Equal Justice Works Announces 2019–2021 National Advisory Committee Members

Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced the newest members of its National Advisory Committee.

Formed in 2003, the National Advisory Committee (NAC) is a diverse group of eight law students and eight law school professionals who serve as Equal Justice Works ambassadors within the law school and legal services communities. NAC members extend the reach of Equal Justice Works initiatives by providing leadership, feedback, and outreach assistance to support the organization’s mission of helping law students transform their passion for public service into a lifelong commitment to equal justice.

“We are over the moon to announce our 2019-2021 National Advisory Committee members,” said Aoife Delargy Lowe, director of law school engagement and advocacy at Equal Justice Works. “These outstanding law students and exceptional law school professionals provide Equal Justice Works with strategic guidance and a unique and important perspective on what’s happening on law school campuses across the nation.”

NAC members serve two-year staggered terms—this year, four students and five law school professionals will join the Committee to replace members who have completed their terms of service. The newest members of the 2019-2021 National Advisory Committee include:

Students:

• Kaile Bennett, Stetson University College of Law
• Erica Brant, Roger Williams University School of Law
• Chantel Matikke, Lincoln Memorial University, Duncan School of Law
• Brittany Urness, Brigham Young University, J. Reuben Clark Law School

Law School Professionals:

• Michelle Condon, Charleston School of Law
• Parisa Ijadi-Maghsoodi, University of San Diego School of Law
• Claire O’Brien, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Law
• Nicholas Schroeck, University of Detroit Mercy School of Law
• Gregory Zlotnick, St. Mary’s University School of Law

The current list of NAC members is available here.

All members will meet later this summer in Washington, D.C., for a strategy session on how best to expand access and knowledge of public interest law in their respective regions.

If you are interested in joining the National Advisory Committee or would like more information, please contact [email protected].

Thirty law students will spend their summer serving rural communities at LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations across the nation. 

WASHINGTON, D.C., MAY 22, 2019—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, and the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), the nation’s single largest funder of civil legal aid for low-income Americans, today announced the selection of 30 law students for its Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC).

“The Rural Summer Legal Corps allows legal aid programs in rural America to serve significantly more people than they could otherwise,” explains LSC President James J. Sandman. “The 30 Student Fellows are smart, passionate, and committed to providing excellent service, and we hope that they will become part of the next generation of career legal aid lawyers.”

Launched in 2016, RSLC places law students at LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations that serve rural and isolated communities across the United States and its territories. Student Fellows spend eight to ten weeks during the summer gaining hands-on experience helping to provide direct legal services, engaging in community outreach and education, and building capacity at the organizations where they serve.

“The Rural Summer Legal Corps addresses the access to justice crisis for people living in rural communities and provides a terrific opportunity for passionate public-minded law students to explore a career in civil legal aid,” says David Stern, executive director at Equal Justice Works.

The 2019 RSLC Student Fellows will take on challenging projects that address a range of legal issues. Examples of these projects include:

• Phillip Clifton will conduct legal needs assessments for individuals affected by the opioid crisis. Phillip, a law student at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, will be hosted by West Tennessee Legal Services.
• Priscilla Mendoza will work on employment law matters affecting migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. Priscilla, a law student at Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law, will be hosted by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid – Mercedes.
• Maxwell West will help people facing foreclosures in the rural counties around Tulsa, Oklahoma. Maxwell, a law student at Oklahoma City University School of Law, will be hosted by Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma.

RSLC Student Fellows have helped hundreds of communities. In 2018, law students served across 21 states, providing direct legal services to more than 1,500 individuals.

Click here to learn about the 2019 Student Fellows and their projects.

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About Equal Justice Works
Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for public service into a lifelong commitment to equal justice. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote public service and inspire a lifelong commitment to equal justice. Visit equaljusticeworks.org for more information.

About Legal Services Corporation
Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 133 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Visit www.lsc.gov for more information.

Contact:
Heena Patel
Communications Manager
Phone: 202-466-3686
Email: [email protected]

Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, announced today that it has partnered with the National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center, also known as DisasterLegalAid.org, to distribute a series of training videos for advocates who are providing legal assistance to disaster-affected communities.

“When disasters strike, recovery efforts often overlook the need for legal aid, and the results are devastating for the communities most in need of assistance,” says David Stern, executive director at Equal Justice Works. “We are excited to team up with DisasterLegalAid.org to bring additional resources to help the legal services community support the disaster-related needs of individuals and families across our country.”

Equal Justice Works worked with disaster legal aid experts to develop nine training videos on issues that emerge following a disaster. The videos serve as resources for legal aid professionals on how to help clients navigate Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) benefits, file homeowners’ insurance claims, and apply for housing recovery grant programs among other disaster-related legal matters. Filming for these videos occurred during a training for the Equal Justice Works Disaster Recovery Legal Corps, a program that places lawyers at legal services organizations to assist disaster-affected communities in Texas and Florida.

