Thanks to Equal Justice America, I landed my dream career right out of law school. In 2018, as I was finishing my third year at Georgetown, I was awarded a generous two-year fellowship to work with Ayuda’s Immigration Legal team.

(Pictured) Kristin Hendriksen, Northwestern Law (JD 2020) EJA Veterans’ Rights Fellow, Legal Aid Chicago

Upon returning from the Vietnam War, many veterans confronted Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, hostility toward service members who’d served in the war, and challenges adjusting to civilian life.

Racism, inequality, and criminalization place youth of color at an enormous disadvantage. By connecting youth to resources and coalitions, I hope to lead systemic reform that empowers system-involved youth to speak truth to power and be their own advocates. More than ever, youth of color need allies with legal expertise. I am immensely grateful to Equal Justice for giving me the opportunity to be that ally and help forge a community where youth of color can feel safe to walk, drive, and most importantly, thrive.

Thank you to Equal Justice America for the opportunity to begin my legal career providing trauma-informed immigration services through a fellowship at Ayuda. Lack of access to legal representation remains one of the greatest barriers to acquiring immigration status for too many people in the United States. EJA’s Legal Service Fellowship with Ayuda will increase access to quality representation for low-income immigrants in the DC area.

Patrick Malone, a long-time supporter of Equal Justice America sponsors his own Scholarship Program putting law students to work “Representing Real People” especially those of limited financial means.

I am so thankful to Equal Justice America for the amazing opportunity to work with Legal Aid Chicago to ensure veterans receive the services and benefits they are entitled to after serving their country. By providing such services, Legal Aid Chicago helps veterans navigate the many obstacles that inhibit them from successfully settling back into life at home, such as the VA's bureaucratic processes and housing market's discriminatory attitude towards them. By participating in this crucial work, I am excited to help veterans obtain the services and benefits they need to further their happiness and personal security.