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EQUAL JUSTICE WORKS FELLOW, CLASS OF 2008
Name of Host Organization: University of Miami School of Law
City, State: Coral Gables, Florida
Issue area: Elderly
Sponsor: Greenberg Traurig Fellowship Foundation
THE INSPIRATION
I was not aware of the many injustices that South Florida elders suffer. As an Intern/Fellow at the University of Miami Community Health Rights Education Clinic (CHRE), I confronted legal issues that the elderly deal with frequently (healthcare, social security, permanency planning, housing and immigration). I dealt with clients of all ages, but concluded that South Florida elders demonstrated the greatest need for mobile legal service in their native language. I was inspired to fulfill this need.
THE PROJECT
The University of Miami houses the Health and Elder Law Clinic. Rather than limiting my project to one issue, my project focuses on attacking a variety of legal issues that affect the elderly such as healthcare, estate planning, guardianships, probate, SSI/SSDI, housing and immigration. Through community education, healthcare professional trainings and direct representation, I assist Miami-Dade County low-income elderly to overcome a variety of legal issues.
BIOGRAPHY
Hometown: | Hialeah, Florida |
Law school: | |
Making the connection: | During law school I interned at Community Health Rights Education (CHRE) clinic, a poverty law legal clinic. The hardships and injustices that the clinic's clients suffered on a daily basis fueled my mission to be a public interest lawyer. Although it was clear that pursuing a public interest career would be filled with challenges, I wanted nothing more than to continue my pro bono work. |
Surviving law school: | My public interest colleagues and Professor JoNel Newman made it easy for me to pursue public interest at the University of Miami. I was fortunate enough to meet Professor Newman as a 2L, where she accepted me into CHRE. I found endless amounts of inspiration and motivation from my peers and student directors. Watching them tirelessly fight for the poor and the needy made me push my limits time and time again. |
Recommended books: | Any! Just pick up a book and read it. The more you know, the better. However, if you are ever in the mood to question our existence, Niebla is the book for you. Mama Might be Better Off Dead is an amazing book that accurately portrays the life of a client of a public interest attorney. |
Favorite website(s): | www.barackobama.com - inspiration to make a change. www.nytimes.com - I can only access the news after midnight; via computer is the quietest method. www.youtube.com - when I need to see something out of the ordinary to put perspective on life. |
Music I love: | “Symphonie Fantastique” (Berloiz) evokes so much emotion; “Pictures of You” (The Cure) reminds me of my childhood; “We Didn't Start the Fire” (Billy Joel) because I’m sucker for history. |
Words to live by: | "Solo se vive viviendo" (you can only live by simply living) by Miguel de Unamuno are words that I live by. This quote comes from his existential novel, Niebla. I live life to the fullest each day because I may never know when life may stop. Helping the needy, impacting my local community and inspiring more pro bono efforts define living life to the fullest. |