Aniyah Vines, a second-year student at Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, is making an impact as the Warrant Clinic Coordinator for Black Voters Matter. Vines began her academic career at Howard University, where she graduated magna cum laude in 2022 with degrees in Political Science and Criminology. While at Howard, she served as Chairwoman of the NAACP Education Committee and later became President of the university’s NAACP chapter.
Her dedication to advocacy and justice was shaped by personal tragedy following the death of her cousin, Delrawn Smalls, who was killed by an off-duty police officer in Brooklyn in 2016. This event led her to pursue a career focused on legal reform and community organizing.
When discussing her motivation for entering law, Vines said: “Knowing that I can potentially better the legal system so that justice is the actual foundation of the justice system motivates me to continue through both the good and the bad moments.”
Reflecting on her early experiences at law school, she shared: “Walking into my first class during my 1L year meant that I was supposed to be here, and that I had a chance to make myself and my family proud.”
At Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School, Vines has taken on multiple leadership roles. She is President of the Real Estate Law Society, Academic Chairwoman of the Black Law Students Association, and Director of the Peer Mentoring Program. Her academic achievements include being named twice to the Dean’s List and receiving CALI Awards in Legal Writing, Research, and Analysis I and II.
In addition to her academic pursuits, Vines coordinates warrant clinics through Black Voters Matter. In this role, she collaborates with local officials and community organizations to help individuals resolve outstanding warrants without fear of arrest. These clinics aim to remove barriers that prevent people from participating fully in civic life.
Vines also completed a litigation internship with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. During this internship, she assisted attorneys with legal research on civil rights issues related to education equity and criminal justice reform.
Vines continues to focus on using law as a tool for change both within communities and in courtrooms. Her experiences reflect a commitment to advocacy shaped by personal history and professional involvement.