eja 30 years

Washington, DC for Equal Justice

In 2008, Equal Justice America launched its Washington, DC for Equal Justice campaign to increase legal services to the poor by creating additional Law Student Fellowships in the state, putting more law students to work with DC legal aid organizations.

Funding for EJA Fellowships for George Mason University*, Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia law students derive from our Washington, DC for Equal Justice campaign. (To be eligible for an EJA Fellowship, students from these schools must find placements with legal aid organizations in Washington, DC.)

The following law students received Equal Justice America Fellowships since our launch of Washington, DC for Equal Justice. Your support will help us expand our program to put more law students to work in DC on behalf of the poor.

We Need Your Help!

(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.

"My two-year EJA Fellowship at Ayuda went above and beyond my expectations for my first job out of law school. I was able to serve a diverse group of clients in a wide variety of immigration matters and receive top-notch supervision from passionate and brilliant attorneys. I am excited that Ayuda, a new attorney, and additional clients will all be able to benefit from this next EJA Fellowship."
Kelly Hii
Staff Attorney and former EJA Fellow at Ayuda
  • Summer 2022
    • Kierra Billingsley (George Washington University) worked at the Health Justice Alliance Law Clinic at Georgetown University.
    • Esther Davila (American University), Shannon Henris (Georgetown University) and Theodoros Papazekos (Georgetown University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia.
    • Simone Edwards (Georgetown University) worked at the Migrant Legal Action Program.
    • Joan Fernandez (Temple) and Jordan Woodlief (University of Virginia) worked at the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild.
    • Sophia Guan (George Washington University) worked at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program.
    • Lauren Hodges (Georgetown University) worked at Kids in Need for Defense (KIND).
    • Priyanka Mara (George Washington University) worked at the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center.
    • Elizabeth Schroeder (George Washington University) and Miguel Serrano (American University) worked at the Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities.
    • Erin Stvan (George Mason University) worked at the First Shift Justice Project.
  • Summer 2021
    • Ridgana Bonne-Annee (Howard University) worked at the DC Bar Pro Bono Center.
    • Radiance Campbell (Georgetown University) worked at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.
    • Kyle Coffino (GWU), Meredith Kilburn (University of Virginia), David Leeds (Georgetown University) and Asritha Vinnakota (American University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of D.C.
    • Marianne Fichtel (University of D.C.) worked at Tzedek DC.
    • Olivia Graham (GWU) and Olivia Haskell (American University) worked at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program.
    • Sarah Hampton (Temple) worked at Ayuda in Washington, DC.
    • Sanna Jaroun (American University) worked at Muslim Advocates.
    • Elizabeth June (American University) worked at the Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities.
    • Rebecca Zborowski (Rutgers) worked at the AFSCME Office of the General Counsel.
  • Summer 2020
    • Caroline Gillis (American University) and Madeline Zuschnitt (George Washington University) worked at Ayuda.
    • Andrew Hamm (American University) worked at the Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities.
    • Rose Hayden (Georgetown) worked at Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).
    • Tamar Hoffman (Georgetown) worked at Bread for the City in Washington, DC.
    • Jennifer Pantell (George Washington University) worked at the Migrant Legal Action Program.
    • Rachel Rein (Columbia University) worked at the Human Trafficking Legal Center.
    • Austin Rose (Georgetown) worked at the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition.
    • Keaton Shapiro (George Washington University) worked at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program.
    • Michael Smith (Gerogetown) work at the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia.
  • Summer 2019
    • Toye Adenkan (American University) and Anthony Coleman (Georgetown University) worked at Bread for the City.
    • Lauren Boothe (Temple) and Laila Kassis (University of Michigan) worked at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.
    • Nathaniel Clark (University of the District of Columbia) worked in the Community Development Law Clinic at the University of the District of Columbia.
    • Victoria Glock-Molloy (University of Pennsylvania) worked at the Children’s Law Center.
    • Taylor Jones (University of Michigan) worked at the ABA Center on Children and the Law.
    • Ryan Durazo (American University), Jennifer Kelso (University of Virginia) and Lili Lowell (American University) worked at Ayuda.
    • Anna Perina (Boston University) worked at the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition.
    • Jennifer Yadoo (George Washington University) worked in the Civil Legal Services Division of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia.
I hope to one day be an appellate litigator working on important issues that I care deeply about and my experience at Public Justice gave me the opportunity to better understand how this work is done and to confirm that it is what I want to do with my career. Thank you very much for supporting my work this summer. I learned so much in my time at Public Justice and am grateful to Equal Justice America for supporting my work and allowing me to have this experience.
Sarah Bleiberg
University of Pennsylvania Law School
EJA Fellow
EJA Summer Fellow, 2018
  • Fall 2018
    • Chelsea Lalancette (American University) worked at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.
  • Summer 2018
