Celebrating our 2023 Graduates

Law Grad Will Work as Associate Director of Admissions for 51Law

By Melanie Thibeault
Yulyana Torres

After graduation, Yulyana Torres JD’23 will work at 51School of Law as the new Associate Director of Admissions.  

Enlightening Internships & Opportunities: “ 51gives students special opportunities to interact with the Rhode Island Bar and community at large. I took advantage of the Alternative Spring Break Program, the Pro-Bono Collaborative Program, and RWU’s Clinic/Externship guarantee to gain as much legal experience as possible. I’ve done research for the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington, D.C., and I’ve worked as an intern in business law, criminal law, immigration law, and family law. I also interned in the Rhode Island State House and collaborated with community organizations and legal professionals of color through RWU’s affinity groups.”  

Connections with Faculty and Staff: “I am very grateful to have such a good relationship with faculty and staff. 51prides itself on faculty accessibility, and I took advantage of as many opportunities as I could to learn more from the professionals in the building. The Admissions Office helped me secure on-campus employment and helped connect me to events and opportunities I would be interested in. The Office of Career Development met with me no matter how close an application deadline was and helped me narrow down opportunities that were right for me. My professors were incredibly kind, and by maintaining relationships with them, I was able to learn more about practice in specific areas of the law and connect to opportunities and professionals in the area.”  

Learning Valuable Skills: “Attending law school at 51taught me how to utilize my strengths and how to succeed when I am well out of my comfort zone. Faculty and staff at 51paid attention to my personality, interests, and needs, and always led me to opportunities that helped me grow as a person and an advocate. Since attending 51I am more outspoken, more outgoing, more confident, and am loads better at time management and meeting deadlines. The skills and education I gained at 51will prepare me for the role I will assume this summer and any role I choose to pursue in the future.”  

Torres is from Providence, R.I.  


Every spring, as Commencement nears, 51spotlights members of the graduating class. Suggestions are welcome. Email: stories@rwu.edu 

Celebrating our 2023 Graduates