Sheraya Bernard represents the evolution of legal excellence through lived experience and commitment to advocacy. A small-town girl from South Louisiana who made Houston, Texas her home before pursuing law school, Sheraya brings a perspective shaped by over 15 years of experience in the legal industry, advancing from file clerk to senior paralegal across boutique, midsize, and Big Law firms.

Currently a rising 3L at Southern Illinois University Simmons Law School, Sheraya has distinguished herself as a dual National Bar Association Law Student Fellow—a rare honor that reflects her exceptional versatility. She served as a 2024-2025 fellow in both the Intellectual Property Law Section and Insurance Law Section of the National Bar Association, engaging directly with leading practitioners while contributing to strategic planning for the NBA's landmark Centennial Convention. Her leadership is also evident in her former role as President of SIU BLSA. She simultaneously served as the 2024-2025 Vice Chair of the Midwest Region of NBLSA, overseeing roughly 47 law school chapters across 13 states. Her influence on institutional governance shines through her service on both the Dean Selection Committee and Faculty Selection Committee at SIU Law.

Her current professional portfolio demonstrates her knowledge and interest in the judiciary and in-house counsel roles. As a Law Clerk at SIU's Office of the General Counsel, she conducts complex legal research on higher education matters while managing cases before state agencies. Concurrently, she enjoys working with federal judges and law clerks as a Judicial Extern at the United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.

Sheraya's commitment to public service extends through past work with the Federal Public Defender's Office, Land of Lincoln Legal Aid, The Immigration Project conducting asylum seeker interviews, and the Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice as a Student Leader. Her dedication has earned recognition through numerous prestigious awards, including the Illinois Judicial Council Award, the Agnes McGirth Award from the Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago, Public Interest Advocate Award, and the SIU Distinguished Student Service Award.

A first-generation college graduate and accomplished campaign manager who helped secure a judicial election victory in Houston, TX, Sheraya is also a passionate community builder who has explored cultures across Ghana, Japan, Bali, Germany, Haiti, Guyana and beyond, embodying the principle that diverse experiences become professional superpowers. A former dance teacher with a love for theatre and performing arts, she maintains her passion for connecting with people from all walks of life while building bridges across communities.

Sheraya's journey proves there's more than one way to pursue your dreams. Her global perspective, industry experience, and proven leadership within many organizations position her to contribute meaningfully to the evolving legal profession. Sheraya Bernard represents the future of transformative legal advocacy rooted in authentic experience and commitment to justice.