    • Erica Bilkis (George Washington University) worked at the First Shift Justice Project.
    • Sarah Bleiberg (University of Pennsylvania) worked at the Public Justice Foundation.
    • Arielle Chapnick (American University) worked at Ayuda.
    • Maya Cherayil (Boston College) worked at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program.
    • Jessica Greenstein worked at DC Law Students in Court.
    • Maryam Gueye (George Washington University) worked at the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless.
    • Sacred Huff (George Washington University) worked at Bread for the City.
    • Caitlin Machell (University of Texas) worked at The Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
    • Caroline Raschbaum (American University) worked at the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition.
    • Sam Shin (University of the District of Columbia) worked in the General Practice Clinic at The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law.
    • Kandin Unger (George Washington University) worked at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia.
    • Matti Vagnoni (American University) worked at the Pro Bono Institute.
    • David Wasserstein (American University) worked in the Public Benefits Unit at the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia.
  • Summer 2017
    • Lola Akere (University of Virginia) worked at the National Juvenile Justice Center.
    • Jason Barros (UDC-DCSL) worked in the Immigration and Human Rights Clinic at The University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC-DCSL).
    • Benezah Blodgett (UDC-DCSL) and Nyasha Simmons (UDC-DCSL) worked in the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic at UDC-DCSL.
    • Anne Bonfiglio (Temple) worked at the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund.
    • Marissa Ditkowsky (American University) worked at Quality Trust for Individuals with Disabilities.
    • Solangel Gonzalez (George Washington University) and Paulina Rivera (American University) worked at the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition.
    • Sarah Grunberger (University of Michigan) worked at the Legal Counsel for the Elderly.
    • Adam Herpolsheimer (Rutgers) worked at the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
    • Benjamin Herskovitz (George Washington University) worked at Bread for the City.
    • Courtney Knippen (American University) worked at the Children’s Law Center.
    • Rebecca Krassel (UDC-DCSL) worked in the Housing and Consumer Law Clinic at UDC-DCSL.
    • Ashley Lawrence (Howard University) worked at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
    • Britany Riley (Stanford) worked at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs.
    • Timothy Ryan (George Washington University) worked at the Migrant Legal Action Program.
    • LaNise Salley (UDC-DCSL) worked at Tzedek DC.
    • Rachel Smith (Georgetown University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of DC.
    • Stephanie Todd (American Unversity) worked at the Whitman-Walker Health Legal Services Program.
    • Kandin Unger (George Washington University) and Berkenesh Woldeselassie (Georgetown University) worked at Neighborhood Legal Services Program.
    • Emilee Woodfin (George Washington University) worked in the Civil Legal Services Division at The Public Defender Service.
  • Summer 2016
    • Maereg Alemayheu (Georgetown University) and Laura Murchie (George Washington University) worked in the Domestic Violence and Family Law Unit at The Legal Aid Society of DC.
    • Devin Barrett (Catholic University) worked at Columbus Community Legal Services.
    • Luz Beato (American University) worked at Bread for the City and Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.
    • Jarlens Princilis (University of the District of Columbia) and Marsha Williams (University of the District of Columbia) worked in the Housing and Consumer Law Clinic at the UDC David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC-DCSL).
    • Jessica Christy (University of the District of Columbia) worked at the UDC-DCSL Immigration & Human Rights Clinic.
    • Soohyun Choi (George Washington University) worked at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington.
    • Katherine Conway (American University) worked at the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition.
    • Sean Davis Jr.(George Washington University), William Hamilton (Georgetown University) and Maia Hutt (Columbia University) worked at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs.
    • Nathaniel Goodman-Johnson (University of the District of Columbia) worked at the UDC-DCSL Law Students in Court Program.
    • Melinda Johnson (Harvard) and Hannah Wurl (George Mason University) worked at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
    • Elizabeth Leman (American University) worked at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program.
    • Viviana Lopez (NYU) worked at the Judge David L. Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
    • Megan Shuster (Catholic University) worked at the Amara Legal Center.
    • Alexandra Williams worked at Mil Mujeres Legal Services.
  • Summer 2015
    • Nermin AbdelWahab (University of the District of Columbia), Sharla Dixon (University of the District of Columbia), Stacy Fuller (University of the District of Columbia) and Brandon Wallace (University of the District of Columbia) worked at the Legal Clinics of the University of the District of Columbia School of Law.
    • Christina Albertson (University of Virginia), Olivia Jerjian (Georgetown University) and Norah Sloss (Catholic University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of DC.
    • Lillian Andama (Georgetown University) worked at AEquitas – The Prosecutors’ Resource on Violence Against Women.
    • Katherine Beck (American University) and Maggie O’Connor (University of Chicago) worked at Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition.
    • Rhonesha Buford (George Washington University) worked at Neighborhood Legal Services Program of the District of Columbia.

