Working with Communities Who Others May Have Overlooked

Mary Armistead is a 2018 Equal Justice Works Fellow in the Crime Victims Justice Corps. She is hosted by the Capital District Women’s Bar Association Legal Project.

What motivated you to apply for the Crime Victims Justice Corps?

The combination of Equal Justice Works and the Capital District Women’s Bar Association Legal Project was too good to pass up! I became familiar with both of these organizations during my time in law school. Through internships, I worked with the Capital District Women’s Bar Association Legal Project extensively. They were known for helping marginalized communities and for being an excellent workplace. I learned about Equal Justice Works through the Conference and Career Fair and was inspired by the various Fellowship programs. Four years after I graduated law school, I saw a Fellowship opportunity through the Crime Victims Justice Corps (CVJC) and knew I had to apply. Working as a Fellow has allowed me to work with individuals who others may have overlooked, and to educate those in positions to help these individuals.

Tell us a bit about your Fellowship at the Capital District Women’s Bar Association Legal Project. What types of services do you provide to victims of human trafficking?

Before working at the Capital District Women’s Bar Association Legal Project, I primarily focused on immigration and family law representation. Now, I use my expertise to represent survivors of human trafficking before various immigration agencies (ICE, USCIS, and EOIR) and help survivors with family law matters, such as seeking orders of protection, custody, or divorce. Often, I practice in other legal areas and collaborate with experts in these fields to ensure that my clients are receiving the best possible representation. Through my time as a Fellow, I have been able to receive training and technical assistance from the National Crime Victim Law Institute and its partners to continually build my legal repertoire. Additionally, I leverage partnerships with other agencies, the government, and nonprofits to create holistic solutions for my clients.

As a Fellow in the Crime Victims Justice Corps, you are part of a nationwide network of lawyers working to expand legal services for survivors of human trafficking and other crimes. What are some of the benefits of being part of this cohort and how do you collaborate with other Fellows in this program?

This national cohort has provided me with the opportunity to have instant connections in various geographical areas throughout the country. These connections are essential to helping me best serve survivors who may have moved from one location to another as part of their trafficking. It also provides a built-in brainstorming network full of individuals dealing with similar issues in their work. On a personal level, when we have the opportunity to gather together for conferences, like the Leadership and Development Training, it provides a space where other lawyers can understand the emotional toll this work has. We can share ideas on how to best take care of ourselves while also serving others.

Lastly, what are your plans following this Fellowship? Are you going to continue working with victims of human trafficking?

I certainly plan to continue using the knowledge, experience, and networks to serve victims of human trafficking. For example, I hope to continue participating on panels and giving presentations regarding human trafficking. Additionally, I intend to continue serving as the co-chair for the Capital District Women’s Bar Association Sex Trafficking Committee (which I hope to rename the Human Trafficking Committee to recognize the extent to which labor trafficking as well). I would also love to continue serving the immigrant community because they are uniquely susceptible to trafficking exploitation. My hope is to continue working at Capital District Women’s Bar Association Legal Project, which has been an environment where I can both be supported and have the independence to grow.

To learn more about Mary’s project and the work of our Crime Victims Justice Corps, click here.

CVJC is supported by an award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime, Award Number 2017-MU-MU-K131, and private funding. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

By Krista Selnau, Fellowships portfolio manager at Equal Justice Works and a 2013 Fellow sponsored by Walmart and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP

Medical-legal partnerships (MLPs) connect legal services organizations and healthcare providers to create holistic solutions for patients with health-harming civil legal and social needs, like unsafe housing and lack of access to benefits and insurance. Lawyers work side-by-side with doctors, nurses, social workers, and other clinical and non-clinical staff to screen and treat patients. Every year, MLPs resolve the social and legal issues that impede the health of thousands of families.

MLPs currently operate in more than 300 health care facilities in 48 states and counting. Equal Justice Works has played a critical role in helping support the MLP model nationwide by supporting more than 80 Fellows who have either started or expanded medical-legal partnerships, serving a variety of populations including children, seniors, and veterans.

Veteran-focused MLPs are near and dear to me—before joining Equal Justice Works, I founded and managed the Veterans Medical-Legal Partnership at Pine Tree Legal Assistance in Augusta, Maine, with the VA Maine Healthcare System. Having worked with veterans over the last 5 years, I’ve seen firsthand how critical MLPs are in addressing the serious challenges that our veterans face, including income instability, consumer issues, and homelessness.