The training videos are available on DisasterLegalAid.org, to guide and inform disaster legal aid professionals in assisting communities with the recovery process. Legal aid and pro bono attorneys who want to access additional specialized disaster advocacy resources can join DisasterLegalAid.org’s newest feature, the National Disaster Legal Aid Advocacy Center, a growing community of advocates working on disaster response and recovery.

“Following a disaster, legal aid professionals are often met with requests from individuals on how to obtain disaster relief funds and legal questions or matters that impact their recovery,” says Jeanne Ortiz-Ortiz, Disaster Response Legal Fellow at Pro Bono Net, a national site partner for DisasterLegalAid.org. “The training videos created by Equal Justice Works are fantastic resources for how the broader legal services community can best meet the needs of communities affected by a natural disaster.”

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About Equal Justice Works
Equal Justice Works is the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law. We bring together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, legal services organizations, and supporters to promote a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice. Following their Fellowships, more than 85 percent of our Fellows remain in public service positions, continuing to pursue equal justice for underserved communities across the country.

Visit equaljusticeworks.org for more information.

About the National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center
The National Disaster Legal Aid Resource Center (DisasterLegalAid.org) is a national online clearinghouse that provides free legal rights information for people affected by natural disasters. It also supports the work of public interest attorneys working on disaster relief by connecting them to specialized advocacy resources, volunteer and networking opportunities, and disaster legal aid trainings. The project is a joint effort of Lone Star Legal Aid, Pro Bono Net, the American Bar Association, the Legal Services Corporation, and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association.

Contact
Heena Patel
Communications Manager
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.466.3686
equaljusticeworks.org

Seventy-six aspiring public interest lawyers will spend the next two years serving at legal services organizations across the nation to increase equal access to justice for communities in need.

The 2019 class of Fellows received sponsorship from 75 law firms, corporations, foundations, and individual donors committed to improving access to our justice system nationwide.

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 14, 2019—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today named its 2019 Class of Equal Justice Works Fellows. Seventy-six recent law school graduates will launch their careers through an Equal Justice Works Fellowship project of their own design.

“The Equal Justice Works Fellowship program offers aspiring public interest lawyers an opportunity to do so much more than provide legal representation—it’s an opportunity to become a force for change,” said David Stern, executive director at Equal Justice Works. “We are excited to welcome these new Fellows and look forward to seeing how they will help balance the scales of justice in our country.”

Selected from 450 applications, the 2019 Class of Equal Justice Works Fellows includes graduates from 39 law schools who will work at 73 legal services organizations in 18 states and the District of Columbia. Among this year’s sponsors are 26 leading law firms and 23 Fortune 500 corporations.

The 2019 Class of Equal Justice Works Fellows have created projects to address a wide range of legal issues. Examples of these projects include:

• Jilisa Milton will protect the rights of children with disabilities in Alabama’s Black Belt through advocacy with juvenile courts, the state’s Medicaid system, and local school systems. Jilisa, a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law, is sponsored by the Alabama Civil Justice Foundation and will be hosted at the Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program.
• Lauren Zack will improve the life outcomes of Los Angeles’ transition-age foster youth by preventing and challenging vehicle impoundments that perpetuate hardships and punish indigence. Lauren, a graduate of Stanford Law School, will be hosted at Public Counsel. She is co-sponsored by Spotify and Latham & Watkins LLP.
• Carl Sessions will represent tenants in eviction court in Chicago who have viable claims related to the substandard condition of their homes. Carl, an alumnus of the Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology, is sponsored by Rossotti Family Foundation and will be hosted at the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing.

Each year, Equal Justice Works selects a class of passionate public service leaders who have designed projects in partnership with legal services organizations that help build sustainable solutions in the communities where they serve. The projects are funded by the generous support of law firms, corporations, foundations, and individuals. Many of the law firms and corporate legal departments leverage their sponsorship to increase engagement and service through pro bono support.

Over the past three decades, Equal Justice Works has awarded more than 2,000 Fellowships to lawyers committed to public service. More than 85 percent of Fellows remain in public service, continuing to pursue equal justice for underserved communities across the country.

Click here for a full list of the 2019 Equal Justice Works Fellows, host organizations, and sponsors.

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About Equal Justice Works
Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for public service into a lifelong commitment to equal justice. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote public service and inspire a lifelong commitment to equal justice. Visit equaljusticeworks.org for more information.

Contact:
Heena Patel
Communications Manager
Phone: 202-466-3686
Email: [email protected]

Steve Denne to serve as chief operating officer, responsible for developing and optimizing policies and procedures across all organizational functions.

Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced that Steve Denne will join the organization as chief operating officer. With over three decades of experience advising nonprofit organizations, Steve brings valuable leadership to Equal Justice Works during a period of rapid growth.

