Law Center News
Yodit Tewolde, Class of 2009, named a 2016 NBA “40 Under 40” Award Recipient
Yodit Tewolde, ’09, of the Law Office of Yodit Tewolde, PLLC, in Dallas, Texas, will be among the recipients of the 2016 National Bar Association (NBA) “40 Under 40 Nation’s Best Advocates” awards, the NBA announced recently.
The recipients will be honored during the 91st Annual NBA Convention and Exhibits in St. Louis, Missouri, at a black-tie gala on Monday, July 18. This year, the NBA has also planned a special reunion weekend for all previous recipients of the 40 Under 40 awards.
The awards recognize the nation’s top lawyers under the age 40 who exemplify a broad range of high achievement in the legal field, including advocacy, innovation, vision, leadership, and overall legal and community involvement.
“In the last few years, we have seen more and more demands on lawyers to help lead the way in seeking social justice and economic advancement. Each one of our 40 Under 40 recipients brings something special to the practice of law and this group puts on display the bright future of our profession,” said Benjamin Crump, president of the NBA.
“On behalf of an organization with a wide array of great leaders, I am proud to give them the recognition they deserve as they will continue to make the legal field and our communities a bastion of hope and activism,” Crump said.
Before becoming a defense attorney, Tewolde served as a prosecutor with the Dallas County District Attorney’s Office, where she worked in the adult and juvenile systems. Prior to joining the Dallas DA’s office, she served as a law clerk in the 19th Judicial District Court for the Honorable Trudy M. White.
Originally from Eritrea, a country located in the Horn of Africa, Tewolde immigrated to the United States as an infant and was reared in Dallas, Texas. She earned a B.A. in English, with a Minor in Communication, from Texas A&M University. While attending SULC, she served as the editor-in-chief for the Journal of Race, Gender and Poverty. She also clerked for Judge Irma Ramirez of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas and Judge Douglas D. Dodd of the Middle District of Louisiana.
“SULC not only provided me with the tools to succeed as an attorney, but more importantly, the confidence to go beyond the confines of my law degree and pursue other endeavors,” Tewolde says.
“I have approached every opportunity and obstacle with a seriousness of purpose, and for that, I am forever grateful to have matriculated at SULC.”
As a legal analyst, Tewolde has appeared on Fox Network’s “Happening Now with Jon Scott,” “Fox and Friends,” “Shepard Smith Reporting,” and “Lou Dobbs Tonight;” and the HLN’s “The Daily Share” and “The Dr. Drew Show,” where she discussed high-profile cases and hot-button issues. She is a member of the American Bar Association, Texas Young Lawyers Association, Dallas Bar Association, and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers. Read more about her at: www.yoditlaw.com.
SULC Chancellor John K. Pierre says, “Yodit Tewolde was an outstanding law student and student leader at the Southern University Law Center. I am very pleased that she has continued to evolve as a lawyer-leader.”
For more information on the award recipients, the awards gala, or sponsorship opportunities, contact Aubrey “Nick” Pittman at 40Under40@nationalbar.org.
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