Today, there are more than 25 MLPs at Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers across the country. Despite support from the legal system, the VA Office of General Counsel, and VA  Medical Centers, however, resources for starting and expanding veteran-focused MLPs are relatively scarce.

In December 2019, Springer Publishing released Intersections between Mental Health and Law among Veterans, a first of its kind textbook that examines the intersection of criminal and civil legal issues with the mental health of veterans after military deployment. I was proud to co-author the chapter, “Medical-Legal Partnerships in the VA,” with Rose Carmen Goldberg and the help of Equal Justice Works Fellow alums Samantha Kubek and Sara Huffman. Together, we provided a comprehensive overview of the MLP framework and gave an overview of the current state of MLPs at VA facilities across the country. Our chapter looks at the benefits of Veteran-focused MLPs, with case studies on four VA MLP sites in Maine, California, and New York that serve different segments of the veteran population—homeless, women, and senior veterans. It’s a fantastic resource for law students, lawyers, policymakers, and other advocates working to better coordinate care across sectors for our veterans.

To learn more about Equal Justice Works Fellows working on Medical-Legal Partnerships, click here.

By Brooke Meckler, program manager at Equal Justice Works

The Immigration Summer Legal Corps (ISLC) will support 20 dedicated law students in serving immigrant communities this summer. Participants, called Student Fellows, have a unique opportunity to explore their passion for equal justice while gaining hands-on experience—all while receiving a $5,000 stipend.

Are you interested in joining this enthusiastic group of Student Fellows? Here’s what you need to know about applying to the program.

Who is eligible?

ISLC is open to current law students who have completed their first year of law school by the start of the program (summer 2020). For many placements, applicants must speak Spanish or a language other than English.

How do I submit a strong ISLC application?

A standout application will highlight the law student’s passion for helping immigrant communities, and the student’s eagerness to develop skills in the area of immigration law upon which the chosen projects focus. Applicants who have a personal connection to any aspect of a project or issue area should showcase that connection in their applications as well.

What types of projects can I work on this summer?

Host organizations have designed meaningful projects for Student Fellows to participate in during their summers. Since immigration is a multi-disciplinary area of law, the projects will vary. Some of these projects will include a focus on family defense, assisting clients facing removal proceedings, helping asylum-seekers with their cases, representing agricultural workers, and working with victims of crimes. You can find a full list of host organizations and their position descriptions here.

What type of work can I expect to complete during my Student Fellowship?

Student Fellows will take on a wide range of responsibilities regardless of the specific project focus area. These assignments might include direct client services, client intake consultations/interviewing with supervising attorneys, legal writing opportunities, and court appearances. Projects can also include non-legal assignments such as community outreach, education, pro bono coordination, and addressing systemic issues.

Are you ready to apply?

Applicants will be asked to provide a résumé, a summary of professional qualifications and interest in the program, and their top three host organization choices. For more information about program eligibility and requirements, click here or email us at [email protected].

Be sure to submit your application before the deadline on February 18, 2020, at 11:59 p.m. EST!

By Brooke Meckler, program manager, and Sarah Jasper, program coordinator at Equal Justice Works

The Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC) supports 35 dedicated law students in serving rural and isolated communities each summer. Participants, called Student Fellows, have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to explore their public interest passions while gaining hands-on experience—all while working toward a $5,000 stipend.

Interested in joining this incredible program? Here’s what you need to know about applying to the program.

Who is eligible?

RSLC is open to current law students who have completed their first year of law school by the start of the program (summer 2020). For some placements, applicants must possess a valid driver’s license and/or access to adequate transportation.

How do I submit a strong RSLC application?

A standout application would showcase a law student’s passion for public service and access to justice issues. Additionally, a strong display of interest for the project focus area to which you apply also holds significant weight in the decision process. If you have a personal connection to rural communities, highlighting that connection is another way to make a positive impression.

What type of training do RSLC Student Fellows receive?

All RSLC Student Fellows attend an exciting three-day training in Washington, D.C. before their service begins. This training is made up of a series of workshops and panels, networking opportunities, and a field trip to a legal services organization. Fellows receive travel accommodations and lodging for the training in Washington, D.C., as well as one-way travel arrangements from the training to each student’s host organization.

What type of work can I expect to complete during my Student Fellowship?

Student Fellows will take on a wide range of responsibilities regardless of the specific project focus area of their host site. These assignments can include direct client services, client intake consultations/interviewing with supervising attorneys, legal writing opportunities, and court appearances. Projects may also include non-legal assignments such as community outreach, education, and pro bono coordination. You can find a list of host organizations and their position descriptions here.

