Meet IU McKinney Student Allison Riklin
10/01/2025
Allison Riklin is a 3L from Newton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. She is president of S.C.R.A.P. and encourages students to take part in pro bono service while in law school, even if it’s not with her student group.
Where did you do your undergraduate/graduate studies and what was your major?
I graduated magna cum laude from Loyola University of Chicago for undergraduate, where I majored in criminology and criminal justice, and minored in political science on the pre-law track.
Did you work before coming to law school? If so, please tell me a little about that, if you would.
I went straight through from college to law school, but while I was in school, I interned with the Circuit Court of Cook County’s Juvenile Probation Department in Chicago.
What brought you to IU McKinney?
I was encouraged by one of Loyola’s pre-law advisors to throw a wide net while applying to law schools, but generally to have a focus on state-schools that have national recognition and out-of-state scholarship opportunities. IU has a great name for itself, so I was drawn to a school like this that would hopefully carry well outside of Indiana since I hope to practice either back in Boston or Chicago. When I was making my decision on where to enroll, I searched through McKinney’s faculty list and identified professors with experience that aligned with what I was interested in. I then scheduled Zoom meetings with them to get their input on the school, the programs/courses offered, and to learn more about them and their experiences. Through these meetings I heard great things about McKinney and ultimately decided to put down my deposit here and drove a U-Haul down to Indy by myself to start this new chapter of my life. A special shoutout to Professor Lahny Silva and her community commitments through being the faculty advisor for S.C.R.A.P. and the REACH clinic. As a fellow Boston-native, she made me feel right at home and encouraged me to participate in her programs as soon as possible.
Any lawyers in the family? What made you want to become a lawyer?
I will be the first attorney in my family. Like many law students, I wanted to go to law school and become a lawyer to help people. More specifically, I wanted to work as a government attorney and work to rebuild community trust in the law and the criminal justice system. So many folks do not trust that the system works for them or in their favor (rightfully so based on the system’s historic treatment of marginalized groups), so I hope to work directly with clients and advocate for their needs and a rehabilitation of the system in favor of restorative or community-based justice. Also making the legal system more accessible to all, as I’ll touch on in my S.C.R.A.P. commitment.
Have you taken part in any clinics or other externships at IU McKinney? If so, please tell me about that, if you would.
In addition to my S.C.R.A.P. work, I am also a teacher’s assistant in the REACH (Re-Entry and Community Help) clinic. Through my work in the clinic, I’ve had the privilege of working directly with the Honorable Magistrate Judge Tim A. Baker and advocating for the interests and support of a recently released federal probationer. This experience has not only strengthened my legal writing and client advocacy skills, but also given me a glimpse into the rigor, responsibility, and intellectual engagement required of the judiciary and the legal professionals who work in it. It has been an absolutely amazing experience collaborating with the Southern District judges, U.S. Attorneys, federal defenders, and U.S. probation representatives. I also deeply appreciate McKinney’s commitment to re-entry work and the inclusion of law student-mentors in the federal program. I hope to also apply for a judicial externship in the spring with the Southern District federal judges/magistrates so I can learn more about the work done by the federal judiciary.
What motivated you to get involved with S.C.R.A.P.? What do you get out of your experience with the organization?
Even prior to starting at McKinney, I knew I had an interest in criminal law and doing something involved with corrections/incarceration. When I was checking out the student organizations active at the school and speaking with Professor Silva, S.C.R.A.P. immediately caught my attention as an incredibly worthwhile opportunity to get involved with and offer assistance to the Indianapolis community early on in my studies. For folks that don’t know, S.C.R.A.P. stands for Second Chance Re-Entry Assistance Program. The organization assists formerly incarcerated individuals and their families during their transition and reintegration back into broader society. We aid this transition by securing stable housing and gainful employment, supplying basic necessities, helping them enroll in government services, and attaining valid driver’s licenses. Throughout the school year, we host pop-up clinics around Indianapolis and assist participants with obtaining the unique services they need. My experience with S.C.R.A.P. has further solidified my desire to work in criminal law and to offer assistance with vulnerable community groups, like those who have been formerly incarcerated. By showing these folks that there is a group that cares about their wellbeing and long-term community success, we are changing how the Indy community thinks about lawyers and the legal system which was once focused on locking up people and throwing away the key. We also build on our legal knowledge and help explain the work we do to make the legal process more accessible, as court filings/motions can be complicated and confusing to non-lawyers. It is truly special to work with an organization that values re-entry work and assisting all community members regardless of their criminal history. Everyone deserves zealous advocacy, and SCRAP has given me this client-facing experience to advocate for client needs while still in law school. I hope to continue this kind of work in my future career, pro bono or otherwise.
What would you recommend to another law student who is seeking out a pro bono opportunity?
I’d recommend just getting involved anywhere you can. Of course, as the president, I love S.C.R.A.P., but I have also volunteered with Pro Bono Indiana which has a great connection to McKinney students. Same with my experience with the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office and their commitment to second-chance workshops and expungements. Although pro bono hours are not required to graduate, I encourage everyone to still get involved and give back to their community, even while just a law student and not yet a practicing attorney. Especially for the 1Ls who do not yet have enough credit hours to participate in a clinic, S.C.R.A.P. is a great opportunity to familiarize yourself with clinic-like environments, legal document preparation (motions practice), and client interaction, especially because those skills are not taught directly in law school coursework.
What area of law are you hoping to practice in after you complete your legal education?
My main interest is litigation and trial advocacy. Right now, that looks like criminal law, but I am still curious about civil litigation, especially civil rights and §1983 claims. I hope to work as a government attorney (state or defense) and serve the public while rebuilding their trust in government and the criminal justice system.
