Derrick Parker Jr. Makes History as First Lawyer in His Family After Graduating from Harvard Law School

As a student lawyer, he interned at the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, DLA Piper Global Law Firm, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, and the US House of Representatives

Jun 25, 2024 - 14:38

Derrick Parker Jr. Makes History as First Lawyer in His Family After Graduating from Harvard Law School

Derrick Parker Jr., a 24-year-old African-American man from Kansas City, Missouri, has graduated from Harvard Law School, marking a historic achievement as the first lawyer in his family. Parker shared on LinkedIn that he passed the bar exam on his first attempt, allowing him to practice in any UBE jurisdiction. "I was determined to take (and pass) the bar before graduating from law school. Well…..I PASSED THE FEBRUARY BAR EXAM with a score high enough to practice in any UBE jurisdiction! Glory be to God! #OneAndDone #EsquireMe #JDloading," he wrote.

Celebrating his achievement on social media, Parker expressed that he had fulfilled his ancestors’ wildest dreams. During his time at Harvard, he was a member of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau and served on the executive board of the Black Law Students Association.

"My name is Derrick Parker. I’m 24, and today, I graduated from Harvard Law School. I am my ancestors’ wildest dream. #BlackLawyersMatter #HarvardLaw #MamaWeMadeIt #Esquire #LawGraduate," he posted.

Parker's academic journey includes graduating as the top student from Morehouse College in 2018 with a Bachelor’s degree. As a student lawyer, he interned at the Fulton County District Attorney’s office, DLA Piper Global Law Firm, the Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, and the US House of Representatives. He was also a member of several honor societies, including Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, Pi Sigma Alpha, and Alpha Lambda Delta.

Parker's story is a testament to dedication and hard work, as he continues to inspire others through his accomplishments.