Hemans receives YLD Pro Bono Service Award.

When Tremaine L. Hemans walked into her first class at Florida International University College of Law, she was one of only three Black students in her section of more than 70 students and initially "wrongly decided" she did not belong there.

Not wanting anyone else to ever feel like she did that day, the experience launched Hemans' journey into pro bono work, mentorship, and immigration law.

Now just three years into her legal career, Hemans is the recipient of the 2022 Florida Bar Young Lawyers Division Pro Bono Service Award.

Hemans was born in Moneague, St. Ann. Jamaica, and immigrated to the United States where she is passionate about advocating for the rights of immigrants seeking their American dream, the same dream she had when she entered the U.S.

"It was not until I became an active member of our Black Law Student's Association, where I met Jeremy Thompson, who was the first of many persons who took me under their wing at FIU Law, that I learned how to network and go outside of the four walls of school to interact with others and to be confident in who I was," Hemans said. "I was able to meet businesspeople, attorneys, judges, and other individuals who were so willing to take time out of their busy schedules to sit and talk with me...."

Hemans, managing attorney and CEO of the Hemans Law Group, P.A., based in Miami and Ft, Lauderdale, has provided pro bono work on Violence Against Women Act cases, helping victims of domestic violence obtain permanent residency without their abusive spouse or parent. Hemans is currently working on a pro bono political asylum case in immigration court.

As a leader who has charted the path for first-generation Black law students, Hemans serves as a resource and beacon of inspiration to high school and undergraduate students who come from low-income backgrounds. Her goal has always been to increase the number of Black students attending and succeeding in law school, and she accomplishes this through her mentorship program, Legally Trem, which offers mentorship for any college student facing the pressures of undergraduate and graduate education, who may be struggling with the demands of school and needs help with study habits, managing anxiety, testing skills, and networking skills.

Hemans has reached over 200 high school, college, and graduate students through Legally Trem, and she has helped six candidates pass the Florida or New York bar exams.

"I dedicated my summer to Black law students sitting...