Avrye King is not messing around. She is serious about the student organization she leads (Black Law Students Association, also known as BLSA), her football team (Kansas City Chiefs), and building community (in her role as BLSA President). And she’s a second-year law student and staff editor on Washington University’s Journal of Law & Policy too. King’s schedule seems very tight, yet she is smiling as she explains, “I’m very busy, but it helps that I am very organized and have many mentors to rely on. Plus, BLSA has an amazing exec board who works really hard.”
Being involved comes naturally to King, who has been a student leader since she was a junior in high school, serving in the Student Government Association. She was also the president and vice president of several student organizations during her undergrad at Philander Smith University, the HBCU where she graduated as valedictorian after just three years.
King has some big goals for BLSA, including community building, inclusion, and visibility. She knows how important it is for prospective WashULaw students to see students of color and that this is a place where black students can thrive and build a community that connects with black faculty and staff and St. Louis community-focused organizations. King walks the walk as a participant in the Civil Rights and Mediation Clinic working with Legal Services of Eastern Missouri in the Youth and Family Advocacy Program to support homeless and housing insecure youth.
BLSA highlights from the last month demonstrate King’s laser focus on facilitating connections. Events included co-hosting the WashULaw edition of the Gephardt Institute’s The Longest Table, attending the Midwest Region of the National Black Law Students Association (MWBLSA) Regional Convention where WashULaw BLSA won Large Chapter of the Year, and prepping for the 31st Annual BLSA Scholarship Banquet that is chaired by her exec board colleague, BLSA Vice-President Haleigh Hoskins. And there’s more to come at these upcoming BLSA Black History Month events: Black in Corporate on February 28, in partnership with Olin Black MBA Association; Karaoke Game Night on February 29; and a collaboration with Saint Louis University’s BLSA to host a Town Hall for Black Students in Law on March 1.
King’s efforts have not gone unnoticed. Angela Smith, Assistant Dean of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion says, “We are so happy to have Avrye as a valued member of our law school community. Her authenticity is contagious, and her determination is unwavering. I can’t wait to see what she does next!”
Her BLSA leadership will come to an end this year, but King isn’t slowing down. She is considering multiple offers for her 2L summer and has already been elected Managing Editor of the Journal of Law and Policy for 2024-25, plus she fully anticipates celebrating the Chiefs threepeat next February! King’s advice to incoming law students? “Law school is hard, but it’s doable, regardless of where you come from. Don’t let anybody put limitations on what you can do.”