The 2024 Markus Award was bestowed upon Sissi Lopez Diaz Jensen by the law school's clinics in recognition of her exceptional leadership and advocacy for the underprivileged during her work in the Immigration Clinic.
Miami Law alumnus Stuart Markus began practicing law in Miami in 1958 and worked as a trial attorney for 55 years. He was well-known for representing the "little guy," often without accepting a fee. After he died in late 2013 at age 81, his family established the Markus Award at Miami Law, which recognizes a student each year for outstanding work in one of the law school's in-house clinics.
"We are so proud of Sissi. She exemplifies what the Markus Award is all about—fighting for the little guy! My dad spent his career helping the underdog and he would be so happy to know that law students like Sissi are carrying on such an important tradition." said son David Markus, a well-known South Florida defense attorney.
"I am deeply humbled and honored to have the opportunity to continue the legacy of Mr. Markus," said Lopez Diaz Jensen. "Like him, I am driven by the values of community and advocacy. My mother, an immigrant single parent who raised three children on her own, instilled these values in me from a young age. She exemplified resilience and perseverance, emphasizing the importance of always giving back to those who do not possess the social, political, or financial capital to navigate the systems around us on an equal playing field.
"The Immigration Clinic profoundly changed me and cemented for me this belief in the power of legal advocacy. I am immensely grateful to Associate Dean Sharpless, Interim Associate Director Maremont, my clinic peers, and staff for the opportunity to work together through such a transformative year. Most importantly, I am eternally indebted to our clients and their families for entrusting us with their cases and a piece of their lives."
In the 2023 fall semester, Lopez Diaz Jensen was part of a team assigned to the case of a detained woman with a complex criminal and mental health history who was the mother of eight.
Lopez Diaz Jensen traveled numerous times to Baker County Jail outside Jacksonville to interview their client, gather hundreds of pages of exhibits, and litigate the client's cancellation of removal case in immigration court.
She excelled in the School of Law's Litigation Skills program during her 2L year and confidently led her client through a difficult direct examination. The client won. Lopez Diaz Jensen took a leadership role in the clinic's visits to Baker County Jail to screen detained people for immigration relief and to document conditions in the detention center.
This past spring, Lopez Diaz Jensen was the point person for an urgent new clinic project to screen noncitizens in criminal custody in Miami-Dade County custody for eligibility for release from immigration detainers under a partial settlement in a federal case being litigated by the clinic and partners. In a matter of weeks, she helped devise and implement a system for tracking all people in the county with an immigration detainer and organizing students and instructors to interview the individuals. She conducted dozens of client interviews, led weekly student meetings about the project, created scripts and protocols, and contributed to legal strategy in the clinic's ongoing litigation in the federal case.
"Sissi is an inspiring leader with that rare combination of ability and humility. She is well-respected by clinic faculty, staff, and students alike for her skills, compassion, and sense of humor," said Professor Rebecca Sharpless, associate dean for Experiential Learning and director of the Immigration Clinic. "She is wholeheartedly committed to social justice, as demonstrated not only by her work in the clinic but her prior work as a student activist and strong advocate for immigrant communities."
As a result of her experience in the clinic, Lopez Diaz Jensen will continue in the field of immigration law and has secured a competitive two-year post-graduation fellowship, where she will represent noncitizens in various immigration matters.
Read more about Miami Law's clinics.
