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Loyola University of Chicago School of Law

The following Loyola University of Chicago School of Law students have received fellowships from Equal Justice America. These fellowships are made possible by contributions from Loyola University law alumni. With continued support from the alumni, we look forward to putting many more Loyola 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.

Overall, I truly felt that my experience at Legal Aid Chicago was fruitful and reminded me why I dedicated my career to serving my community – those that are underrepresented and underserved. It is difficult and emotional work, but it is one that is fulfilling. I am glad to have seen that through not just my experience, but through the lens of my supervisors. Thank you to Equal Justice America for helping to fund my experience.
Abigail Magat
Loyola University Of Chicago School Of Law
EJA Summer Fellow, 2023
  • Spring 2025
    • Lindsay Nicholas worked at Ascend Justice in Chicago.
    • Rene J. Valenzuela and Naomi Zweig worked in the Special Education Clinic at Equip for Equality in Chicago.
  • Spring 2024
    • Yessica Ramirez, Mehreen Tariq and Anastasia Tarlas worked at Legal Aid Chicago.
    • Rene Valenzuela worked at Equip for Equality in Chicago.
  • Fall 2023
    • Jacob Morales worked at The Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in Washington, DC.
    • Rene Valenzuela worked at Equip for Equality in Chicago.
  • Spring 2023
    • Madeleine Paulsen worked at the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services in Chicago.
  • Summer 2022
    Fall 2021 
    • Cecelia Towns-Scott worked at the Office of the Department of Children and Family Services Legal Guardian.
  • Summer 2021
    • Vanessa Aceves worked at Equip for Equality in Chicago.
    • Natalie Archer and Hannah Cholewinski worked at Legal Aid Chicago.
    • Claire Bufalino and Hannah Koropp worked at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law in Chicago.
    • Hailey Conner worked at the Moran Center for Youth Advocacy in Evanston, IL.
    • Cruz Rodriguez worked at the South Texas Pro Bono Asylum Representation Project (ProBAR) in Harlingen, TX.
    • Eli Woods worked at the Northwest Justice Project in Seattle.
    Fall 2020 
    • Andy Froelich worked at the Moran Center for Youth Advocacy in Evanston, IL.
    • Shannon Glover worked at Ascend Justice in Chicago.
  • Summer 2019
    • Anique Aburaad worked at the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic in Chicago.
    • Tara Carone worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation in Chicago.
    • Katharine Czinke worked at JusticeMatters in Durham, NC.
    • Theodore Gelderman worked at Equip for Equality.
    • Ashli Giles-Perkins worked at the Chicago Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.
    • Patricia Martin worked at the Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network in Westminster, CO.

I wanted to thank you and your team for your hard work and support this summer. It was an honor to be selected as an Equal Justice America fellow and to serve people with disabilities this summer at Equip for Equality. The Equal Justice America fellowship allowed me to take this unpaid opportunity at Equip and focus on my work, not on groceries or rent. While my heart was in the work that Equip does, the fellowship allowed me to keep my mind on it as well.

James Naughton
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
EJA Summer Fellow, 2016
  • Spring 2019
    • Patricia Martin worked at the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic in Chicago.
    • Elizabeth Rodriguez worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation.
  • Fall 2018
    • Emma Garl Smith worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation.
    • Brianna Hill worked at the Cook County Office of the Public Guardian in Chicago.
  • Spring 2018
    • Chloe Sommers worked at Chicago Volunteer Legal Services.
  • Spring 2017
    • Shelby Smith worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation.
  • Summer 2016
    • Emily Blumenstein, Lauren Brauer and Tianna Gadbaw worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation.
    • Heidi Cerneka worked at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law in Chicago.
    • Sarah Gregory worked at the Center for Health Law and Policy Innovation at Harvard Law School in Jamaica Plain, MA.
    • Ji Hwang worked at Prairie State Legal Services in Waukegan, IL.
    • James Naughton worked at Equip for Equality.
  • Fall 2015
    • Sarah Nagy and Anthony Wadas worked at the Family Defense Center in Chicago.
I enjoyed working at LAF over the summer. I have always had an interest working to help children and families and this internship just reaffirmed my desire to work in the public interest sector. I was able to learn more about family law, improve my legal skills, and network with a group of fantastic attorneys. I am grateful for the financial support that Equal Justice America provides so that law students like myself are able to pursue a career in public interest.
Jaclyn Ellwein
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
EJA Summer Fellow, 2018
  • Spring 2015
    • Amanda Walsh worked at The Legal Council of Chicago.
  • Fall 2014
    • Amanda Walsh worked at the Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children at the Legal Council of Chicago.
  • Summer 2014
    • Sharon Falen, Leen Nachawati, and Jonathan Sheffield worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
    • Kathryn Huber worked at Cabrini Green Legal Aid in Chicago.
    • Sarah Kitlinksi worked at Equip for Equality in Chicago.
    • Amanda Walsh worked at The Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law in Washington, DC.
  • Summer 2013
  • Spring 2013
    • Patrick Gleeson and Niya Kelly worked at the Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers.
    • Ellen Porter worked at the Chicago Legal Clinic.
    • Rupa Ramadurai worked at Equip for Equality.