Can the RSLC lead to long-term opportunities following law school graduation?

Yes! Several Student Fellows have been hired by their previous host sites as full-time staff attorneys after graduation. For example, Ana Laurel, a 2018 Equal Justice Works Fellow in our Disaster Recovery Legal Corps, previously served in the Rural Summer Legal Corps.

Are you ready to apply? 

Applicants will be asked to provide a résumé, a summary of professional qualifications and interest in the program, and their top three host organization choices. For more information about program eligibility and requirements, visit our website or email us at [email protected].

Be sure to submit your application before the deadline on February 10, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

In 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” At Equal Justice Works, we facilitate opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. Our Equal Justice Works Fellows spend each day strengthening communities, bridging barriers, and creating sustainable solutions.

2018 Equal Justice Works Fellow Trevin R. Ware, hosted by Houston Volunteer Lawyers, serves in our Disaster Recovery Legal Corps (DRLC). Growing up in a small community, Trevin’s parents instilled a sense of social and civic responsibility in him, which he has carried throughout his life. It is this enduring passion for service that led him to become an Equal Justice Works Fellow.

Through his Fellowship, Trevin assists Texas residents affected by Hurricane Harvey with securing property titles, pursuing contractor fraud claims, and other disaster-related legal needs. His work is helping to ensure that residents have access to the services they need to stabilize and rebuild their lives.

Like Trevin, it was a desire to serve others that led Gabriela Sevilla to become an Equal Justice Works Fellow. Gabriela, a 2019 Fellow hosted by Homeless Persons Representation Project, Inc., works on removing barriers to public benefits for people experiencing homelessness who may also have a physical or mental disability. She is sponsored by Pfizer, Inc.

Gabriela understands firsthand how vital public benefits are to the well-being of communities—growing up, she was herself a beneficiary. Her desire to increase access to public benefits led her to create the DREAM (Disability Representation Education Advocacy Medical-Legal) Partnership—a medical-legal partnership between the Homeless Persons Representation Project and Health Care for the Homeless. Through this partnership, Gabriela provides free legal representation in public benefits hearings and appeals for people experiencing homelessness in Baltimore.

We are proud of our Fellows’ commitment to public service and for their efforts to bring lasting change to underserved communities across our country.

Read more about Equal Justice Works Fellows here. 

The Disaster Recovery Legal Corps has received philanthropic support from the American Red Cross, Bigglesworth Family Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Florida Bar Foundation, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.

Ana Laurel is a Fellow in our Disaster Recovery Legal Corps hosted by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. Previously, Ana served as a Student Fellow in our Rural Summer Legal Corps.

In 2018, you participated in our Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC). What inspired you to spend your summer serving rural communities?

There is a quote from “The House on Mango Street” by Sandra Cisneros that guides me: “When you leave, you must remember always to come back for the others…For the ones who cannot leave as easily as you.” I was fortunate enough to work in the Rio Grande Valley in Edinburg, Texas. My family is from the Valley, so I felt at home. RSLC allowed me to return to my community and provide vital legal services after Hurricane Harvey.

In your opinion, what are some of the biggest challenges facing rural and isolated communities?

Rural and isolated communities suffer when those who are lucky enough to attain higher education leave to bigger cities to pursue more opportunities and do not come back. Our communities need help, and we need to return to our communities because no one else will know what our communities need more than us.

During your time in RSLC, you were hosted at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA), where you assisted Texans with disaster recovery following Hurricane Harvey. Can you tell us a bit more about your project and what a typical day at the organization looked like for you?

There is no “typical day” when helping with disaster recovery. Initially, I was there to help with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, but then the Valley experienced extreme flooding during the summer. My work evolved from assisting with projects related to Hurricane Harvey to serving in disaster centers where clients had legal issues associated with obtaining FEMA assistance. Specifically, I supported staff attorneys on post-disaster lock-outs, worked on Hurricane Harvey cases where clients faced legal barriers to receiving relief, researched legal issues related to disaster funding, helped potential clients at disaster relief centers, and participated in community meetings.

What was the most exciting part of your Student Fellowship?

The most exciting part of my Student Fellowship was making connections at TRLA. My peers inspired me, and I admired their positive impact on the community. I knew when I finished my summer with the RSLC that I had to return to work at TRLA. Now, the team that I worked with over the summer feels like a family.

After completing law school, you were selected as a Fellow in our Disaster Recovery Legal Corps, where you continue to serve at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. How did your experience in RSLC prepare you for this Fellowship?

