We sat down to April Cotton as part of our special issue on legal trailblazers. She was the first in her family’s family to earn a Juris Doctor and become an attorney. As an associate attorney at Hall Booth Smith PC, she currently practices in the areas of insurance defense, medical negligence, and correctional healthcare. She also teaches at Philander Smith College.
AALM Tell us all about your journey to become a Juris Doctor.
AC My journey to law school, my time in law school and finally passing the bar was challenging. You can see that a bachelor of science in chemistry from Historically Black College, years working in a pharmacy and a 147 on LSAT are not ideal characteristics for someone who would be considered for law school.
My students joke that I used to be a very confused person during that period of my life. Those factors combined led to me being denied admission to all the law schools I applied to. After speaking with many admissions committee members from the south, I realized that my description of my life was a bit concerning for the committees. They were extremely proud of many of my achievements and incredulous that I was able to do so while taking so much responsibility. They were afraid I wouldn’t be a good candidate for law school and the bar exam.
But, I was fortunate to be able to meet Adjoa Aiyetoro and Dean Hunter Schwartz. The Legal Education Advancement Program (L.E.A.P) was the result of their collaboration. This program was designed to admit people from historically underrepresented groups to law school and to the legal profession. It aims to recognize and admit those who are able to demonstrate the teamwork, leadership, academic skills, and teamwork necessary to finish law school and pass bar exams. I was able to fulfill my dream and become an attorney thanks to this program.
AALM What does being the first attorney in your family mean?
AC: It was difficult mentally and emotionally to walk into a class with more than 110 students, with only 10 other students. That moment was difficult for me because I was the first person in my family to go to law school. It was exacerbating to realize that there was an urgent need in my community and that there was no room to fail.
It was always an open question whether a student with my “background”, “educational experience” would be able to finish law school. One professor would often mention that she didn’t know if my undergraduate professors were “tough” or “qualified enough” to prepare me for the journey ahead in law school. She would constantly question whether law school was the right fit for me, or if I was a good match for law school.
My fiance was killed in an act of road rage during my third semester in law school. This situation was so devastating that it shook me to the core. But I knew that there was no way to stop. After much prayer and tunnel vision I was able to graduate in December 2016. When the bar exam arrived, I thought I was able to grieve. It was time to prepare again and perform, but this time I kept running into stumbling blocks. I lost my ability to focus on the task at hand, which was to prepare for the murder trial of my beloved one.
After being given scores that indicated I failed by 1.67, 2 or 5 points, my soul was opened up to God and asked him to fix any issues in me so I could continue on my journey.
AALM Have you had any mentors that helped you to become an attorney?
AC: COLIV-19 struck the nation, causing us all to face our trauma and confront ourselves. Judge Tijuana Andrd and Beth Levi encouraged me to sit again for the bar. I took proactive steps to heal my wounds and was able to pass the Tennessee bar. The intention was to transfer my Arkansas score to Arkansas. After passing the Tennessee bar exam, I discovered that Arkansas had a rule prohibiting me from transferring any score to Arkansas, as I had failed their exam in the past five years. I was not discouraged, though I was devastated.
AALM Did you have any mentors in your profession?
AC: Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Robert Wynne. As I swore into the Tennessee Bar, we started to talk about my future and why I wasn’t able to swear into the Arkansas Bar. After Arkansas became a UBE state, I explained to them that the Supreme Court didn’t remove the rule. Justice Wynne said he would look into the rule provided that I agreed to keep my skills here in Arkansas. He understood the importance of diversity and the passion that would be poured into the lives Arkansas residents. Justice Wynne presented the discussion and the rule to the Quorum Court. The rule was repealed within eight months. I was allowed to swear in to the Arkansas Bar the week after. Justice Wynne is a man I will always be grateful to. He has changed the course of my life and that of my family for many generations.
AALM How is the practice law different from what you had hoped?
AC: The experience of practicing law has been a little different than I had expected. I expected to be able help many people in the community while I was in law school. I also anticipated being able take on as many cases as I wanted. I don’t have that flexibility working for a large firm. I was certain that I could cover all areas of law and be able to manage my practice the same way. In some cases, one subject matter might find its way into another area, but in others, it is impossible to see the intersection of them.
I am particularly interested in nursing home litigation and correctional health care services. Other areas of law that could be incorporated into these areas of litigation include, but not limited to, contracts, decedents and estates, torts, and in some instances criminal law. It is possible that not every case is a passion case. This season, I have found fulfillment in teaching.
AALM Tell us about a professional accomplishment you are proud of.
AC : I am a professor at Philander Smith College and teach constitutional law, judicial procedure, and women in political science. While teaching the curriculum is my main focus, it is also one of my favorite aspects. I enjoy being a sounding board for students and a visual aid. Because we were all nurtured and taught at Philander Smith College, my students can see me and see themselves. All of us come from similar backgrounds and it’s important that they see that despite all the challenges, I have become a successful lawyer. They can make their dreams come true.
AALM Please describe your role at Philander Smith College.
AC : Being an adjunct Professor gave me one of the best opportunities to inspire minds and instill confidence in future generations of lawyers. Access to students who are pursuing their Juris Doctor. Each student is eligible for sponsorship. They receive guidance on how to apply to law school, what test practice materials to use, testing fees, and emotional support if the process becomes overwhelming. To help first-generation law students, I plan to create a scholarship fund and a nonprofit.
AALM Do you have any suggestions?
AC I pray I inspire a young person to become an advocate for justice and an attorney.
The post April Cotton on Her Life’s Trajectory was first published on Attorney At Law Magazine.