    • Claire Chevrier (Georgetown University) worked at the Children’s Law Center.

    • Sara Fairchild (American University) worked with the Juvenile Services Program at Public Defender Service.
    • Nicole Goodman (University of the District of Columbia), Sean Link (Georgetown University) and Julia Ward (Georgetown University) worked at Bread for the City.
    • Tamara Guillen worked at Catholic Charities Legal Network of the Archdiocese.
    • Yamrot Moges (Georgetown University) worked at Ayuda.
    • Olajumoke Obayanju (George Washington University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of DC and Bread for the City.
    • Elizabeth Ottman worked at the ABA Center on Children and the Law.
    • Megan Race (American University) worked at the Amara Legal Center.
    • Shiyu Wang (George Washington University) worked at the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource. Center.
  • Summer 2014
    • Kathryn Blake (University of the District of Columbia), Savas Georgas (University of the District of Columbia), Laura LaPrade (University of the District of Columbia), Alexander Reed (University of the District of Columbia) and Caitlin Russi (University of the District of Columbia) worked at the Legal Clinics of the University of the District of Columbia School of Law.
    • Marion Cory (Georgetown University), Danielle Moise (George Washington University) and Max Tipping (George Washington University) worked at Bread for the City.
    • Mary Deweese (Georgetown University) worked at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affair.
    • Pamela Disney (American University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of DC.
    • Danica Gonzalves (George Washington University) worked at University Legal Services.
    • Alice Kinyua (Georgetown University) worked at Aequitas: The Prosecutors’ Resource on Violence Against Women.
    • Theresa Lau (American University) worked at Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
    • Courtney Lee (Georgetown University) worked at Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition.
    • Rebecca Neville (Catholic University) worked at the Amara Legal Center.
    • Amanda Walsh (Loyola University Chicago) worked at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law..
  • Spring 2014
    • Brandon Hunter (Georgetown University) worked at the DC Employment Justice Center.
  • Summer 2013
    • Amanda Azarian (Catholic University) worked at Columbus Community Legal Services.
    • Sean Brown (University of the District of Columbia), Teresa Cole (University of the District of Columbia, Kimberly Lauer (University of the District of Columbia), Jose Posada Jr. (University of the District of Columbia) and Carolina Ramallo (University of the District of Columbia) worked at the Legal Clinics of the University of the District of Columbia School of Law.
    • Cari Carson (University of Michigan), V. Nicole Hauspurg (Boston College) and Jessica Kleinman (Catholic University) worked at the Children’s Law Center.
    • Emily Ittner (Catholic University) worked at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program.
    • Lillyana Jaller (American University) worked at Ayuda Legal Aid.
    • Vicki Kinne (Georgetown University) worked at the Migrant Legal Action Program.
    • Katelyn Kramer (Boston University) worked at the National Law Center on Homeless & Poverty.
    • Nishanthi Kurukulasuriya (George Washington University) worked at University Legal Services.
    • Andrew Ortiz (Howard University) worked at the DC Employment Justice Center.
    • Helen Rodriguez (Suffolk University) worked at Mil Mujeres Legal Services.
    • Lee Robbins (DePaul University) worked in the Special Education Civil Division of the Public Defender Service.
    • David Steenburg (Catholic University) worked at the Archdiocesan Legal Network.
    • Peter Travitsky (Brooklyn) worked at AARP Foundation Litigation.
    • Elizabeth Vogel (Georgetown University) worked at the Poverty & Race Research Action Council.
  • Summer 2012
    • Sameera Ali (University of the District of Columbia), Caitlin Cavness (University of the District of Columbia), Emily Citkowski (University of the District of Columbia), Bryan Colombo (University of the District of Columbia), Janee Phillips (University of the District of Columbia) and Santosh Reddy (University of the District of Columbia) worked at the Legal Clinics of the University of the District of Columbia School of Law.
    • Alexis Applegate (Boston College), Veneeta Chintamaneni (University of Illinois), Katrina Homel (Georgetown University), Samantha Rauer (Boston University) and Eva Seidelman (University of the District of Columbia) worked at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.
