Lawyer Vows to Advocate for Diversity and Inclusion
“I Am African & I Can” is a women’s empowerment blog highlighting stories of Black women’s struggles and successes.
By Hadiatou Wann | 10/08/2021
Some aspiring lawyers quit after failing the bar exam once. Ramatulahi Jalloh failed the bar exam TWICE before becoming a lawyer. Now, more than ever, she is inspired to use her education to speak against injustices and advocate for diversity and inclusion within the workplace.
Ramatulahi was born in Sierra Leone and as a young child, moved to Lagos, Nigeria, and then settled in the United States at the age of 13.
While she studied sociology at Penn State, she learned about programs in law, and developed an interest in it. On her first attempt, she did not do well on her LSAT (Law School Admission Test). Instead of quitting, she found a tutor, and volunteered to guide refugees that recently moved to the United States. She applied to several law schools and got accepted into Thurgood Marshall School of Law in Texas. As the first person in her family who studied law, she had little guidance, but sought advice and resources through her school.
One of the hands-on experiences that opened Ramatulahi’s eyes had been when she worked as a legal assistant. As a newbie, she got fired for making frequent mistakes, and was firmly told by the hiring manager to consider another career.
Ramatulahi brushed off the remark because she believed it was part of God’s plan and forged ahead. “Every challenge prepares you for the next challenge,” she said. “Failure is inevitable, it’s how you react to it and the lessons you learn from it that matters.” She never shies away from sharing her failures with others because she believes it is through authenticity and vulnerability that people can relate to you.
When she took the bar exam for the first time, she was unsuccessful, but relied on encouragement from her mom and family to regain confidence and hope. She retook the bar exam for the second time and did not pass. Failing the exam again affected her immensely, but she still did not give up. “I am a VERY determined person. Once I have set my mind to do something, I will get it done, by the will of God,” she said.
The 3rd time around, she was prepared more and passed the bar exam.
Since entering the professional world, Ramatulahi noticed that there are not many Black, female lawyers. “You have to work 10 times harder to prove that you’re just like them,” she said. As Vice Chair for Racial Equality for Arbitration Lawyers (REAL), she has grown even more passionate about diversity and inclusion, and dreams of being in an environment where all cultural backgrounds are accepted.
She explains that her favorite part of the law is critical thinking and resolving disputes that challenges her to remove herself from the case and seek to understand different points of view to represent her client. She believes that it is not always about who is right or wrong. Her approach to being an efficient attorney is to use empathy when defending a client.
A former victim of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), Ramatulahi expressed it was a cultural practice which was forced on her at a time she was young and did not have control over her body. Over the years, she found a way to accept what was done to her, and openly talked about it. Now that she has become a lawyer, she will prioritize speaking more against injustices done to women. “I believe in the impossible. I believe in speaking out even if the whole world is against me. As long as God is on my side, there’s nothing to be afraid of,” Ramatulahi expressed.
Aminata Ndiaye, one of Ramatulahi’s closest friends says, “Ramatulahi is honestly one of my best friends. We have been friends for about 12 years. We met in high school, she was a transfer from a previous high school. We happened to be in the same history class and I introduced myself to her. She was always such a sweetheart. [She] is an enterprising young lady who is always open and willing to learn. She is a good listener, and she is also an empath.”
“Ramatulahi is always willing to listen to someone’s concerns along with putting herself in other’s shoes just to better empathize with the individual. She holds such strong faith and optimism towards life in general. Her faith and her optimism are what keeps her drive going. Ramatulahi is filled with so much joy and ambition. She has always wanted to leave a positive impact on others, and she has definitely done a good job by leaving one on myself. I do strongly believe that she will make a positive impact on this world,” Aminata added.
From lacking confidence in undergrad, failing the bar exam to realizing her worth and fighting to become a lawyer, Ramatulahi’s success story is the epitome of perseverance and resilience. A lover of travel, in the future she hopes to pursue a career in international arbitration with a focus on internal trade and human rights. Her number one goal, though, is to leave this world knowing that she made an impact in at least one person’s life, and that person passed it on to the next person, as well as being a good role model to her nieces and nephew.
Inside the Life of A Lawyer
Ramatulahi was sworn into the D.C. Bar on January 27, 2021.
This photo was taken when Ramatulahi graduated with her bachelor’s. She says that it takes 7 years to become a lawyer. Anyone interested in becoming a lawyer can get a bachelor’s in any field, pass the LSAT, then take the bar after completing 3 years of law school.
“I am grateful to be able to get an education, know my culture, and religion.”
“Being a strong woman is knowing you can’t seek validation from others.”
“Put your pride and ego aside and be open to learn.”
“Success is knowing who you are, your purpose in life, and knowing the truth about living in this world. Success is also taking care of your mental health, and knowing who to surround yourself with.”
Ramatulahi studied in France during junior year. She enjoys traveling and learning about different cultures, trying different cuisines, reading nonfiction, and Islamic spiritual growth. So far, she has traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands, London, Switzerland, Austria, Morocco, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria.
“I want to leave this world knowing that I made an impact in at least one person’s life, and that person passed it on to the next person, and be a good example for my niece and nephew.”
Connect with Ramatulahi:
Facebook: Ramatulahi Jalloh
Instagram: @r.jalloh_
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ramatulahi-jalloh-esq-26b9086a/
Read other success stories here: www.iamafricanandican.com/blog
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