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New York University

The following New York University law students have received fellowships from Equal Justice America. These fellowships are made possible by contributions from New York University alumni. With continued support from the alumni, we look forward to putting many more New York University law students and graduates to work providing vitally needed legal assistance to the poor.

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(Equal Justice America is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation unaffiliated with any law school.)
Please click the links below to read more about the students’ EJA Fellowships.

The most rewarding part of this experience has been working directly with tenants facing the scary prospect of eviction, from listening to their fears and concerns, determining a legal strategy based on their needs and priorities, to informing and empowering them with greater knowledge of their rights. One of the best moments of the summer was when a client shared that walking into trial with our team made her feel so much more confident and ready to defend her family home against her landlord’s unwarranted attempts to force them out.
Melanie Nault
New York University School of Law
EJA Summer Fellow, 2023
  • Summer 2024
    • Morgan Awner and Anna Lifsec worked at Brooklyn Defender Services.
    • Madison (Maddie) Butler worked at the American Friends Service Committee in Newark.
    • Miranda Finestone worked at Legal Aid at Work in San Francisco.
    • Jennifer Fu worked at the Community Justice Project in Miami.
    • Mahalia Mathelier worked at the ACLU of DC.
    • Priya Prasad worked at the National Center for Law and Economic Justice in New York.
    • Leor Rosen worked at Manhattan Legal Services.
    • Samantha Santoro worked at Make the Road NY in Brooklyn and the Community Justice Project in Miami.
    • Sunil Tohan worked at Lambda Legal in New York.
  • Fall 2023
    • Claire Ewing-Nelson worked at the Legal Aid Society in New York.
  • Summer 2022
    • Yvonne Diabene worked in the Pro Se Clinic at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
    • Jahnavi Jagannath worked at the Texas Fair Defense Project.
    • Rachel Marandett worked at the ACLU of Southern California in Los Angeles.
    • Helina Meressa worked at Pangea Legal Services in San Francisco.
    • Mary McNicholas worked at Advocates for Children of New York.
    • Jordan Olson worked in the Housing Rights Unit at Manhattan Legal Services.
    • Angelo Pis-Dudot worked at the Community Justice Project in Miami.
    • Leah Starbuck Schuckit worked in the Consumer Practice Group at Legal Aid Chicago.
    • Tina Szpicek worked in the Clean Slate Clinic at the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley.
    • David Tisel worked at the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society in Richmond.
    • Katherine Wallace worked at The Door's Legal Services Center in New York.
    Spring 2022 
    • Gabriela MacPherson worked at the Immigrant Advocates Response Collaborative.
  • Summer 2021
    Spring 2021 
    • Kaitlyn McMillan worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
My experience as an EJA Summer 2019 Fellow allowed me to grow further dedicated to civil legal services and even more inspired by the impact of legal services. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to hone my legal writing skills and motion drafting abilities. In addition, the close contact I was able to have with clients allowed me to begin to shape my practice as a civil legal services lawyer and get invaluable experience communicating with clients. This summer was no doubt a tremendous growing experience in my journey to become an effective and client driven legal services lawyer. Thank you for the opportunity and I look forward to the possibility of working with Equal Justice America again in the future.
Jaden Powell
New York University
EJA Summer Fellow, 2019
  • Summer 2019
    • James deBoer worked at the American Friends Service Committee in Newark, NJ.
    • Eli Hadley worked at the Providence Youth Student Movement in Providence, RI.
    • Isaac Kaplan worked at Mobilization for Justice.
    • Madison Koenig worked at Sanctuary for Families in New York City.
    • Cynthia Lee worked at the Urban Justice Center in New York City.
    • Rachel Maremont and Diana Rosen worked at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Tacoma, WA.
    • Jaden Powell worked at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School.
    • Sylvia Precht-Rodriguez worked at The Children’s Law Center in Brooklyn.
    • Hannah Sotnick worked at the Florence Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project in Tucson, AZ.
    • Rebecca Suldan worked with the Family Defense Practice at The Bronx Defenders.
    Spring 2019 
    • Eli Hadley worked at the Sylvia Rivera Law Project in New York City.
  • Fall 2017
    • Liz Fisher worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.
    • Jason Pedraza worked at Advocates for Children of New York.
  • Summer 2017
    • Devika Balaram worked at Queens Legal Services of NYC.
