The Value of Student Voices in Advocacy

Your representatives in Congress need to hear from you! As America grapples with growing student loan debt, as well as health and economic harm brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the time to champion policy ideas that will help ease the financial strain being felt by students across the country.

One way to do this is by directly engaging with your elected lawmakers in Congress. You have three individuals that serve on your behalf in Washington – two in the Senate and one in the House of Representatives. You can contact them by calling their office, sending an email, messaging them on social media, or attending one of their town hall meetings.

People often wonder the same question when considering whether to reach out to their congressional office – will it actually matter? And the answer, simply, is yes. Making your voice heard by your elected lawmakers can positively influence policy changes near and dear to law students and legal education.

Often, it is the connection one feels to a human story that makes any data or facts supporting an issue resonate. As a law student, including your own personal story is highly valuable when messaging a lawmaker’s office. Members of Congress need to hear your narratives to fully understand how certain policies impact their constituencies and to better shape federal policy.

Now is a critical time for decision-making in Washington. There is a new presidential administration eager to make its mark. A new Congress has convened, and lawmakers are anxious to make an impact on the issues most important to them and their constituents. As the 117th Congress works through the summer months on higher education financing and the next COVID-19 recovery bill, now is the time to reach out and #MakeTheCase for supporting law students.

AccessLex has prepared several resources to help you connect with lawmakers in Washington and effectively champion policy changes that will benefit law students and their communities. These include what to do when calling your Member of Congress and advice when writing to your elected leaders. For more tips and resources, please visit our #MakeTheCase advocacy page.

Lawmakers make better informed policy decisions when they listen to students – make your voice heard today!