My experience in RSLC ignited my passion for disaster law. Before RSLC, I did not even know disaster law was a practice area! It has been the perfect area of law for me because it is relevant to my legal interests and is an area of law that affected my life growing up on the coast. Now, as a Fellow in the Disaster Recovery Legal Corps, my love for disaster law grows every day.

I am proud to be a part of an organization like Equal Justice Works that supports law students returning home and giving back. So many people in my program had the opportunity to gain experience providing invaluable legal services to lower-income people within their communities.

Finally, my experience in the RSLC prepared me for this Equal Justice Works Fellowship because it offered me a preview of what it feels like to be a public interest attorney. Working in public interest law is already difficult because we come into our clients’ lives at their most vulnerable moments. Practicing disaster law exacerbates these experiences because often, our clients have lost everything again, and we are trying to help them rebuild while also navigating the trauma they have experienced from living through a disaster. It is hard to relive that trauma with them, and it is heartbreaking when we have reached the end of the appeals process and realize there is simply nothing more we can do. My experience with RSLC gave me a network of other attorneys facing the same struggles. Through these connections, we share in each other’s wins and support each other through the heartbreaks.

Applications for the RSLC program are due at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 10, 2020. For more information about RSLC eligibility and requirements and to apply, please visit here.

After completing law school in 2019, Ana Laurel joined our Disaster Recovery Legal Corps. The Disaster Recovery Legal Corps has received philanthropic support from the American Red Cross, Bigglesworth Family Foundation, the Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Florida Bar Foundation, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund administered by the Greater Houston Community Foundation, and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.

Verjine Adanalian and Courtney Kinter are Equal Justice Works Fellows in the Crime Victims Justice Corps. Verjine is hosted by the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, and Courtney is hosted by the Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati.

Despite its comparatively small population, Ohio ranked fourth in the nation—only behind California, Texas, and Florida—for human trafficking cases in 2017. At the same time, the state’s opioid crisis has escalated dramatically, leaving Ohio with the second highest rate of drug overdose deaths by opioids in the country. Put simply, Ohio has a critical need for legal aid.

While a number of organizations in Ohio provide comprehensive case management and other services for human trafficking survivors, legal aid is often limited.  Most clients have multiple legal needs that can intersect with their human trafficking victimization, such as family law, immigration, housing, and employment. Sometimes, it’s hard to see where one legal issue ends and the next begins.

Equal Justice Works Crime Victims Justice Corps Fellow Verjine Adanalian, hosted by the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, provides education for the community and works with the organization’s Second Chance Program, an opportunity for survivors to expunge criminal records that occurred as a result of trafficking.

Criminal records, which are not uncommon for trafficking victims, can prevent survivors from truly moving forward. Housing applications, employment opportunities, and school inquiries are all instances in which criminal records might arise, which can re-traumatize survivors—it’s as if they will never be free from their traffickers. Verjine gives these survivors a second chance to move forward.

Courtney Kinter, another Fellow in the Crime Victims Justice Corps who is hosted by Legal Aid Society of Greater Cincinnati, works on family and immigration legal issues that arise as a result of trafficking victimization.

For example, many trafficking victims know the physical location of their child, but do not know what the court has said about their visitation rights or child support. Another example is foreign-national clients who have had their traffickers take away their documentation, like a passport. Courtney works with embassies and consulates to help them regain their identification documents.

Verjine and Courtney, who work at different host organizations within the same building, have collaborated regularly to create holistic legal solutions to barriers human trafficking victims face. A client came to Verjine needing help getting her record expunged. After she received her expungement, she became a strong advocate for the survivor community—even speaking to legislators at a state level. She worked extremely hard to regain her life back but being married to her husband, the man that trafficked her, was holding her back and she didn’t know where to start to get a divorce. Verjine was able to refer her to Courtney, who assisted her in getting a divorce. Thanks to their work, the client no longer has to be reminded of her victimization when she signs her own name.

Addressing the needs of trafficking survivors can be complex, but the Fellows in the Crime Victim Justice Corps are working hard to provide holistic, trauma-informed legal services. To learn more about this program, click here.

CVJC is supported by an award from the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office for Victims of Crime, Award Number 2017-MU-MU-K131, and private funding. The opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this product are those of the contributors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC) places public interest law students at civil legal aid organizations to address pressing legal issues facing rural communities across the United States and its territories.