    • Liz Fisher worked at MFY Legal Services in New York City.
    • Andrew Gerst worked at the Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.
    • Emily Harris worked at the Lutheran Services of New York.
    • Courtney Kan and Ryan Mendias worked in the Civil Action Practice at The Bronx Defenders.
    • Jason Pedraza worked at Advocates for Children of New York.
    • Molly Rugg and Amanda Wilmsen worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
  • Spring 2017
    • Lindsey Smith worked at Brooklyn Defender Services.
  • Summer 2016
    • Olivia Gibbons worked at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Tacoma, WA.
    • Nora Kenty worked at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.
    • Oscar Londono worked at the Community Activism Law Alliance in Chicago.
    • Viviana Lopez worked at the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.
    • Oluwadamilola (Dami) Obaro worked at the Housing and Economic Rights Advocates in Oakland, CA.
    • Kevin O’Sullivan worked at the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project in Florence, AZ.
    • Julia Popkin worked in the Family Defense Practice at the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem in New York City.
    • Clara Potter worked in the Civil Action Practice at The Bronx Defenders.
    • Eliana Theodorou worked at The Legal Aid Society in New York City.
  • Spring 2016
    • Elizabeth Caldwell worked at MFY Legal Services.
    • Victoria Yee worked at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund in New York City.
  • Fall 2015
    • Leo Gertner worked at the Urban Justice Center in New York City.
    • Oscar Londono worked at The Door’s Legal Services Center in New York City.
  • Summer 2015
    • Winston Berkman worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
    • Lizzie Davis worked at The Door’s Legal Services Center.
    • Olivia Gibbons worked at the Northwest Justice Project in Seattle.
    • Frances Hartmann worked at Brooklyn Defender Services in the Immigration Practice.
    • Stephanie Jones worked at the Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment in Oakland, CA.
    • Kathleen Kavanagh and Julia Popkin worked at The Bronx Defenders in the Civil Action Practice.
    • Viviana Lopez worked at MFY Legal Services.
    • Amelia Marritz and Dami Obaro worked at the Urban Justice Center.
    • Mariel Villarreal worked at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Seattle.
  • Fall 2014
    • Diane Johnston worked at MFY Legal Services.
  • Summer 2014
    • Emma Clippinger, Adrienne Warrell and Dian Yu worked at South Brooklyn Legal Services.
    • Alexandra Dougherty worked at The Legal Aid Society in New York City.
    • Hannah Flamm and Moshe Indig worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.
    • Rebecca Hufstader worked at the Nationalities Service Center in Philadelphia.
    • Diane Johnston worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
    • Julia Lake worked at MFY Legal Services.
  • Spring 2014
    • Molly Lauterback worked at theThe Door Legal Services Center in New York City.
    • Ke Wu worked at Advocates for Children of New York.
  • Fall 2013
    • Daniel Tenenbaum worked in the Civil Action Practice at The Bronx Defenders.
  • Summer 2013
    • Gabriel Ascher worked at Brooklyn Defender Services.
    • Paul Balik worked at Business and Professional People for the Public Interest in Chicago.
    • Shira Burton worked at The Legal Aid Society in New York City.
    • Zachary Dorado worked at The Center for Family Representation in New York City.
    • Leila Kang worked at the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project in Tacoma, WA.
    • William Price worked at Advocates of Children of New York.
The attorneys with the Employment Law Project provided invaluable support and mentorship during my internship, and helped me develop skills and knowledge that will serve me well in the future. After law school, I intend to pursue a career helping low-wage workers with employment issues, and my experience this summer inspired me to continue along this path. Thank you again to EJA for providing me with the support to pursue this opportunity.
Amanda Wilmsen
New York University
EJA Summer Fellow, 2017
  • Spring 2013
    • Diane Johnston and Colin Stroud worked at The Door’s Legal Services Center.
    • Daniel Yu worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
  • Summer 2012
    • Shlomit Cohen worked at the Urban Justice Center in New York City.
    • Kelly Dreher and Eliza Schafler worked at the Public Counsel Law Center in Los Angeles.
    • William Price worked at The Legal Aid Society in New York City.
    • Molly Priedman worked at Greater Boston Legal Services.
    • Jessie Scholes worked at Disability Rights Advocates in New York City.
    • Geoffrey Wertime worked at Housing Works in New York City.
