In late July, Equal Justice America concluded its 2026 Summer Reception series in San Francisco with an evening highlighting the partnerships that make access to justice possible.

Hosted by Fenwick, the gathering brought together EJA Summer Fellows, private-bar attorneys and public-interest lawyers, reflecting the broader legal ecosystem that supports civil legal aid.

Among those joining the Fellows was Marian Avila Breach, EJA’s Brian Lewinstein Youth Justice Fellow at the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley.

Marian, a 2025 graduate of Berkeley Law and former EJA Summer Fellow, is serving a two-year Post-Graduate Fellowship with EBCLC’s Education Defense and Justice for Youth program. Her work focuses on supporting young people and addressing the school-to-prison pipeline through community-centered advocacy.

Her presence alongside current Summer Fellows and private-bar attorneys illustrated the continuum EJA seeks to strengthen: law students entering public-interest work, early-career attorneys building careers in legal aid, and private attorneys contributing time, expertise and resources to support access to justice.

No single organization can close the justice gap alone. Legal aid organizations, law schools, law firms, foundations, individual attorneys and the next generation of public-interest lawyers all have roles to play.

EJA is grateful to Fenwick for hosting the reception and supporting a community committed to expanding access to justice.