“As a Wichita State alum and former Jabara Scholar, being named a recipient of the J.L. Weigand Trust Scholarship has once again bolstered my love of the Wichita community. I am elated to become a member of such a prestigious network of scholars. I hope to honor J.L.’s legacy by serving Kansans with integrity and competence.”


Leah Cerretti

Washburn University
Weigand Scholar: 2022, 2023

View Leah’s video

Hometown:
Emporia, KS

Education:
B.B.A., Entrepreneurship with a minor in Management and an emphasis in Real Estate
Wichita State University, 2010

  • Graduated with highest honors, Summa Cum Laude
  • Professor Fran Jabara Endowed Scholarship in Entrepreneurship 2007
  • Distinguished Scholarship Invitational Top 50 Scholarship 2007

J.D., Washburn University School of Law, 2022

  • Member at Large, Washburn Student Bar Association 2020
  • Student Ambassador, Washburn University School of Law 2020, 2021
  • Dawson Scholarship
  • Case, Moses, & Zimmerman P.A. Law Student Scholarship 2021
  • ABWA Scholarship 2020, 2021

Professional:

  • Student Member, Council of Parent Attorneys & Advocates, Inc.
  • Student Member, Women Attorneys Association of Topeka
  • Student Member, Wichita Bar Association
  • Student Member, KCMO Bar Association

Leah attended high school in Emporia, Kansas graduating in December of 2006. She began college at Emporia State University in the Spring of 2007 before transferring to Wichita State University in the Fall. She was named a 2007 recipient of the Professor Fran Jabara Endowed Scholarship. She graduated from WSU in December of 2010 with a business administration degree, majoring in Entrepreneurship, minoring in marketing, and focusing in real estate.

Leah moved to Ottawa, KS, and over the course of several years had three children. She and her family returned to Emporia in the Fall of 2015. Leah worked as the office manager of a physical therapy clinic for three years. She also co-founded a real estate investment company. Leah was the managing member of that venture until she decided to apply to law school.

Leah began her law school career part-time at the University of Missouri Kansas City School of Law in the Fall of 2019. She commuted from Emporia two days a week while continuing her work as an office manager. During this semester, she decided to transfer to Washburn University School of Law to shorten the commute and attend law school full time. She began at Washburn in the Spring of 2020.

In her first year at Washburn Law, Leah served as a member-at-large on the Washburn Student Bar Association. From Fall of 2020 through Spring of 2022, Leah volunteered as a Student Ambassador for Washburn University School of Law.

Leah is currently a student member of the Women Attorneys Association of Topeka, American Bar Association, National Association for Counsel of Children, and Council of Parent Advocates & Attorneys.

Leah volunteers as a court-appointed special advocate for two children with SOS CASA of the Flint Hills. Additionally, she serves as a special education advocate and legal surrogate in her local school district for two children in DCF custody through Families Together, Inc.

During the summer of 2021, Leah completed a remote externship with the PELE Special Education Advocacy Law Clinic at William & Mary Law School. In that role, Leah had the opportunity to attend several IEP meetings where she was able to ask poignant questions on behalf of the represented parent. Leah was assigned one case in particular that had the potential to be picked up by the DOJ based on racial discrimination claims. Leah spent a great deal of time researching topic-specific laws and regulations, communicating with parents, attending meetings in furtherance of Clinic goals, and drafting court documents.

In August of 2021, Leah began a volunteer internship with Kansas Legal Services (KLS) of Emporia. In that role, she was primarily responsible for completing children’s disability SSI applications. Leah transitioned to part-time employment as a Rule 715 Legal Intern with KLS in April of 2022. In February of 2022, KLS received a $50,000 grant (Porter Grant) from the Emporia Community Foundation (ECF), $25,000 of which was designated to be used in Lyon County. Leah’s supervising attorney oversees her work as she handles most all of the expungements in KLS Emporia Office. In addition to her other duties, Leah attends Citizen’s Review Board hearings as a stand-in for the attorney serving as Guardian ad litem and consults on cases involving special education handled by KLS offices as requested.