Rutgers University School of Law

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

(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.

"Going forward, I will take with me the importance of taking the time to listen to everyone’s stories.  Our clients don’t always have the chance to be heard and I am grateful that I was able to give them the opportunity to share their stories.  I also want to make sure that I always lead with compassion. Ultimately, we are all more alike than we are different. I am so grateful for EJA and the chance I got to work with the Legal Clinic for the Disabled."
Allison Capecci
Rutgers University School Of Law
EJA Summer Fellow, 2023
  • Summer 2023
    • Daniel Adamek worked at Brooklyn Defender Services.
    • Allison Capecci worked at the Legal Clinic for the Disabled in Philadelphia.
    • Tayler Gospodarek worked at ACLU of New Jersey in Newark.
    • Kaitlyn Owens worked at Philadelphia Legal Assistance.
    • Hayley Schultz worked at Innovation Law Lab in Portland, OR.
    • Willa Sweeney worked at the ACLU of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia.
    • Tal Vicario worked at Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund in Los Angeles and DNA People’s Legal Services in Farmington, NM.
  • Summer 2022
    • Daniel Adamek and Kristin Schlotterbeck worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
    • Jamie Donovan worked at the African Services Committee in New York.
    • Ningning Hong worked at JASA's Legal Services for Elder Justice in Rego Park, NY.
    • Venia Imel worked at the Baltimore Action Legal Team.
    • Kariah Johnson worked at the Community Health Law Project in Elizabeth, NJ.
    • Melody Magly worked at Brooklyn Defender Services.
    • Emily Rathburn worked at Kids in Need of Defense in Newark, NJ.
  • Summer 2021
    • Kevin Biglin worked at the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center in Detroit.
    • Samantha Hing worked at the American Friends Service Committee in Newark, NJ.
    • Joseph Lin worked at TakeRoot Justice in Brooklyn, NY.
    • Rebecca Zborowski worked at the AFSCME Office of the General Counsel in Washington, DC.
  • Summer 2020
    • Fatima Abdelsalam worked at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice in Newark, NJ.
    • Kevin Biglin worked at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark.
    • Michael Chachura worked at the Eastern Environmental Law Center.
    • Kyle Gornick worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services in Newark.
    • Jaime Portillo worked at Bet Tzedek Legal Services in Los Angeles.
    • Faith Tan worked at the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action Project in St. Louis, MO.
  • Summer 2019
    • Maryanne Abdelmesih worked at the Eastern Environmental Law Center in Newark, NJ.
    • Priscila Abraham worked at The Legal Aid Society in New York City.
    • Noreen Ahmed worked at the National Employment Law Project in New York City.
    • Micauri Vargas worked at the Community Health Law Project in Elizabeth, NJ.
  • Summer 2017
    • Victoria Carvajal worked at Northeast New Jersey Legal Services.
    • Tyler Dougherty worked at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.
    • Adam Herpolsheimer worked at the National Center for Lesbian Rights in DC.
    • Omar Rana worked at Queens Legal Services (Legal Services NYC) in Jamaica, NY.
    • Amelia Vangellow worked at the Community Legal Aid Society in Dover, DE.
  • Summer 2016
    • Adam Herpolsheimer worked at the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund in NYC.
    • Brian McGrath worked at Advocates for Children of New York.
    • Marian Miawad worked at the American Friends Service Committee in Philadelphia.
    • Melanie Morales worked at the HIV Law Project in Brooklyn, NY.
    • John Rinaldi worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
  • Spring 2016
    • John Rinaldi worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
  • Fall 2015
    • Moira Batista worked at LatinoJustice PRLDEF in New York City.
    • Vanessa Martinez and John Rinaldi worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
  • Summer 2015
    • Marisol Conde-Hernandez worked at the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau.
    • Laura Garcia worked at Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) in Roseland, NJ.
    • Maria Padilla worked at LatinoJustice PRLDEF.
    • John Rinaldi worked at Northeast New Jersey Legal Services.
I am so appreciative of Equal Justice America, [Community Legal Services], and most of all, the client-partners who trusted me. This experience will inform my future career as a social justice lawyer and passion to build power hand-in-hand with my clients.
Tyler Dougherty
Rutgers University School of Law
EJA Summer Fellow, 2017
  • Summer 2013
    • Heather Baker and Stephanie Carney worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
    • Elizabeth Carter worked at the Urban Justice Center in New York City.
    • Stefany Ovalles worked at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Newark.
    • Sascha Rips worked at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid in Austin.
  • Spring 2013
    • Washcarina Martinez Alonzo and Chanell Johnson worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
  • Fall 2012
    • Chanell Johnson worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
    • Anny Lopez worked at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice in Newark.
  • Summer 2012
    • Andrea Clark and Delilah Magão worked at the Street Law Program at Rutgers Law.
    • Chanell Johnson worked at the National Center for Law and Economic Justice in New York City.
    • Jason Lerner worked at Philadelphia VIP.
    • Munishwar Lall worked at the Legal Services of New Jersey in Newark.
  • Spring 2012
    • Morgan Fletcher and Chanell Johnson worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
  • Fall 2011
    • Morgan Fletcher and Chanell Johnson worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.

