Sabrina Talukder
Host: The Legal Aid Society
Sponsor: Dentons
Pooja advocated for survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, such as forced marriage and honor-based violence, through direct legal representation, outreach, and education, with a focus on the South Asian community.
There is a great need, for dedicated representation and coordinated outreach to assist survivors of domestic and gender-based violence, especially survivors of forced marriage and honor-based violence in Los Angeles. Such survivors, especially South Asian survivors, are a vulnerable and isolated group as language and cultural barriers often prevent them from seeking assistance. Many survivors fail to take advantage of support services because domestic violence is viewed is a “family matter,” and family members may blame them for bringing shame to the family if they seek outside help. Therefore, it is essential to break through this isolation to reach them. Holistic advocacy and outreach are essential to support these survivors by enabling them to escape violence and gain the independence necessary to build their lives in safety in the United States.
In the past two years, Pooja has:
Now that the Fellowship is complete, Pooja plans to be a Clinical Teaching Fellow at Georgetown University Law Center’s Center for Applied Legal Studies, an asylum clinic. As a teaching fellow, Pooja will teach classes and supervise students in their representation of asylum seekers.
Many survivors of domestic and gender-based violence fail to take advantage of support services because domestic violence is viewed is a “family matter".
Host: The Legal Aid Society
Sponsor: Dentons
Host: Greater Legal Services
Sponsor: McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Host: Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach
Sponsor: DLA Piper, Verizon
Host: Sanctuary for Families
Sponsor: Baker McKenzie, Merck & Co., Inc.