As we wrap up Black History Month and step into Women’s History Month, we’re celebrating the achievements, voices, and stories of women who inspire and lead — including those shaping the future of the legal profession.
In this Q&A, law student Tyreeana Epps sits down with Kwaku Aurelien to talk about her journey to law school, and what authenticity means to her.
We’re proud to highlight her journey and celebrate the impact students like Tyreeana make in our community. To begin the conversation, Kwaku started with a simple but powerful question:
KWAKU AURELIEN:
Give us a portrait: Who is Tyreeana Epps?
TYREEANA EPPS:
I am an optimistic and bubbly Taurus first and a type B law student second!
KWAKU:
Can you tell me about how and when you realized fashion law was a field you could pursue? What was that discovery like?
TYREEANA:
I’ve always loved and been interested in the history and politics of fashion. So it was natural for me to want to learn about fashion law. I think I initially discovered fashion law in early 2025 although I can’t remember exactly how. I began to research fashion law courses at Fordham and Villanova and wished I could experience those. While I couldn’t at the time, it did put the area of law on my radar. In my eyes, if the experience was available, it was available to pursue at some point. That mindset is ultimately what led me to attending the Fashion Law Bootcamp at Fordham at the end of my 1L spring semester.
KWAKU:
UConn Law isn’t typically thought of as a “fashion law pipeline” school the way Fordham and some other New York schools might be. How do you create opportunities for yourself despite that?
TYREEANA:
Answer: I’m always looking for opportunities on LinkedIn. I follow a few law schools who are prevalent in the fashion law world to stay up to date on upcoming events that are open to the public. Those are great ways to network and meet like-minded students, many of which are in the same position as me. There are also fashion law magazines and journals that I like to read to stay informed on fashion law so that when opportunities present themselves, I can come prepared. Generally, I’d say keeping an eye open and not being afraid to connect with others is how I create opportunities for myself.
KWAKU:
What drew you to work at Jon L. Schoenhorn & Associates, a criminal defense firm, over the summer?
TYREEANA:
Sometime in 2023 I became obsessed with the Karen Read case, which involved a woman being charged with the death of her police officer boyfriend in Massachusetts. I was fascinated by the many twists and turns of the case, the first trial ending in a mistrial, and her defense attorney’s unwavering support and advocacy. For Read’s second trial, she had law students from Massachusetts law schools help with legal research for her case. I thought of how cool they must’ve been for the students to be a part of such an important case. It was all very inspiring. So when I saw the opportunity to work for Attorney Schoenhorn, who is also known for his strong advocacy skills, I didn’t hesitate to apply.
KWAKU:
What has working at your job taught you about advocacy that you perhaps would not have learned in a classroom?
TYREEANA:
You rarely get to meet actual clients in the classroom. Being able to meet and speak with clients, their families, and hear their stories provides a better perspective of their case and allows you to understand what justice means to them. It can be an inspiring experience that increases your desire to advocate.
KWAKU:
What was your vision for AESLS when you became President? What did you want students to get out of the organization?
TYREEANA:
The most important thing for me was to bring new opportunities to UConn Law for myself and everyone else on campus. I wanted students and staff to hear of the experiences of legal counsel who they may not have heard from otherwise. Especially since entertainment law is niche in Connecticut.
KWAKU:
How did you manage to secure speakers from ESPN and the IP Director at Louis Vuitton? Walk me through that process.
TYREEANA:
Olivia Frantzeskos, who is Vice President of AESLS, secured the speakers from ESPN. I met John Maltbie, IP Director at Louis Vuitton, while attending the Fashion Law Bootcamp at Fordham Law School a few months prior. He was one of the guest speakers/presenters, and I caught up with him afterwards to briefly tell him how much I enjoyed the presentation, that I’m the President of UConn Law AESLS and I’d like to have him present or speak at our campus. He gave me his email and I routinely followed up until we were able to secure a date/time. I’m working on having Mr. Maltbie host an event this semester as well so hopefully that comes to fruition.
KWAKU:
These are the types of events that demystify the elitism of the legal profession. Why was it important to you to create that access for your peers?
TYREEANA:
It was important for me to show my peers that anything is possible if you try. Don’t be afraid to reach out to someone if they are in a field you’re interested in. Most attorneys are open to discussing their profession with you, but you have to express that interest first. So, I hope that going forward, students continue to reach out and advocate for themselves if they want to meet or speak to someone in an area they’re interested in. The worst the attorney can say is “no” and in that case, there’s always someone else to ask!
KWAKU:
Most recently, you became a research assistant for UConn School of Business. In what ways do you think this role is going to help you, and do you broadly recommend students going outside of traditionally legal spaces to become more well-rounded legal professionals?
TYREEANA:
Being a research assistant has enhanced my legal research skills. If there’s an opportunity that interests someone, I always say go for it. Although I’m working with a professor from the UConn School of Business, the article we are working on is for a business law journal. So, everything that you do doesn’t have to be directly related or stem from a law firm or law school. There is something to learn in every experience and you’ll never know until you try.
KWAKU:
What are the keys to successfully juggling all your various on and off-campus roles?
TYREEANA:
Getting lots of sleep! I also use the generic calendar app on my phone/laptop and have a physical planner. Generally, I’d say remembering that everything isn’t due at once and prioritizing is what’s most effective for time management.
KWAKU:
Do you think fashion law and criminal defense, which most people will see as completely different worlds, intersect? If so, why and how?
TYREEANA:
There are aspects of fashion law that involve criminal law, such as counterfeiting, which is a huge aspect of fashion law and the clearest intersection between fashion law and criminal defense. Counterfeiting has been linked to terrorist organizations, drug organizations, and other criminal enterprises. The money made from counterfeit products is used to fund those operations. So the worlds of fashion law and criminal law aren’t that far apart in that regard.
KWAKU:
Do you see yourself eventually choosing between fashion law and criminal defense, or do you envision a career that incorporates both?
TYREEANA:
For me, it’s not about choosing between either field. I would be happy doing either. Ideally, I’d like to work in more than one area of law, whether it’s fashion law and criminal defense or some other combination, which I believe I can do.
KWAKU:
If you had to explain to a 1L or a prospective law student why it is valuable to explore different interests rather than specializing immediately, what would you say?
TYREEANA:
Everyone goes into law school for different reasons and comes in with different experiences. So if someone is certain of what area interests them and decides to hyper focus on that, I think that’s great because they’re confident in their choice. If you come into law school open to trying new things, then I’d definitely recommend seeing what areas you gravitate towards, which areas seem interesting, and trying something out of your comfort zone. There’s so many areas of law to pursue and it’s fun to see what’s out there before committing, if you are able to.
KWAKU:
How do you want people to remember your time leading AESLS? What legacy are you hoping to leave?
TYREEANA:
I hope my time as President of AESLS is remembered as bringing unique, fun, and innovative events to our campus.
KWAKU:
Is there anything I haven’t asked that you think is important for students to take away from your journey and/or the work you’re doing?
TYREEANA:
To my fellow students, I’d like to say that it’s important to keep in mind that your journey is your own. Do not feel the need to compare yourself with others because you are just as capable as the next person. Make the most of law school and enjoy it while you can!
Seeing how stressful and isolating law school can be, the founding members created RECESS to give students a chance to connect, unwind, and enjoy campus beyond the books.
When I moved to the U.S. in 2017, I was encouraged to take a more “stable” career path in Healthcare, but I knew my calling was law. That conviction led me to the University of Ghana School of Law and eventually to UConn Law, where I earned my LLM in Energy and Environmental Law.