This summer has taught me the ever-increasing importance of representation and access to resources for underprivileged communities and how the law actively and continuously shapes people’s lives.

Jamie Portillo
Rutgers University School of Law,
EJA Summer Fellow, 2020
  • Summer 2011
    • Ellen Camburn worked at Women Against Abuse in Philadelphia.
    • Ione Curva worked at Day One in New York City.
    • Diego Iniguez-Lopez worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
    • Kelsey Tylus worked at the Street Law Program at Rutgers.
  • Fall 2010
    • Elizabeth Connelly worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
    • Kelly Levy worked at Northeast New Jersey Legal Services in Jersey City.
    • Ling Li worked at the American Friends Service Committee in Newark.
  • Summer 2010
    • Portia Allen-Kyle worked at the Street Law Program at Rutgers University School of Law.
    • Arupa Barua worked at Philadelphia Legal Assistance.
    • Andrew Gimigliano and Susan Saraiva worked at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice in Newark.
    • Marci Kutschman worked at the Learning Rights Law Center in Los Angeles.
    • Awinna Martinez worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
  • Fall 2009
    • Kushbu Patel worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
  • Summer 2009
    • Jenna Fliszar worked at the SeniorLAW Center in Philadelphia.
    • Eileen Horgan worked at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.
    • Peni MacMeekin worked at Volunteer Lawyers for Justice.
    • Jessica Rivera worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
  • Spring 2009
    • Rafael Rosario worked at the American Friends Service Committee.
  • Fall 2008
    • Suzanne Baidon-Ciobanu worked at the American Friends Service Committee.
    • Evelyn Inya-Agha worked at the Association for Children of New Jersey.
  • Summer 2007
    • Desiree Claudio worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
    • Crystal Kay worked at Make the Road by Walking in Brooklyn.
    • Amanda Nordstrom worked at Women Against Abuse in Philadelphia.
  • Summer 2006
    • Kathryn Graham worked at The Door’s Legal Services Center in New York City.
    • Zoraida Najarro worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
    • Alice Rosenthal worked at South Brooklyn Legal Services.
  • Summer 2005
    • Hathy Albright worked at Greater Boston Legal Services.
    • Dominick Robinson worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
  • Fall 2004
    • Jack McGhee worked for the Legal Aid Society in New York City.
  • Summer 2004
    • Frank Geier and Rebekah Heilman both worked at the Legal Aid Society of New York City.
    • Carries Seares worked at the Safe Horizon Domestic Law Project in New York City.
    • Tonya Husbands worked at Essex Newark Legal Services.
  • Summer 2003
    • Laura J. Barrios worked at the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice.
    • Melissa Gertz worked at the Sugar Law Center for Economic and Social Justice in Detroit.
    • Sarina Kaplan worked at the Women Against Abuse Legal Center in Philadelphia.
    • Adia E. Perry worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
  • Fall 2002
    • Deborah Alexander worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
  • Summer 2002
    • Fei Yan Cheuk worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
    • Jake Fisher worked at the Pro Bono Partnership in Newark.
    • Ayanna Z. McLean worked at Greater Boston Legal Services.
    • Tiesha R. Peal worked at the New York Legal Assistance Group.
    • Thomas J. Zaszewski worked at the Mental Health Advocacy Project in San Jose, CA.
  • Summer 2001
    • John Medina worked at the Legal Department of the Gay Men’s Health Crisis Center.
    • Amilcar Perez worked at the Youth Advocacy Center-Covenant House in New Jersey.
    • Suzette Rodriguez worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
    • Dinh Tu Tran worked at the Urban Justice Center in New York City.
  • Spring 2001
    • Michael Schleigh worked at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.
  • Summer 2000
    • Lillian Acosta worked at New Jersey Legal Services.
    • Ana Alba worked at Essex-Newark Legal Services.
    • Denise Dominguez worked at Make the Road by Walking in New York City.