Rio Dennis had an exciting EJA Fellowship. She spent 10 weeks contributing to the amazing work at Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV), assisting some of the most vulnerable populations in the US while also learning about the role of direct legal services in the public interest space! LSNV is a full service, nonprofit law firm that provides services in a variety of substantive civil legal areas, including family law, housing law, elder law, public benefits claims, access to health care, child advocacy, consumer law and AIDS/HIV issues. Rio was exposed to many issues and saw first-hand the impact her voice can have on those most vulnerable.

She assisted in a custody and child support case helping a victim of domestic violence get some of the justice she deserves. Rio assisted in LSNV free planning clinic for low income Virginia residents. She, along with fellow interns, was able to help residents walk out of the office with a fully executed Last Will and Testament, Living Will, Durable Power of Attorney and any other estate documents they needed. Rio realized how impactful this service is for low income individuals as research shows that only 1 in 3 Americans currently have their estate documents in order, but only about 1 in 5 Americans with a low income (less than $40k annually) have a will. In addition, she reported the impact of mock trials as they prepare one for real life trials:

“One of my favorite experiences this summer at Legal Services of Northern Virginia has been having the opportunity to participate in a mock trial in front of a sitting judge! My partner and I were tasked with representing the (fake) petitioner in a request for a 2 year protective order on the basis of family abuse and WE WON!! The judge granted all of the provisions we requested for the protective order. This mock trial served as an amazing opportunity to get more practice in applying the Federal Rules of Evidence, learn how to use direct examination to tell a story, and to practice making closing arguments. I loved every bit of it!”

Did we mention, Rio also made the DEAN’S LIST! Which is no easy task considering the first year of law school can be one of the most challenging. Her commitment and gratitude are moving.

“I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity to learn and grow! None of this would have been possible without a grant from Equal Justice America. So I am urging you to donate to this amazing cause to help me and future law students continue to have the ability to participate in public interest legal work.

As a JD/MBA Candidate, I am committed to rebalancing the scales of justice for people of color, immigrants, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals. By working together, we can ensure that no one is left out of the fight for justice, regardless of income or status.”