    • Daniel Yu worked at the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley, CA.
  • Spring 2012
    • Andria Seo worked at The Legal Aid Society in New York City.
I don’t think I will ever get tired of the joy that comes from someone expressing their genuine appreciation for what you’ve done for them. I love working with my clients and I love that I am in a position to be able to lift at least some of their stress by assisting them.
Samir Amidi
New York University
EJA Summer Fellow, 2020
  • Summer 2011
    • Hannah Baker worked at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
    • Claudia De Palma worked at Sanctuary for Families in New York City.
    • Jessie Ferguson worked at the National Center for Youth Law in Oakland, CA.
    • Terra Judge worked at Safe Horizon in Brooklyn.
    • Kathryn Kliff and Katherine Poor worked at South Brooklyn Legal Services.
    • Tina Peng worked at Legal Services NYC.
    • Richard Sawyer worked at The Legal Aid Society in New York City.
    • Eliza Schafler worked at the Urban Justice Center in New York City.
    • Andria Seo worked at Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angels County.
    • Eleanor “Ella” Spottswood worked at Housing Works, Inc.
  • Spring 2011
    • Jes Carmichael worked at the Urban Justice Center.
  • Summer 2010
    • Elizabeth Carlson worked at Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem.
    • Monica Iyer worked at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund in New York City.
    • Jill Kahn worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.
    • Jared Make worked at the Brooklyn Family Defense Project.
    • Jose Medina worked at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
    • David Menninger worked at Make the Road New York.
    • Tori Shepherd worked at South Brooklyn Legal Services.
    • Crystal Ventura worked at the Public Counsel Law Center.
  • Fall 2009
    • Jose Medina worked at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
  • Summer 2009
    • Briana Beltran worked at Southern Migrant Legal Services in Nashville, TN.
    • Christina Colon worked at Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services in New Haven, CT.
    • Rachel DiNardo worked at the East Bay Community Law Center.
    • Inayat Hemani and Jose Medina worked at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid.
    • Schulyer Pisha worked at Greater Boston Legal Services.
    • Tiseme Zegeye worked at the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in New York City.
  • Fall 2008
    • Deena Fox, Class of 2008, began a two-year $80,000 post-graduate EJA Fellowship at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.
  • Summer 2008
    • Peter Dupont worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.
    • Kevin Kim worked at the Public Counsel Law Center in Los Angeles.
    • Jared Make and Jacquelyn Weisman worked at South Brooklyn Legal Services.
    • Alexa Rosenbloom worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
    • Leopoldo Yanez worked at the DC Employment Justice Center.
  • Fall 2007
    • Alexis Hoag and Alex Moulter worked at South Brooklyn Legal Services.
  • Summer 2007
    • Anna Purinton worked at the DC Employment Justice Center.
  • Summer 2006
    • Aaron Belcher worked at Legal Services of South Central Michigan.
    • Xinying Chi worked at the Legal Aid Society-Employment Law Center in San Francisco.
    • Carl Duffield worked at New Orleans Legal
      Assistance.
    • Matthew Edwards worked at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.
    • Chelsea Gaughan worked at the Homeless Action Center in Berkeley, CA.
    • John Infranca worked at the East Bay Community Law Center.
    • Ian McDonald worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.
    • Kristina Peterson worked at the Tenderlion Housing Clinic in San Francisco.
    • Amanda Ryan and Samantha Walsh worked at South Brooklyn Legal Services.
    • Denise Schulman worked at the Urban Justice Center in New York City.
    • Carolyn Walther worked at Lawyers For Children in New York City.
  • Spring 2006
    • Diana Reddy worked at the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF) in New York City.
    • Stephanie Tyree worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.
  • Summer 2005
    • Rachael Coen worked at the Boston College Immigration & Asylum Project.
    • Geoff Davenport worked at Make the Road by Walking in New York City.
    • Melanie Hirsch worked at the Harvard Law School Legal Services Center.
    • Eren Magri worked at the Public Counsel Law Center in Los Angeles.
    • Bryan Swiss worked at the Legal Aid Society of Salt Lake in Salt Lake City.
    • James Temple worked at the Legal Aid Society of New York City.
    • Carolyn Walther worked at the Legal Aid Society of Rochester.
    • Heding Yang worked at Legal Services NYC.
  • Fall 2004
    • Katherine Zeisel worked at Sanctuary for Families Center for Battered Women’s Legal Services in New York City.
