04/30/2027

Permanent Address (only if different from Current Mailing Address)

QUINTA NORTE NUMERO 5282
JARDINES DE NUEVO MEXICO
ZAPOPA, JALISCO 45138
Mexico
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Phone

(312) 478-1404

Connection to Illinois

MOVED FOR WORK AND STUDY HERE

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

CHICAGO

Name of Law School

CHICAGO KENT COLLEGE OF LAW

Class year

1st year law student

Full Time or Part Time Student?

Part Time

Date you began attending THIS law school

08/03/2026

Anticipated Graduation Date

06/30/2028

Current GPA

3.8

Name of Undergraduate Institution

UNIVERSIDAD DE GUADALAJARA

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

ABOGADO

Undergraduate Graduation Date

05/31/2018

GPA

3.8

Were you employed in 2025?

yes

If yes, please identify your employer(s).

CUATRECASAS SC

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 IN THE STATES, I WAS IN MEXICO IN 2025

Do you expect to be employed in 2026?

yes

If yes, please identify your employer(s).

COSTA IVONE LLC

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

50,000

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

I DON'T KNOW,

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

OWN IN MEXICO

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

EMPLOYER INSURANCE IN MEXICO (IMSS)

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

Total Tuition Cost $

44000

Books Cost $

1500

Fees Cost $

250

Housing Cost $

15600

Food Cost $

4000

Total Expenses $ (add above entries)

65350

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

Student Loans $

20000

Scholarships and Grants $

24000

Personal Contribution (Savings/Employment) $

FULL SALARY

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

2400

Total Funding $ (add above entries)

46400

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

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)

1. Social Service – National Migration Institute (Instituto Nacional de Migración, INM)
Dates: September 2017 – May 2018
Organization: The National Migration Institute is the Mexican federal agency responsible for implementing immigration policies and providing services to migrants and foreign nationals in Mexico.
My contribution: As a social service law student, I supported the agency in assisting migrants and members of the public interacting with Mexico’s immigration system. I helped process administrative matters, supported public service initiatives, and contributed to improving access to information and services for individuals navigating immigration procedures.

2. Legal Clinic (Bufete Jurídico de Servicio Social) – University of Guadalajara
Dates: February 2017 – August 2017
Organization: The Legal Aid Clinic of the University of Guadalajara provides free legal assistance to individuals who cannot afford private legal representation, serving low-income and vulnerable members of the community.
My contribution: As a law student completing my professional practicum, I assisted attorneys in providing legal guidance, conducting legal research, preparing case files and legal documents, and supporting clients seeking access to justice. Through this work, I helped individuals from underserved communities better understand and exercise their legal rights.

3. Protection Assistant – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
Dates: February 2021 – October 2023
Organization: UNHCR is the United Nations agency mandated to protect refugees, asylum seekers, and other forcibly displaced persons. In Mexico, many beneficiaries originate from Latin America and other Spanish-speaking countries.
My contribution: Although this was a professional position rather than volunteer service, my work focused on supporting vulnerable populations through legal orientation, protection interventions, identification of individuals with specific needs, referrals to specialized services, and community outreach activities aimed at improving access to protection and humanitarian assistance.

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)

When I decided to study law, I was motivated by the idea that the law could be used to solve real problems and improve people's lives. As I gained experience, that idea became a conviction. During law school at the University of Guadalajara, I completed my professional practicum at the University's Legal Aid Clinic, where I worked with people who could not afford legal representation. Seeing how much of a difference basic legal guidance could make was one of the first experiences that confirmed I had chosen the right profession.

I continued on that path while completing my social service at Mexico's National Migration Institute, where I learned how immigration law directly affects people's lives. Shortly after graduating, I joined the Institute professionally, and later I had the opportunity to work for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Those years were some of the most meaningful of my career. I worked with asylum seekers, refugees, and families who had been forced to leave their homes in search of safety. Every case reminded me that behind every legal issue is a person with a story, a family, and hopes for a better future.

Over time, I realized that I wanted to continue growing as a lawyer by expanding my perspective beyond one legal system. That desire brought me to the United States, where I now work as a Foreign Legal Consultant. Starting over in a new country and adapting to a different legal environment has been challenging, but it has also been one of the most rewarding decisions I have made. It has strengthened my ability to work across cultures, communicate with clients from different backgrounds, and approach legal problems from a broader perspective.

Looking ahead, I hope to build a career that connects Mexico and the United States. I want to become a lawyer who helps individuals and businesses navigate legal matters that cross borders while continuing to develop expertise in international law and dispute resolution. My goal is not simply to have a successful career, but to be known as someone who combines strong legal skills with integrity, empathy, and a genuine commitment to serving others.

When I look back at the path that brought me here—from a legal aid clinic in Guadalajara to working with refugees in Mexico and now practicing in Chicago—I see a career shaped by service, curiosity, and a willingness to embrace new challenges. Those experiences continue to motivate me and define the kind of lawyer I strive to become.

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

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CabralesDuran.JesusEzequiel.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*