Temple University School of Law

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to pursue public interest legal work this summer as an Equal Justice America Fellow. I had a busy summer as an intern in the Housing Unit at AIDS Law Project of Pennsylvania, and it solidified my drive to practice civil legal aid…I drafted advice letters to clients explaining their legal rights as tenants. I drafted demand letters to landlords to explain their legal obligations in providing units that are safe and habitable. I opened complaints with the Pennsylvania Utility Commission on behalf of clients whose utility services were improperly terminated…Having a foundation in civil legal aid is invaluable as a soon-to-be public attorney, and I hope other law students are able to benefit from the Fellowship as I have for many years to come

Spending a summer at [Community Legal Services] has been inspiring on so many levels – and one of them is getting clarity on what my post-law school career will look like. I hope that I can continue to do this kind of work – using my skills and my knowledge to help people navigate the complicated legal system and to represent low income residents to help them save what is precious to them. I also hope I am able to continue to work in such a great environment of dedicated professionals. I am proud to work with an organization that helps low-income Philadelphians maintain the critical things in their lives – their homes, their wages, their benefits, and their families.

My experience this summer has been formative in affirming my desire to work in the bread and butter areas of law, ensuring that people have equitable access to the benefits they need and deserve.

I wanted to say how grateful I am for the opportunity to receive financial assistance from Equal Justice America to pursue my summer internship in the public interest field. As a first generation law student it has meant a lot to me that your organization sees the value in funding law students’ work in the public interest field. This summer I had the honor and privilege of working with the amazing folks at the Education Law Center here in Philadelphia. As an intern at ELC I was tasked with helping to manage the statewide help hotline, doing research for ongoing litigation and public policy, and brainstorming innovative ways to push forward the mission of the Education Law Center. It was an invaluable experience and further solidified my commitment to public interest and helping low-income communities.