Lana El-Etr (JD, ‘26) at the University of Cincinnati College of Law

Science, Law, and Faith

How Lana El-Etr is Shaping her Future at Cincinnati Law

When Lana El-Etr’s (JD, ‘26) family learned she was pursuing a third degree in higher education, there was not only support, but all sorts of questions:

  • “How long will it take?” her dad wanted to know. 
  • “What will you do?” her grandma asked. 
  • “Where will you work?” her brother wondered. 
  • “Will you stay close?” asked her mom.  

As the first to go to law school in her family, she knew it was a risk to pursue a JD. But her passion has always been in academics. While earning a dual Bachelor of Science in Genetics and Genomics Science and Master's of Science in Multidisciplinary Biomedical Science at the University of Alabama Birmingham, she enrolled in free edX courses from Harvard and MIT professors in her spare time. One course on bioethics detailed how data privacy, testing, and medical operations impact the legal field. After that, attaining a legal degree next just made sense.

I realized law could combine science with advocacy. I saw how I could be a voice and make an impact.

Like many young people who saw their parents sacrifice for their children’s futures, Lana wanted to make the most of what she had been given. After getting married in Lebanon, Lana’s mother decided to join her father in the United States where he was studying medicine. At the time, she chose to set aside her career ambitions to raise a family thousands of miles from her own. That sacrifice has never been lost on Lana.

Joele Newman (JD, ‘26)

“It was really hard for my mom to leave her home and family,” she said. “Why would my parents sacrifice so much for me, to not find a fulfilling and stable career?”

For Lana, who grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee, choosing the University of Cincinnati College of Law wasn’t easy; it meant moving farther away from her two younger brothers and parents than preferred. While drawn to the campus’ diversity and nearby healthcare job opportunities, what may have sealed the deal was the local food scene she and her dad discovered during their city tour.

“I’m a foodie, and Cincinnati was exactly what I was looking for,” she noted, mentioning her love for orange lattes and mom-and-pop coffee shops. “Having personal enjoyment while in law school is very important to me.”

Now in her second year of law school, Lana said one of her biggest challenges in preparing for a legal career is her long-standing struggle with public speaking. Growing up in a multilingual household, she was told her English was too fast from an early age and was known for being a speedy talker.  

As the oldest child, her parents taught her to be self-reliant. As an adult, she said she rarely asks for help. But knowing public speaking would be crucial to her career as an attorney, she sought support. Her mentor, a patent attorney from Procter and Gamble, connected her to Toastmasters.

I want to be continuously challenged. The best things in life aren’t easy, and public speaking is no different.

Interested in applying her learnings from Toastmasters, she recently presented to Cincinnati Law’s incoming class on the topic of transitioning to law school. Her first piece of advice: prioritize what matters.

“Law school moves quickly. If you don’t set time for other things, it will take all your time, so knowing your non-negotiables is important,” she shared. Her biggest non-negotiable is family. “I call my mom every week–she is my best friend.” 

Routine is another essential part of transitioning to law school, according to Lana. For Lana, this is reinforced by her Muslim faith. As a member of the Cincinnati and Ohio Student Bar Associations, social event coordinator for the Muslim Law Student Association, a member of the Intellectual Property and Computer Law Journal, and president of the Health Care Law Society, she balances a lot with academics. But every morning, Lana wakes up early to pray, and this sets a clear tone and intention for the busy day ahead.

Aspects of her faith—like praying five times a day, fasting throughout the year, and abstaining from alcohol—she said, have given her strength during her law school experience. During her second semester in law school, she made the personal decision to become a hijabi, feeling confident that she was ready for this next step in her commitment to Islam. Instead of announcing this decision to her friends, she showed up wearing a hijab for the first time at the sixth annual Keating Muething & Klekamp PLL (KMK) Law Student Diversity Case Competition—prepared to answer questions. 

Lana recalls a little fear that came with that decision. She said, “People weren’t sure if they should mention it. One of my friends asked, ‘How was your break?’ and I replied, ‘Oh, I got a haircut.’ We both laughed.” 

“Authenticity is very important,” she added. “I wanted to be true to myself and show I could be both a dedicated law student and a proud Muslim woman, recognizing the biases and the need to educate people. You give up certain things, but you gain so much more.” 

“I’m here to make a difference. If I don’t, who will?”


- Lana El-Etr, JD ‘26

Joele Newman

Recalling when the law school announced the hire of Dean Haider Ala Hamoudi, Lana said she was thrilled. She attested that his presence has been a huge source of inspiration for Muslim students. 

“Having a Muslim dean has been wonderful, knowing there’s someone who understands,” noting the significance of seeing a Muslim in a high-ranking position in the field of law. “He’s a genius; I look up to him.”

Like Dean Hamoudi, Lana is familiar with what it takes to carve out her own path in the legal field while still holding onto her religious and cultural identity. As a Muslim woman with a STEM background in law, she said finding community as an outlier isn’t impossible. At Cincinnati Law, she’s found friendships through affinity groups like the Muslim Law Students Association, cultural events on campus, as well as among the general student body where the common denominator is often diversity of thought.

“Our class may not be as physically diverse, but the people here are incredibly educated,” she says. “There’s a lot you can’t see just by looking at someone. I’ve learned so much from people with unorthodox paths and backgrounds.”

Being part of that network of fellow students is what helped Lana land her first job during her 1L year. After hearing about a respected personal injury law firm that combines scientific research with litigation through a friend, she sent an email to connect. During the interview, it was hearing about her STEM background that helped her secure the position.  

“There are so many things in healthcare that typical lawyers don't understand, like reading medical records and knowing how to translate that to a client,” she said. "I really like the intersectionality of science and healthcare with law.”

Joele Newman

One year into her position at the firm, she said it has been refreshing to work with another attorney who also shares a science background. Their efforts to increase diversity within the firm and to create a more inclusive culture have also made for a positive experience.

“They offered me a room where I could pray and even made sure to schedule a work event after Ramadan without me asking. That was a big deal. They’ve made an effort to be accommodating,” she said. “I don’t want to be hired for a quota. I want people to know me for my voice and mind.”  

On her wrists, Lana wears a set of bracelets from her grandmother and a pendant of Lebanon around her neck, reminding her of where she comes from and where she’s headed. “My family pushes me to be better,” she says. “It’s never ‘I don’t know.’ It’s ‘I don’t know—yet.’”

That mindset keeps her moving forward, always focused on a future where she is living out her purpose. She reflected, “I think about my future a lot—and how I can use my education to help people who don’t have a voice, especially Muslims and Middle Eastern people,” she said. “I’m here to make a difference. If I don’t, who will?” 


Want to learn more about our students and their journey to (and through) law school? Read more stories on the "Meet Our Students" page. See yourself at Cincinnati Law!   

Author: Bachmeyer Press

Photographer: Asa Featherstone IV

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