4L Akeem Earle selected as D.C. Bar Writer in Residence

Earle is the second UDC Law student to hold the position in the program’s two years

Akeem Earle, 4L, has been selected as the 2022 D.C. Bar Writer in Residence, where he will produce content for the Bar’s multimedia channels through June 2022. Earle will work with staff writers and editors to cover legal events in D.C. and will have the opportunity to write full-length feature articles for Washington Lawyer magazine.  

The Writers in Residence program identifies the importance of mastering effective storytelling in both journalism and the legal profession. According to a release by the D.C. Bar, the program provides “law students a unique opportunity to hone their writing and interviewing skills, earn publication credit and benefit from one-on-one interactions with attorneys across various practice areas.”  

“As a Writer in Residence, I have the freedom to be creative in discussing pressing legal topics and informing the D.C. Bar audience about current events,” said Earle. 

So far, Earle has been interviewing Black prosecutors for an upcoming article in Washington Lawyer, and he is writing a blog post about a continuing legal education (CLE) course called “Time Management for Lawyers.” Among his assignments, Earle will cover seminars, CLE courses and panels aimed at lawyers in D.C. “Because of this experience, I am able to make amazing connections with attorneys from all facets of the law and professionals from different organizations,” Earle said. 

This is the second year of the program and the second year the D.C. Bar has selected a UDC Law student as its Writer in Residence. Tonée Jones ’21 held the position last year. The program selects a maximum of three students to participate each year. Candace Smith-Tucker from the D.C. Bar described the Writers in Residence program as a “way to continue providing our law student members with valuable learning opportunities” during the COVID-19 pandemic. Smith-Tucker noted the Bar was pleased with its inaugural resident cohort last year, adding, “We look forward to working with Akeem this year and are excited to help him grow as a writer, scholar and future lawyer.” 

For Earle, the residency is an opportunity to diversify his skillset so he can stand out to future employers and enter the legal field with confidence. Moreover, Earle believes “in the duality of an attorney. Lawyers are viewed linearly, often thought to not have interests outside the law. This residency opens the door to explore my interests beyond law while also highlighting other attorneys who have amazing lives outside of their work in the legal field. I’ve spoken with attorneys who are stand-up comics, comic book artists, pilots – or have other amazing gifts and talents.”  

He also encourages students to apply for this and other similar fellowships and opportunities that can, as he describes, “broaden your legal repertoire and get you in front of people in the profession you might not have otherwise met.” 

A fourth-year part-time student in UDC Law’s evening program, Earle works full-time at the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia as a Paralegal Specialist. He has gained field experience by interning with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office in their Major Crimes Division and with the Department of Justice in their Tax Criminal Trial Division. In addition, Earle served as the Parliamentarian for the Student Bar Association and the Director of Communications for the Black Law Student Association at UDC Law in the 2020-2021 academic year. In the 2019-2020 academic year, he served under Professor Kosiso Onyia as her Teacher’s Assistant for Lawyering Process. Earle is also a Cafritz Foundation Scholar. This spring, Earle will compete as a member of the UDC Law Mock Trial Team, coached by Professor Keith Morgan and UDC Law Alumni. He plans to become a federal criminal prosecutor.