Thank you to Equal Justice America for sponsoring the Veterans’ Rights Fellowship at Neighborhood Legal Services. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to serve members of the veteran community in Washington, D.C.
This fellowship is a culmination of my previous legal experience and my passion for serving my neighbors. During law school, I served as a student practitioner in Mercer Law’s Habeas Clinic. Being a member of the clinic was one of the most meaningful experiences of my academic career and gave me the opportunity to connect with clients and assist with appellate litigation before the Supreme Court of Georgia. It taught me the power of tenacious advocacy and the fulfillment that comes from helping others.
I also participated in the Oxford Consortium for Human Rights in Oxford, England. It was a wonderful experience discussing important topics related to human rights. As part of my participation, I authored a seminar paper focusing on the collateral consequences of a felony conviction and incarceration. In this paper, I explored barriers to housing, employment, and societal perception. A person’s interaction with the legal system can continue to affect nearly every part of their life, often creating additional barriers to housing, employment, financial stability, and independence.
That same understanding is one of the reasons I am particularly drawn to veterans’ rights work. Veterans have made significant sacrifices in service to our country, yet many face complicated legal issues when they return to civilian life or try to access the benefits and resources they have earned. Problems involving disability benefits, housing, employment, family matters, discharge status, and access to government services can have a lasting impact on a veteran’s ability to build a stable life. What draws me to this work is the opportunity to help address those legal barriers before they become even greater obstacles.
My commitment to public service was further recognized during law school through the receipt of a Public Service Certificate and the inaugural Daisy Hurst Floyd Excellence in Leadership Award. Following law school, I was a law clerk in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland. During this year-long clerkship, I was exposed to civil, criminal, and family law dockets and developed important litigation skills that I am eager to use during my fellowship with Neighborhood Legal Services.
I am especially excited about the opportunity to work directly with veterans and to learn more about the unique legal issues they encounter. I hope to become a stronger advocate while helping clients navigate legal systems that can be complicated and intimidating. Just as importantly, I hope to make a meaningful difference in the lives of the veterans I serve. I want my clients to know that they have someone in their corner who will take their concerns seriously and fight for them.
On a personal note, I am passionate about grassroots advocacy and making change within my local community. Veterans are all too often overlooked and underserved by the legal system, and I look forward to bringing that passion to Neighborhood Legal Services and advocating for a community that has given so much to our country. I am grateful to Equal Justice America for making this fellowship possible and excited for the opportunity to learn, serve, and contribute to the Washington, D.C. veteran community.