The program, a partnership between the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) and Equal Justice Works, supports 35 dedicated law students who want to spend eight to ten weeks during the summer exploring a career in civil legal aid. Program participants, called Student Fellows, have the opportunity to provide direct legal services, engage in community outreach, and build capacity at the LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations where they are hosted—all while working toward a $5,000 stipend!

Devin Sorkin, a third-year law student at the University of Maine Law School, served as an RSLC Student Fellow in 2019. At his host organization, Legal Aid of Wyoming, Devin collaborated with the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapho tribal councils to expand legal support and services on Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation.

During his Student Fellowship, Devin worked with his supervising attorney to represent parents, guardians, and custodians in child and abuse 72-hour hearings in the local tribal court. He would gather relevant case documents to help his clients with their hearings and counsel them so that they better understood their rights.

“While many legal skills were developed [during the program], the greater education I received was the patience and ability to learn from and listen to the individuals in the community who feel their voices are not fully heard,” reflected Devin.

If you are interested in exploring a career in civil legal aid, apply to the Rural Summer Legal Corps by 11:59 p.m. EST on February 10, 2020. For more information about program eligibility and requirements, please visit here.

Interested in spending your summer putting your legal education to work in a rural community? If you’re a first or second-year law school student, apply to the Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC).

RSLC—a partnership between Equal Justice Works and Legal Services Corporation (LSC)—connects passionate public interest law students with civil legal aid organizations to address pressing legal issues facing rural communities.

Through the RSLC, law students serve at LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations, where they spend eight to ten weeks during the summer gaining hands-on experience by helping to provide direct legal services, engaging in community outreach and education, and building capacity at the organizations where they are hosted. Additionally, law students attend a substantive three-day training in Washington, D.C. Student Fellows earn a $5,000 stipend for completing 300 hours of service.

Applications for the program are due at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 10, 2020. For more information about RSLC eligibility and requirements and to apply, please visit here.

Each year, Human Rights Day is observed on December 10, in commemoration of the day when the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It serves as a celebration of how the Declaration empowers us all, and also gives us a chance to reflect on the work that needs to be done to ensure that every single person—regardless of race, sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, religion, or any other status—can access these inalienable rights and freedoms.

The United States promises its citizens a right to equal justice under the law, but, in reality, our nation doesn’t always practice what it preaches, with millions of Americans unable to access the legal help they need when they face life-changing challenges. Equal Justice Works Fellows work tirelessly to protect our universal human rights and advocate for underserved communities across the country.

Najmu Mohseen, a 2019 Fellow hosted by the Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America, who is sponsored by Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, advocates for the First Amendment rights of incarcerated Muslims to practice their sincerely held beliefs. While the First Amendment and the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act both work to safeguard the religious rights of those who are incarcerated, in practice, their rights are not always protected. For example, some of Najmu’s clients follow a halal diet as part of observing their religion. When these clients ask for food that complies with their religious dietary restrictions, it’s not uncommon for prisons or immigration detention centers to deny them. They are often given meals with pork or pork byproducts, vegetarian food (which some inmates believe is not allowed by Islam), or told to buy their meals from the commissary. Najmu’s clients are forced to make an impossible choice: skip a meal or violate their religious beliefs.

“It can be scary, confusing, and demoralizing for the prisoners to be in situations where they cannot practice their religion fully because in an environment like prison where inmates have so little control over their lives, sometimes faith is the only thing keeping people motivated,” said Najmu. “If chaplains and other faith leaders don’t know what rights their constituents are entitled to, how can they possibly fight for those rights?”

While many legal services organizations focus on litigation after a rights violation has occurred, Najmu wanted to create a proactive approach. Through ongoing litigation, the creation of comprehensive manuals for prisons and immigration detention centers, and know-your-rights campaigns, Najmu is working to prevent future religious rights violations.

States have also consistently denied historically disenfranchised communities access to the ballot box. Hannah Klain, a 2019 Fellow hosted by the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law, who is sponsored by The Selbin Family, is working to stop discriminatory polling place closures. “[Voting rights] are the most fundamental rights—they are generative of all other rights,” she said. Hannah has witnessed firsthand how disenfranchised communities are more likely to have fewer polling places nearby, with long lines at the voting machines, and fewer machines in service. Hannah utilizes report writing, public education, legislative advocacy, and litigation to ensure that her clients’ voting rights are honored and protected.

Over 70 years after the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, many people still cannot access their basic human rights. Legal advocates, like Najmu and Hannah, are essential to helping all Americans—regardless of their background—access equal justice under the law.

To learn more about how our Fellows are creating a lasting impact in their communities, click here.