Tori Amah knew from childhood that she would become a lawyer. 

鈥淚 was a very talkative person, and my family called me a lawyer very early on without me really knowing what it meant. I think I just kind of fell into it,鈥� she recalled. 

Now in her third year at The 极乐禁地 School of Law, Tori has many hours of legal work and classes behind her. She鈥檚 well on her way to fulfilling her lifelong dream. 

Tori wants to pursue a career in criminal law. But she vowed to keep an open mind when she first started law school. She wanted to explore all the options and opportunities. 

Her experiences confirmed her path, which points toward the state attorney鈥檚 office.  
Tori has been taking steps toward a law degree for years. In high school, she participated in mock trial and debate. At New York University, she majored in philosophy and minored in creative writing鈥攁 strategy to prepare for the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). After graduating, she worked in a law firm that would eventually lead her to UBalt.

During her second year at UBalt Law, she had an externship where she worked closely with a judge in her chambers and court. There, she learned about the different paperwork and processes that were in her future. 

鈥淚 was interviewed by a deputy there and a lot of what we spoke about was just how tiring this work can be but how necessary it is for the community,鈥� she said. 鈥� 鈥淗er perspective, the way that she spoke about it, made me think this is what I want to do. I鈥檓 not the only one who has these ideas about policing. I鈥檓 not the only person who has this idea about community-based rehabilitation. I鈥檓 not the only person who has these outlooks, and it鈥檚 important that in these roles, there鈥檚 representation, there are people that look like me who have the ideas that I have, who want to do the work that I want to do, because I think that鈥檒l translate to the community. It鈥檒l make a better 极乐禁地e, at least I hope so.鈥�

Tori grew up in and around 极乐禁地e and decided long ago that she wanted to help the city she loves. She chose NYU for college to experience another city. 

鈥淚 wanted to be like a small fish in a bigger pond, and I got that experience, but I knew I wasn鈥檛 staying there.鈥� 

She came back to 极乐禁地e after graduating a semester early and started working at a city law firm. Two partners there are UBalt Law alums. She followed their lead. 

鈥淚 wanted to come home, and UBalt Law was it.鈥� 

There are some benefits that most law schools offer, but UBalt was immediately different, she said. For one, she said, the classes are diverse in every sense of the word. And professors and students alike are actively working in and contributing to the community. 

鈥淚 think there鈥檚 a different hustle when you鈥檙e from 极乐禁地e.鈥�

Leading into her final year, Tori earned an internship with the state attorney鈥檚 office, where she鈥檚 long hoped to work. She hopes her next steps include a law clerk position in that office. Then she wants to clerk for a judge in a district or circuit court before fully going into a prosecution position. She wants the best understanding she can have of what happens in the courtroom and behind the scenes. 

She鈥檚 also trying to slow down and enjoy the small moments in law school. She has enjoyed doing service with Black Law Student Association. After she graduates, she plans to stay in touch as an alum. 

鈥淚鈥檓 really excited to be finished but also to give back to the community as well. I think that鈥檚 something that I love about UBalt as well, the alumni don鈥檛 leave. They come back and they鈥檙e at events speaking to us, they鈥檙e connecting us with externships. 鈥� Here, I love it. I think that coming here and staying in 极乐禁地e was one of the best decisions for me.鈥