    • Jessica Arco (George Washington University) worked at the Migrant Legal Action Program.
    • Krishna Bhatt (George Mason University) worked at the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center.
    • Amy Gellatly (American University) worked at the DC Employment Justice Center.
    • Janell Johnson (University of Virginia) worked at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program.
    • Martha Katz (Georgetown University) worked at Bread for the City.
    • Megan Lovett (Georgetwon University) and Sonia Weil (George Washington University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of DC.
    • Patricia Munoz (American University) worked at Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services.
    • Ann Park (Loyola University Chicago) worked at Voices for America’s Children.
    • Thais-Lyn Trayer (American University) worked at Legal Counsel for the Elderly.
  • Summer 2011
    • Chanell Autrey (George Washington University) worked at Bread for the City.
    • Michael Cowles (University of Texas) and Alyce Thompson (University of Michigan) worked at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights.
    • Amy DiBiasio (Georgetown University), Christine Ingram (UC Berkeley Boalt Hall), David White (Georgetown University) and Beth Zilberman (Boston College) at the Children’s Law Center.
    • Virginia Herbert (University of the District of Columbia), Jamie Maurer (University of the District of Columbia), Moctezuma Perez-Casillas (University of the District of Columbia), Casey Purcell (University of the District of Columbia) and Diane Saey (University of the District of Columbia) worked at the Legal Clinics of the University of the District of Columbia School of Law.
    • David Shapiro (Brooklyn) worked at the Center for Children’s Law and Policy.
    • Julia Simon-Mishel (University of Pennsylvania) worked at the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs.
    • Jamie Schuman (George Washington University) worked at DC Law Students in Court.
    • Katie Thompson (George Washington University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of DC.
    • Regina Verret (American University) worked at Women Empowered Against Violence (WEAVE).
    • Zach Zarnow (American University) worked at Public Justice.
  • Summer 2010
    • Janet Choi (American University) worked at Farmworker Justice.
    • Marshall Chriswell (University of the District of Columbia), Elizabeth McCullum (University of the District of Columbia), Michelle Rifici (University of the District of Columbia), Joseph Spilatro (University of the District of Columbia) and Aaron Weaver (University of the District of Columbia) worked at the Legal Clinics of the University of the District of Columbia School of Law.
    • Bryan Evans (American University), Carrie Johnson (Catholic University), Melissa Medoway (Georgetown University) worked at Bread for the City.
    • Maya Falconi-Sachs (Georgetown University) worked at Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).
    • Jennifer Frey (George Washington University), Erica McKnight (American University) and Brendan McTaggart (Georgetown University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of DC.
    • Kammy Lai (George Washington University) worked at the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center.
    • Daniel McGraw (Catholic University) worked at the Children’s Law Center.
    • Trisha Pasdach (Georgetown University) worked at Legal Counsel for the Elderly.
    • Tyler Ray (Catholic University), Betny Townsend (Harvard) and Ceridwen Cherry (University of MIchigan) worked at the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights.
  • Summer 2009
    • Emily Blumberg (Harvard) worked at the Advancement Project.
    • Bethany Brown (American University) worked at Legal Counsel for the Elderly.
    • Jennifer Coco (DePaul University), Judith del Cuadro-Zimmerman (American University), Robert Lampley (University of Wisconsin) and Andrew Selbst (University of Michigan) worked at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
    • Everett (Rocky) Collis (George Washington University) worked the Neighborhood Legal Services Program.
    • F. Mara Come (American University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of DC.
    • Dania Douglas (American University) worked at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
    • Kinara Flagg (Columbia University) worked at the National Women’s Law Center.
    • Allison Green (Georgetown University) worked at the Children’s Law Center.
    • Kinshasa Hillery (Howard University) worked at Women Empowered Against Violence.
    • Tami Martin (American University) worked at the DC Law Students in Court Program.
