To Ms. Kopcow, Hispanic Heritage month means celebrating where you came from and taking pride in it. Our culture affects how we talk, what we eat, where we shop and how we interact. It’s what makes up our inner self. Having a month to celebrate her culture makes her remember who she is at her core, and celebrate how her Hispanic Heritage made her into the person she is today.
According to statistics from the Hispanic National Bar Association, although Hispanics account for 18.5% of the U.S. population, they only represent about 5% of U.S. lawyers. For Latinas, these numbers are even smaller, accounting for less than 2% of American lawyers. “My identity as a Latina has affected my professional role in every way. Diversity in the law is important because our society as a whole is diverse. People from different cultures, backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses etc. may have different viewpoints, and by being a diverse attorney, you are better able to understand a diverse clientele.”
If Ms. Kopcow could give advice to anyone with an interest in law, or who wants to become a lawyer, she would tell them “To remember your ‘why.’ Some people decide they want to be a lawyer to help people. Others wanted to join the legal profession simply because they were told they were good at arguing. In any profession, and especially in the law, it is very easy to get overwhelmed by the workload and the amount of learning you inevitably will experience early on. Remembering your ‘why’ for wanting to join the legal profession can keep you grounded, and keep you on track for your long-term goals.”
One of Ms. Kopcow’s favorite quotes is “It is important for all of us to appreciate where we come from and how that history has really shaped us in ways that we might not understand.” by Sonia Sotomayor, U.S. Supreme Court Judge.
Jordyn Kopcow is a Law Clerk in the firm’s Princeton, New Jersey office, where her practice is concentrated on Commercial Litigation. Ms. Kopcow earned her Juris Doctorate from University of Arkansas William H. Bowen School of law in Little Rock and she received her Bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University. Prior to joining Wong Fleming, Ms. Kopcow worked as a law clerk for two AR law firms, drafting briefs, motions and memorandums for federal courts throughout the United States.
Ms. Kopcow was the President of the LatinX Law Student Association while in law school. As an Argentinian Latina woman, she loves to make empanadas and other treats to celebrate her culture.