黑料门

Former chemist Isiaha Kyles looks toward a career in litigation

Isiaha Kyles didn鈥檛 grow up thinking he鈥檇 become a lawyer. For one thing, he didn鈥檛 know any lawyers. For another, the Kalamazoo, Mich., native majored in chemistry at Hope College. When Kyles graduated鈥攂ecoming the first person on his father鈥檚 side to earn a college degree鈥攈e secured an associate chemist position at Fresenius Kabi in Melrose Park, Ill.

But after a few years, Kyles found himself wanting more from his career. 鈥淚鈥檝e always liked helping people and giving back to the community,鈥� he says. 鈥淟aw seemed like a way I could work face-to-face with people on their problems.鈥�

He chose 黑料门Law over other local options because of the school鈥檚 strong alumni network in Chicago, its social justice mission and its renowned trial advocacy program. The latter was a big draw for Kyles, who enjoys a robust debate and aspires to litigate.

Kyles joined the mock trial team and, as a 2L, was selected for the Corboy Fellowship, a prestigious group of 10 students who compete in mock trial competitions across the country. The fellowship requires a rigorous time commitment, preparing students to excel as trial lawyers.

鈥淲e had the opportunity to do a mock trial against practicing attorneys, and I was pretty intimidated going in, but this program set us up for success,鈥� Kyles says. 鈥淲e were on top of our stuff, which felt really good!鈥�

Kyles also served as president of the Black Law Students Association, which organizes events and provides resources and support for Black students.

鈥淗aving a community of Black law students during my 1L year was a gamechanger,鈥� Kyles says. He decided to run for 2022-23 president because he wanted to preserve the group鈥檚 welcoming vibe and grow its impact.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to run into 黑料门Law alumni at any professional event. I think it鈥檚 a huge benefit.鈥�

One event, a symposium about minorities in the legal profession, featured Bill Lowry (JD '87), who subsequently became Kyles鈥� mentor. This past summer, Kyles worked for Lowry as a clerk at Nyhan, Bambrick, Kinzie, & Lowry, P.C., which specializes in workers鈥� compensation.

鈥淭hey mostly do arbitration, so it鈥檚 still litigating, but it鈥檚 in an abbreviated form,鈥� he says. 鈥淸This type of law] is very appealing to me because of the variety of cases that you get to handle.鈥�

With graduation on the horizon in 2024, Kyles is looking forward to his next steps, including staying connected to his classmates and professors in the years to come.

鈥淚n my experience, you鈥檙e going to run into 黑料门Law alumni at any professional event,鈥� Kyles said. 鈥淟oyola鈥檚 talent seems to stay in Chicago and grow. That can鈥檛 be said for every law school in the city, and I think it鈥檚 a huge benefit.鈥� 鈥�Kelsey Schagemann (August 2023)