Class of 2026 Commencement Feature: Jennifer Osita
Jennifer Osita’s path to Notre Dame Law School began in hospital rooms, not courtrooms. After graduating from college, Jennifer was a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) nurse, where she learned that advocacy often starts with the smallest, most vulnerable patients.
“I was working with very sick newborns, attending high-risk deliveries and C-sections,” Jennifer said. The bonds she formed in those high-stakes moments were lasting. “A lot of the children I took care of are much older now, and the parents never fail to reach out to me on Nurses Appreciation Week to send updates of their kids flourishing.”
After moving into emergency trauma nursing at Memorial Hermann Medical Center in Houston and working through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Jennifer began travel nursing. While she enjoyed the hands-on care, a lifelong sense of calling began to resurface. “Ever since I was younger, I felt like I acted like a lawyer,” she said. “In my family, we have a long line of medical professionals, so that field was realistic. I loved learning about the human body, but I knew it wasn't my entire life.”
The turning point came during a period of professional “boredom” during the pandemic. She began studying for the LSAT, telling herself, “If God says it’s not time, it’s not time. But if it is, then I’m going.” The answer came on her birthday in the form of an acceptance letter from Notre Dame. For Jennifer, the news was a full-circle spiritual moment.
“I grew up at Notre Dame Catholic Church in Texas. I was baptized there, had my first Holy Communion and confirmation there,” she said. “Getting into Notre Dame Law School on my birthday, after praying for it, was a sign from God.”
At Notre Dame, Jennifer found a community that allowed her to integrate her identity and her beliefs. She became a leader in the Black Law Students Association, serving as secretary and helping foster connections in a profession where representation can feel limited. She also participated in the Women’s Legal Forum and the Saint Thomas More Society, seeking out spaces that aligned with her commitment to both faith and service.
Beyond academics, Jennifer revived the Law School’s Run Club while training for the Houston Chevron Marathon, an experience that tested her physical and mental endurance in new ways. “Running teaches you a lot about pushing through discomfort,” she said. “That mindset carries over into everything else, even law school.”
Her legal interests evolved as she progressed through law school. Initially drawn to transactional health law, Jennifer discovered a passion for litigation through her coursework and mock trial experience. “I came in saying I never wanted to be in a courtroom,” she said. “Now, I love it.”
To Jennifer, her medical expertise is an asset. During her 2L summer, she worked at a mid-sized firm in Houston doing personal injury law. She found herself reading medical records with a trained eye. “I’ve been groomed for years since nursing school to understand disease processes,” she said. “Using that knowledge in law feels like a full circle moment.”
This intersection of clinical experience and legal training defines what being a “different kind of lawyer” means to her. She compares it to the difference between a nurse who simply does their job and one who truly cares. Jennifer recalled holding infants when no one came to visit them, and finding small ways to show compassion in difficult moments. While the legal profession requires different boundaries, Jennifer plans to carry that same spirit into her work. “It’s about making people feel heard,” she said. “Making sure they know you’re truly invested in their case.”
Jennifer’s biggest takeaway from her time at Notre Dame is the power of vulnerability. “I came in thinking I had to do it all on my own to be strong,” she admits. “I realized that it’s okay to lean on others. Building genuine connections with your classmates and professors makes you stronger.”