Southern University Law Center, Orleans Public Defenders, and the Black Public Defender Association Announce Inaugural Diamonique Whaley Attorney Fellowship to Honor Alumna’s Legacy and Champion Public Defense in New Orleans
Baton Rouge, LA — Southern University Law Center (SULC), in partnership with the Orleans Public Defenders (OPD) and the Black Public Defender Association (BPDA), proudly announces the launch of the Diamonique Whaley Attorney Fellowship. This yearlong fellowship with the Orleans Public Defenders provides recent Southern Law graduates with a unique and impactful opportunity to launch their careers in public defense and community advocacy.
The fellowship is named in memory of Diamonique Whaley, a graduate of Southern University Law Center, and dedicated Staff Attorney with OPD in New Orleans. Throughout her legal career, Whaley zealously represented people navigating the legal system, but her passion was working with kids in both the juvenile and adult legal systems. Whaley was deeply committed to advocating for her clients and fighting against the injustices of the criminal legal system and harms of system interaction.
The Diamonique Whaley Attorney Fellowship honors a legacy of fierce advocacy and aims to equip rising public defenders with the tools and experiences needed to advance justice in marginalized communities. In honoring Whaley’s memory, the fellowship ensures her passion for zealous representation and advocacy continues through others.
“The launch of the Diamonique Whaley Attorney Fellowship marks a powerful continuation of Southern University Law Center’s proud legacy of social justice, community empowerment, and service,” said Dr. Marla Dickerson, vice chancellor of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships and Initiatives at Southern University Law Center. “This fellowship honors the enduring spirit of public defense and the courageous commitment of Diamonique Whaley, who dedicated her legal talents to uplifting the voices of those who are too often silenced. The fellowship also honors SULC’s mission to produce attorneys who are not only skilled advocates, but also tireless champions of equity and justice who will continue the remarkable legacy of Diamonique Whaley.”
“Diamonique was an extraordinary lawyer, advocate for her clients, and tremendous colleague, said Chief Public Defender Danny Engelberg. “She approached her work with dogged determination and grace, and walked into the courtroom every day ready to stand up for her clients she deeply believed in, and ensure their voices were heard. OPD and New Orleans are better for her being a part of our fight for dignity, justice, and hope for our community.”
Launching in the fall of 2026, the Diamonique Whaley Attorney Fellowship is a one-year, full-time opportunity for recent SULC graduates to begin powerful careers in public defense while advocating for and representing people in New Orleans. The fellow will gain immersive legal experience within OPD and benefit from structured mentorship and receive targeted and robust professional development through BPDA.
For more information about the fellowship and how to apply, please visit www.opdla.org/employment-opportunities.
About Southern University Law Center
Established in 1947, the Southern University Law Center is a progressive, innovative institution that provides access and opportunity to a diverse group of students from underrepresented racial, ethnic, and socio-economic groups to obtain a high-quality legal education with training in both civil and common law. Located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, the Law Center is one of five institutions comprising the Southern University System – the only HBCU system in the nation. The institution is nationally recognized for its diversity, racial justice initiatives, and community outreach efforts.
About Orleans Public Defenders
The mission of the Orleans Public Defenders Office (OPD) is to provide excellent client-centered representation, reform the system, and partner with community. Created in the wake of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation to New Orleans, OPD has set the bar for public defense in Louisiana through our participatory defense model that partners with clients, protects innocence, holds power accountable, and advocates for alternatives to mass incarceration.
About Black Public Defender Association
The Black Public Defender Association aims to improve the quality of defense provided to low-income communities across the United States by creating and maintaining a national network of skilled Black public defenders that identify with and are committed to the populations they serve.
###
