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A Lifeline Through Law: Amna Ćehaja

College of Law student set to celebrate a milestone generations in the making.

Smiling Law Student, Amna, standing next to Library book case with arms crossed in a proud stance
Amna Ćehaja, pictured in DePaul’s Rinn Law Library | Photo by Aubreonna Chamberlain/DePaul University

Amna Ćehaja’s Chicago beginnings started in 1999 when her family left their home country of Bosnia to find refuge. Her family's decision to escape the war-torn nation sowed the seed that gave life to Ćehaja’s healthcare law journey. This May, she will celebrate a milestone many years in the making as she graduates from DePaul’s College of Law.  

Ćehaja recalls having to translate various documents and conversations on behalf of her parents. Her decision to pursue healthcare law stemmed from the many visits she translated for her parents.  

“Originally, I wanted to do something like nursing school or medical school,” she says, but found she didn’t have a passion for science or math. “So I thought about how I could fit that into law.” Pursuing healthcare law, she seeks to be an instrument in ensuring all patients get access to the care they need. 

Ćehaja began her journey at DePaul in the 3+3 BA/JD program, an accelerated pathway where students complete their bachelor and law school degrees in six years. The class “Healthcare Compliance and Regulations” catalyzed her plans to pursue healthcare law. Learning about fraud and abuse cases in the healthcare system sparked interest in litigating medical malpractice.  

“Who's going to fix this? What's my role in this?” she recalls pondering. “I don't want to make an impact individually, but on a bigger scale, where I'm not only helping one person but a whole community.” 


A First (generation) for everything

Old family picture of law student, Amna, in Bosnia
From Bosnia to Chicago: Amna (pictured left) with her parents. Pictured provided by Amna Ćehaja

The reality of being a first-generation high school, college and law school graduate weighs heavily on her. It also inspires her to keep going. 

"If this doesn't work out, it can feel like I let my parents down. But then I remind myself that I really love doing this now,” she says. “I started it for them, but I feel like I'm ending it for myself because I'm doing what I love.”   

According to her faculty mentors, she’s doing things right.  

“Amna has been a dream student who actively engages in class discussion and always adds valuable insights,” says Wendy Netter Epstein, professor and associate dean of research in the College of Law. “She has also made a point of seeking out real-world experience while pursuing her JD and has impressed her employers along the way. I can’t wait to see how she makes a positive impact in the world with her degrees after graduation.” ​


Academics and community

Smiling Law Student, Amna, standing with MLSA
Amna with friends from the Muslim Law Student Association | Pictured provided by Amna Ćehaja


Maria Vertuno, associate dean of student affairs at the law school, says Ćehaja “exemplifies how to optimize the law school experience.” Her resume reflects this.  

Ćehaja earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from DePaul, graduating Summa Cum Laude. During her time in law school, she was actively involved in the Journal of Healthcare Law and recently had an article published in the journal. She is also a fellow of DePaul’s Jaharis Health Law Institute and most recently became a Board Fellow of the prestigious Illinois Association of Healthcare Attorneys (IAHA).  

She is part of just the second class to complete the BA/JD program since its inception. The program is a cohort model, and Ćehaja says it’s been important to rely on community while also recognizing your efforts along the way.  

“When it gets tough, I have a good community here with the Muslim Law Student Association. We're all very tight knit,” she says. “It's very nice to have a community that you can always resort to, because it's like family.”​​