is a legal profession in which lawyers and judges reflect the backgrounds and perspectives of the populations they serve.

Our Vision

A large group of diverse young people and adults gathered in a conference room, many wearing navy blue t-shirts with the slogan 'iLearn iLead iEmpower' in red text, posing for a group photo.
A professional setting with four women and one man. The women are smiling, and one is handing a paper or certificate to the man. The women are dressed in business attire, and the man is in a dark suit. The background is a plain gray wall.

Exposure

We provide exposure to a wide variety of legal careers and leaders. We believe you can become what you can see.

Education

We help our students build legal, professional, and leadership skills, and to employ those skills in legal environments, because you learn more when you do more.

Connection

We connect our students with our extraordinary networks – lawyers, judges, partners, and alumni who are committed to passing the torch by providing inspiration, encouragement, and support.

Our Values

Just The Beginning - A Piepeline Organization historical timeline
A graphic with large text reading 'Our History' and three black-and-white photos of Judge George Leighton, an African American man, at different points in his career. The background features a blurred group of people.

Meet Our Board

Judicial Advisory Committee

  • Judge Alfred H. Bennett

    United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

  • Judge Ruben Castillo (Ret.)

    United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

  • Judge Edmond E. Chang

    United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

  • Judge Pamela K. Chen

    United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

  • Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman

    United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois

  • Judge Jacqueline Cox

    United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois

  • Judge Gonzalo P. Curiel

    United States District Court for the Southern District of California

  • Judge Bernice B. Donald

    United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit

  • Judge Leslie Abrams Gardner

    United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia

  • Judge Vanessa Gilmore (Ret.)

    United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas

  • Judge Donald Graham

    United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

  • Judge Marcia M. Henry

    United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

  • Judge LaShonda A. Hunt

    United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois

  • Judge Brian Jackson

    United States District Court for the Middle District of Louisiana

  • Judge Richard A. Jones

    United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

  • Judge Nancy Joseph

    United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin

  • Judge Peggy Kuo

    United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York

  • Judge Gerald Bruce Lee (Ret.)

    United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

  • Judge Tana Lin

    United States District Court for the Western District of Washington

  • Judge Brian Miller

    United States District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas

  • Judge Doris A. Smith-Ribner (Ret.)

    Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania

  • Judge Ann Claire Williams (Ret.)

    United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit

Associate Board

  • Jaylin McClinton

    President

    Senior Advisor, Novel Messaging

  • Kiana Deering

    Vice President

    Litigation Associate, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

  • Hugh Ebb

    Treasurer

    Corporate Associate, Moore & Van Allen PLLC

  • Afaaf Amatullah

    Secretary

    J.D. Candidate, University of Illinois College of Law

  • Jolianne Alexander

    Parliamentarian

    Attorney, JSL Law, LLC

  • James Akinleye

    Member

    Associate, Sidley Austin LLP

  • Christopher Dean

    Member

    Attorney, Burris, Nisenbaum, Curry & Lacy

  • Harmony Gbe

    Member

    Senior Associate, Hogan Lovells US LLP

  • Jo Gbujama

    Member

    Attorney, Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum LLP

  • Danielle Hamilton

    Member

    Assistant Clinical Professor of Law,

    Northwestern University School of Law

  • Jimmie Herring

    Member

    Attorney Advisor, U.S. Department of Justice

  • Jamaal Lockings

    Member

    Attorney, Alliance for Justice

  • Carletta Sanders-Chavers

    Member

    Legal Career Specialist, James E. Rogers College of Law

  • Taryn Wilkins

    Member

    Attorney, Cooley LLP

  • Mariah Young

    Member

    Associate, Cooley LLP

  • Trevor Ivy

    Law School Member

    J.D. Candidate, Northern Illinois University College of Law

  • Cassandra Marlow

    Law School Member

    J.D. Candidate, DePaul University College of Law

  • Gabriella Pettijohn

    Law School Member

    J.D. Candidate, Chicago-Kent College of Law

  • Julie Rodriguez

    Law School Member

    J.D. Candidate, University of Illinois College of Law

  • Jake Schultz

    Law School Member

    J.D. Candidate, Loyola University Chicago School of Law

  • Mariam Somorin

    Law School Member

    J.D. Candidate, Northwestern Pritzker School of Law

  • Contessa Gibson Williams

    Law School Member

    Senior Paralegal, Legal Aid Chicago

  • Kimberly Wilson

    Law School Member

    J.D. Candidate, University of Illinois College of Law

Meet Our Staff

  • Antonette N. Smith, CNP

    Antonette N. Smith, CNP

    Executive Director

    Read Bio
  • Cristina Figueroa, J.D.

    Cristina Figueroa, J.D.

    Program Director

    Read Bio
  • Missy O. Jeje, M.Ed.

    Missy O. Jeje, M.Ed.

    Program Director

    Read Bio
  • Nyah Washington

    Nyah Washington

    Marketing & Operations Associate

    Read Bio

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