
Jessica Emerson
Host: The Women's Law Center of Maryland
Sponsor: Friends and Family of Philip M. Stern
Robin identified, represented, and advocated for indigent victims of sex trafficking in New York City who are discriminated against by employers based on the criminal record they incurred while trafficked.
Victims of sex trafficking often face discrimination based upon their criminal record—a record that is the direct result of having been trafficked. Among other things, this impacts the ability of victims to find employment to provide for themselves and their family. Without the ability to earn a living, there is a high risk that victims will return to their trafficker. Though New York state has passed a law enabling sex trafficking victims to vacate their convictions, the law leaves countless victims vulnerable, either because they have convictions in other states, their convictions are not covered by the statute, or they face discrimination while their vacatur motion is pending.
During her Fellowship, Robin has:
Now that the Fellowship is complete, Robin will continue as a Staff Attorney at Urban Justice Center and train lawyers across the United States to use newly implemented state vacatur laws to help victims of human trafficking restart their lives, free from the stigma of a permanent criminal record.
Host: The Women's Law Center of Maryland
Sponsor: Friends and Family of Philip M. Stern
Host: Greater Legal Services
Sponsor: McDermott Will & Emery LLP
Host: New Orleans Workers' Center for Racial Justice
Sponsor: Friends and Family of Philip M. Stern
Host: Urban Justice Center
Sponsor: Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP