"My experiences this summer have shown me the powerful work that attorneys are doing to create a just world, and the successful IRAA hearings have shown that a just world is possible. While our work was just one step in the arduous fight to end the effects of mass incarceration, I was inspired to continue improving my legal skills in my courses and future career opportunities to prevent individuals from facing this harm. I am solidified in my goal to become a Public Defender, and I am excited to pursue opportunities next summer to improve my advocacy skills for future clients."
Simeon Daferede
University of Virginia Law School
EJA Summer Fellow, 2023
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Summer 2021
- Carter Ballentine worked at the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society in Charlottesville.
- Spencer Haydary and Jordan Woodlief worked at the Legal Aid Justice Center in Falls Church, VA.
- Meredith Kilburn worked at the Legal Aid Society of D.C.
- Bryanna Lindberg and Rahima Ghafoori worked at Just Neighbors in Annandale, VA.
- Zephyr (Eric) Logan worked at the Sugar Law Center in Detroit.
- Ariana Smith worked at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant in Berkeley, CA.
- Chris Yarrell worked at the National Center for Youth Law in Oakland, CA.
My summer at LAJC demonstrated to me the profound impact legal aid attorneys can have on the lives of clients and their communities through direct representation and impact litigation. I look forward to continuing to serve marginalized individuals and communities through volunteering, pro bono, and clinical experiences as a law student, and later, as an attorney. Thank you to Equal Justice America for supporting my work this summer; I found the experience enlightening and inspiring, and look forward to continuing to pursue this work in every way I can.
Hayley Hahn
University of Virginia Law School
EJA Summer Fellow, 2019
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Summer 2017
- Lola Akere worked at the National Juvenile Justice Center in DC.
- Macey Colbert worked at the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society in Charlottesville.
- A. Cameron Duncan worked at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.
- Lindsay Fisher, Nicole Llinares, Christina Taylor and Steven Weiser worked at the Legal Aid Justice Center.
- Sarah Ingles worked at the East Bay Community Law Center in Berkeley, CA.
- Maya Iyyani worked at the East Bay Sanctuary Covenant in Berkeley, CA.
- Louisa Rich worked at the Community Legal Services of Philadelphia.
- David Rubin worked at the Legal Services Center of Harvard Law School in Boston.
- Elizabeth Sines worked at the Homeless Persons Representation Project in Baltimore, MD.
Community Legal Services of Philadelphia is a truly incredible organization that does so much work for its clients across a wide variety of legal issues, and working at the individual, community, and policy levels. The exposure I gained there to a variety of legal services approaches and a variety of subject matter is something that I don’t believe I would have likely been able to find elsewhere, and I feel immensely privileged to have been a part of it. Thank you, Equal Justice America, for all of your help in allowing me to access this experience.
A. Cameron Duncan
University of Virginia Law School
EJA Summer Fellow, 2017
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Summer 2012
- Benjamin Aiken and Amorya Orr worked with the JustChildren Program at the Legal Aid Justice Center in Charlottesville.
- Michelle Carmon and Elizabeth Dobbins worked at Legal Aid Justice Center in Richmond.
- Jaylum Chen worked at Bay Area Legal Aid in San Jose, CA.
- Janell Johnson worked at Neighborhood Legal Services Program in Washington, DC.
- Jennifer Kye and Kimberly Rolla worked at Community Legal Services in Philadelphia.
Interning at CVLAS this summer has been such an educational and rewarding experience, which was made possible through a grant from Equal Justice America. I have had the chance to draft pleadings, advice letters, and research memoranda for cases in housing and consumer law. I am especially grateful for the opportunities I have had to help clients out with housing law issues during the COVID-19 pandemic. I hope to continue to work to close the access to justice gap and advocate for the importance of this work in my career after law school.
Paige Whitaker
University of Virginia Law School
EJA Summer Fellow, 2020
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Summer 2005
- Nicole Hancock worked at the Legal Aid Justice Center.
- Alexander Hunt worked at Legal Services of Greater Miami.
I would like to begin by extending my deep gratitude to Equal Justice America for granting me a Summer 2018 Fellowship. As a student who is financing law school entirely through student loans, this Fellowship truly made the difference in allowing me to live and work in New York City this summer. Thank you so much for supporting my unforgettable internship with the Legal Aid Society and offering me the opportunity to gain an experience that will shape the rest of my legal career.
Noah Lingwall
University of Virginia Law School
EJA Summer Fellow, 2018
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Summer 2001
- Dalton Carlson and Patrice Gough worked at the Legal Aid Justice Center.
- Helene Combe worked at Legal Aid of Central Texas.
- Shelby Smith worked at Ayuda Legal Aid.
I cannot begin to express my gratitude to Equal Justice America and the donors who funded my grant. As a consequence of my time at [the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society], I will enter practice with an intimate understanding of the influential role an attorney plays in the lives of clients; no matter how big or small, and rich or poor. I will also carry into my career a commitment of compassion, ensuring that I personally dedicate time to providing an access to justice to those who would otherwise go without. I look forward to contributing to your organization in the future so that the next generation of students is able to benefit from experiences like mine and clients can benefit from those students willing to devote their talents.
Samuel Yergin
University of Virginia Law School
EJA Summer Fellow, 2016