"Working for an organization like Legal Aid Chicago that serves primarily low-income clients would not be possible if it wasn’t for the funding from organizations like Equal Justice America. I am thankful for this organization because it gives the experience to not only further my legal career but also increase the accessibility of our court system for the most vulnerable."

Diana Arroyo
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
EJA Summer Fellow, 2020
  • Fall 2012
    • Niya Kelly worked at the Chicago Legal Advocacy for Incarcerated Mothers.
  • Fall 2010
    • Pamela Bush worked at the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office.
    • Kendra Rehner worked at the Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic in Chicago.
  • Spring 2010
    • Valerie Atria worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
  • Summer 2009
    • Mia Kern worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
    • Jennifer Moisa worked at The Alliance for Children’s Rights in Los Angeles.
    • Amy Schellekens worked at the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office.
    • Kathleen Sullivan worked at the Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic.
  • Fall 2008
    • Amy Gjesdahl worked at the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic in Chicago.
  • Summer 2008
    • Elizabeth Chase and Kiran Mehta worked at the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office.
    • Nicole Churchill worked at Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
    • Margaret Egan worked at the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.
    • Amy Gjesdahl worked at the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic.
    • Anna Testa worked at the Cabrini Green Legal Aid Clinic.
  • Spring 2008
    • Laura Lacci worked at the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office.
  • Fall 2007
    • Laura Lacci worked at the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office.
What really struck me this summer while working at The Legal Council [for Health Justice] was the depth at which mental illnesses can break down a person, and yet, how resilient the human spirit is. The clients I worked with this summer were amazing on all fronts. They were genuine, kind, courteous, respectful, funny and overwhelmingly grateful. These people had been through so much in their lives, yet they were so unwilling to give up and stop fighting despite all the hardships… I plan to continue to advocate for this particularly vulnerable population throughout my life, and my career.
Jennifer Zmyslo
Loyola University Chicago School of Law
EJA Summer Fellow, 2017
  • Summer 2007
    • MacKenzie Hyde worked at the Public Counsel Law Center in Los Angeles.
    • Joy Park worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
    • Kelly Whalen worked at the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office.
  • Summer 2006
    • Timothy Brennan worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
    • Jennifer Hamamoto worked at the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles.
  • Summer 2005
    • Jennifer Crook worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
    • Grace Zaya worked at the Chicago Legal Clinic.
  • Summer 2004
    • Pedro Koe-Krompecher worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
    • Michael Thurston worked at the Chicago Legal Clinic.
    • Josh Chatten-Brown worked at L.A. Neighborhood Legal Services.
  • Summer 2003
    • Christina Wascher worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
  • Fall 2002
    • Julie Harcum and Jill Johnson worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
  • Summer 2002
    • Stephanie Suen worked at the Chicago Legal Clinic.
  • Fall 2001
    • Julie Harcum, Noreen Hough and Matt Povich worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation.
  • Summer 2001
    • Nicole Moore worked at the Chicago Legal Clinic.
    • Mary Raines worked at the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian.
    • Lisa Southerland and Maureen Looker worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
  • Summer 2000
    • Carrie Fung worked at the Cook County Public Guardian’s Office.
    • Kim Jordan worked at the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.
    • Monique Medley worked at the Chicago Legal Clinic.
    • Kate Straw worked at the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago.
  • Summer 1999
    • Presita May worked at the Chicago Legal Clinic.
    • Sara Seymore worked at Advocacy Inc. in Albuquerque, NM.