FEATURE RELEASE (April 6, 2011) - Third-year Wayne State University Law School student Anisa Lari has always known she wanted to be a lawyer. As a child in Albania, she had the opportunity meet the president of the country. "That day was so important for me and I recall the arguments in favor of making progressive laws for a new, democratic Albanian country. Growing up and remembering that moment encouraged me to become involved in law," Lari said.

Anisa Lari

Lari and her family moved to the United States when she was 13 years old. "The main reason I moved to the U.S. was to pursue my dreams of going to law school," added Lari. "Originally I was going to come here by myself as an exchange student but then my parents, my older sister and I all had the opportunity to move here and become U.S. citizens."

Now that she is about to graduate from Wayne Law, Lari plans to use her passion for the law and her experience as an immigrant to help others who are new to the United States.

"This area interests me the most because I feel as if I can connect with the clients, being an immigrant myself," she said. "Ideally, working at a non-profit organization that offers immigration assistance would be a great position for my personality. It is important to help those who do not have the resources to afford an attorney."

Her internship experience at the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit (IIMD), which provides legal immigration assistance to low-income, indigent families in need, also influenced this decision.

"Working at IIMD greatly impacted my law studies and convinced me that immigration law is the right field of practice for me," she said. "I felt a great sense of pride being able to help immigrant families establish their new lives in the United States. This is something I want to continue doing in the future - to help those who have the most need for legal service."

Lari received a bachelor's degree in political science and international studies from Wayne State University. She will receive her juris doctor in May.

"Choosing Wayne Law was an easy decision for me," she said. "I enjoyed my time here as an undergraduate student and had the chance to meet students from all over the world. The diversity of the school, the impressive reputation of its faculty and its location were three key reasons for my choice."

Lari has made the most of her time at Wayne Law, taking on internships and co-curricular activities to add to her academic and professional experiences. After her first year at Wayne Law, she worked as a legal intern for Judge Dennis Powers and the 52nd District Court-1st Division in Novi, Mich. "That internship gave me a great insight about courtroom rules and procedures," she said. "I was able to interact with many attorneys from the Metro Detroit area and gain valuable recommendations for my future law practice." She also was a student attorney in the Advanced Environmental Law Clinic, where she worked on projects involving the Detroit City Incinerator.

While a Wayne Law student, Lari served on the Student Board of Governors and as an Admissions Office Student Ambassador. She has also been a member of the Women's Law Caucus, Women Lawyers of Michigan and the American Bar Association.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research university offering more than 400 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 32,000 students.

For more information about Wayne State University Law School, visit law.wayne.edu