    • Lucy Panza (Georgetown University) worked at Ayuda Inc.
    • Jennifer Rodrigue (George Washington University) worked at the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty.
    • Annie Vine (University of Michigan) worked at the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights Coalition.
    • Elizabeth Westbrook (George Washington University) worked at First Star.
    • Teresa Yeh (Cornell) worked at the Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center.
    • Erica Zacharie (Tulane University) worked at the Center for Children’s Law and Policy.
  • Spring 2009
    • Renee Erline (Georgetown University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of DC.
    • Edgar Ndjatou (American University) and Edmundo Saballos (American University) worked at the DC Employment Justice Center.
    • Michelle Rose (Howard University) worked at Women Empowered Against Violence.
    • Emily Sala (American University) worked at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
[The Children’s Law Center] fights so that every DC child can grow up with a loving family, good health and quality education. During my fellowship, I had the privilege of assisting [Guardian ad Litem] attorneys who fiercely advocate to achieve this end. I helped draft a motion opposing the removal of a teen from her sister’s care; I took case notes at a family team meeting so that a child could receive specialized educational services; I attended a home visit to interview a parent about his daughter’s neglect allegations; and I helped prepare for an initial neglect hearing so that a mother with severe mental illness could receive the help she needed to raise her newborn son… I truly appreciate Equal Justice America’s commitment to supporting aspiring public service attorneys like myself. Thank you for this opportunity.
Courtney Knippen
American University
EJA Fellow
EJA Summer Fellow, 2017
  • Fall 2008
    • Deena Fox (NYU Class of 2008) began a two-year $80,000 post-graduate EJA Fellowship at the Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law.
    • Agatha Tan (Georgetown University) worked at the DC Employment Justice Center.
  • Summer 2008
    • Jonathan Bialosky (George Washington University) worked at the Migrant Legal Action Program.
    • Gillian Chadwick (American University) and Leopoldo Yanez (NYU) worked at the DC Employment Justice Center.
    • Jeffrey Constantinos (Georgetown University) worked at Legal Counsel for the Elderly.
    • Angel Harris (Georgetown University), Kelley Stieler (Washington & Lee) and Jonathan Tucker (Georgetown University) worked at the Legal Aid Society of DC.
    • Megan Hay (William & Mary) and Elizabeth Jordan (American University) worked at the Children’s Law Center.
    • Richard Hayes (University of the District of Columbia) worked at the University of the District of Columbia’s Community Development Clinic.
    • Caroline Lee (George Washington University) worked at Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs.
    • Trudy Martin (University of Wisconsin) worked at Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law.
    • Steven Nigh (Georgetown University) worked the Archdiocesan Legal Network.
    • Nicole Poland (George Washington University) worked at University Legal Services.
    • Michelle Rose (Howard University) worked at the D.C. Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
    • Matthew Throop (University of the District of Columbia) worked at the University of the District of Columbia’s Juvenile and Special Educational Clinic.
    • Julie Verratti (Catholic University) worked at the National Legal Aid and Defender Association.  
    • Sherra Wong (American University) worked at Catholic Charities Immigration Legal Services.
  • Spring 2008
    • Kaitlin Dunne (George Washington University) and Elliott Tucker (Georgetown University) worked at the DC Employment Justice Center.
  • Summer 2007
    • Rabia El-Hage (George Mason University) worked at the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee in Washington, DC.

© 2021 EQUAL JUSTICE AMERICA and the Equal Justice America logo are registered trademarks of Equal Justice America.
Equal Justice America is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, EIN number 13-3708596

This organization supports and values the uniqueness of all individuals and promotes a work environment where diversity is embraced.

© 2021 EQUAL JUSTICE AMERICA and the Equal Justice America logo are registered trademarks of Equal Justice America.
Equal Justice America is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, EIN number 13-3708596

This organization supports and values the uniqueness of all individuals and promotes a work environment where diversity is embraced.