My internship at Brooklyn Defender Services Family Defense Practice was more meaningful than I could have ever imagined. Working in the family defense practice at a public defender office provided me with numerous opportunities to learn about and observe firsthand the interconnected legal issues facing people in low-income communities. Not only did I receive outstanding supervision and mentorship, but I also had the privilege of working with parents in Kings County Family Court, which reaffirmed my commitment to providing direct legal services
Ryan Mendias
New York University
EJA Summer Fellow, 2018
  • Summer 2004
    • Damon Agnos worked at the Georgia Legal Services Program.
    • Jonathan Brown worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
    • Jared Bybee worked at the Legal Aid Society of New York City.
    • Henry Claxton worked at the Family Law Center in New York City.
    • Kyle Gann worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
    • Andy Lurie worked at the Legal Aid Society of Hawaii.
    • Maribel Morey worked at Lawyers for Children America, Inc. in Miami, FL.
  • Spring 2004
    • Ashley Greene and John Levy worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.
  • Summer 2003
    • William Abresch worked at South Brooklyn Legal Services.
    • Kevin Brown worked at Merrimack Valley Legal Services in Lowell, MA.
    • Reed Davis worked at My Sister’s Place, an organization in White Plains, NY that provides legal representation to victims of domestic violence.
  • Fall 2002
    • Liyah Brown, Jeremy Kroger, Elana Olitsky and Gregory Sutton worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.
    • Lucrecia Jaramillo worked at Sanctuary for Families Center for Battered Women’s Legal Services.
  • Summer 2002
    • Mindy McCofsky worked at Greater Boston Legal Services (GBLS).
  • Summer 2001
    • Monica Garcia worked at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.
    • Jennifer Smith worked at Texas Rural Legal Aid.
    • Claudia Wilner worked at the Urban Justice Center in New York City.
  • Summer 2000
    • Peter Bibring worked on civil cases at Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem.
    • David Mark Cave worked at the North Carolina Justice Center.
    • Olivia Milones worked at the Small Business Counsel at NYU, which helps low-income individuals get started in business.
    • Kevin Nah worked at Columbia Legal Services in Tacoma, WA.
    • Christine Sullivan worked at the Florida Justice Center.
  • Summer 1999
    • Amy DePippo worked at Advocates for Children in New York City.
    • Rebecca Halperin worked at the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Denver.
    • Stephen Harrison worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.
    • Titania Mack worked at the Legal Aid Society of New York City.
    • Jeffrey Mannis worked at the Covenant House Youth Advocacy Center in Newark, NJ.
  • Summer 1998
    • Jennie Guilfoyle worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation B.
    • Geoffrey Heeren worked at Legal Action of Wisconsin.
    • Kate Huber worked at the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis.
    • Genevieve Mayer worked at Bet Tzedek Legal Services in Los Angeles.
    • Rebecca Plummer worked at the Legal Aid Society of New York City.
  • Summer 1997
    • Jennifer Bates worked at Public Counsel Law Center.
    • Joel Bergstrom worked at Mid-Minnesota Legal Services.
    • Lewis Bossing and Andrew McCormack worked at the Legal Aid Society in New York City.
    • Brandon Nelson worked at the Legal Corps of Los Angeles in South Central L.A.
    • Robin Thorner worked at Texas Rural Legal Aid.
    • Amy Weinstein worked at the New York Legal Assistance Association.
  • Summer 1996
    • Jeffrey Blair worked at GBLS.
    • Elisabeth de Lone worked at Native Lands Institute in Albuquerque, NM.
    • Jason Dragseth worked at Legal Services of the Blue Ridge in North Carolina.
    • Ann Marie Mason worked at the Legal Aid Society in Rochester, NY.
    • Genevieve Mayer worked at Brooklyn Legal Services Corporation A.
    • Mike Yonker worked at the Legal Aid Society of New York City.
  • Summer 1995
    • Jennifer Levy worked at the Urban Justice Center, then known as the Legal Action Center for the Homeless.
    • Laura Thalheimer worked at Lawyers for Children in New York City.
    • Loretta Simon worked at Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services.
  • Summer 1994
    • Henry Ko worked at the Legal Services Center in Jamaica Plain, MA.
    • Julie Rea worked at the Latino Worker’s Center in New York City.