“We are pleased to welcome Steve to the Equal Justice Works leadership team,” said David Stern, executive director at Equal Justice Works. “Steve’s unique combination of management expertise and fundraising acumen in the nonprofit sector will help Equal Justice Works reach new levels of success in our development efforts. This continued growth will enable us to better fulfill our mission to facilitate opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service.”

As chief operating officer, Steve will serve as a strategic and operational thought partner to the executive team, and will be responsible for developing and optimizing policies and procedures across all organizational functions. In this position, Steve will direct the administration and institutional advancement staff.

“I am delighted to join Equal Justice Works at such a critical time in the organization’s growth,” said Steve Denne. “I look forward to applying my previous experience in the nonprofit sector to support this outstanding organization in its work to mobilize passionate public service leaders.”

Before joining Equal Justice Works, Steve most recently served as the chief operating officer and board secretary at Evidence Action, where he developed strategies to drive capacity, and provided leadership for the key fundraising, communications, and branding functions. Prior to this role, Steve was the chief operating officer at Heifer International, where he restructured the organization for future program and revenue growth. He also served as the vice president of fundraising at The American Red Cross, leading a multi-million-dollar expansion of its online fundraising.

Steve earned his B.A. with high honors from Denison University and his M.B.A. from the Yale School of Management.

A full list of Equal Justice Works staff members can be found here.

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About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law. We bring together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, legal services organizations, and supporters to promote a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice. Following their Fellowships, more than 85 percent of our Fellows remain in public service positions, continuing to pursue equal justice for underserved communities across the country.  Visit equaljusticeworks.org for more information.

Contact

Heena Patel
Communications Manager
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 202.466.3686
equaljusticeworks.org

Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced that Aoife Delargy Lowe will join the organization as director of law school engagement and advocacy.

“We are pleased to welcome Aoife to Equal Justice Works,” said David Stern, executive director at Equal Justice Works. “With the addition of Aoife, Equal Justice Works can continue to build a strong pipeline of passionate public service leaders who are committed to fulfilling our nation’s promise of equal justice for all.”

In her role, Aoife will manage all law student engagement initiatives and programs, including advocacy efforts in support of loan repayment assistance programs. Aoife will also help lead the organization’s efforts to preserve Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF), a program vital to the future of public service professionals and the communities they serve across the country.

“In my career, I have genuinely cherished the opportunity to assist and support law students nurture their dreams of becoming public interest lawyers,” said Aoife Delargy Lowe. “Coming to Equal Justice Works allows me to engage with students on a national level, fostering their passion for equal justice for all.”

Aoife has a diverse background in ethical and professional responsibility compliance, public interest law, and law school administration. Prior to joining Equal Justice Works, she was the associate director of the Office of Career and Professional Development at the Catholic University, Columbus School of Law. Aoife also served as a member of Equal Justice Works National Advisory Committee, working to promote public interest opportunities and resources on law campuses across the country. She received a B.A.I and LL.B from the National University of Ireland Galway.

A full list of Equal Justice Works staff members can be found here.

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About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law. We bring together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, legal services organizations, and supporters to promote a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice. Following their Fellowships, more than 85 percent of our Fellows remain in public service positions, continuing to pursue equal justice for underserved communities across the country.  Visit equaljusticeworks.org for more information.

Contact
Heena Patel
Communications Manager
Phone: 202.466.3686
Email: [email protected]

Equal Justice Works is pleased to announce that Walter Anthony Jean-Jacques has joined the organization’s board of directors. Walter is in his second-year at the University of Notre Dame Law School, where he is a member of the Equal Justice Works National Advisory Committee.

“Our organization was founded by law students and we have always valued having law students’ voices in our leadership,” said David Stern, executive director at Equal Justice Works. “We are thrilled to welcome Walter to the Equal Justice Works Board of Directors. He is an outstanding law student with a clear passion for public interest law as shown by his work both on campus and through his many internships.”

Walter currently serves as the president of the Black Law Students Association, vice-president of the Exoneration Project, and co-director of GALILEE: Group Alternative Live-In Legal Education Program at the University of Notre Dame Law School. Following his first year of law school, Walter was a Haywood Burns Fellow at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. in New York City, where he assisted attorneys on issues related to school segregation, affirmative action, and immigration. This summer, he will join the Southern Poverty Law Center as a legal intern.

“As a National Advisory Committee member of Equal Justice Works, I am excited to become a part of the Equal Justice Works Board of Directors,” said Walter Anthony Jean-Jacques. “It is an honor to serve on the board of an organization that is so central in the public interest law community and helps law students just like me launch their careers in public service.”

Prior to law school, Walter was a 6^th grade English and social studies teacher for Baltimore City Public Schools. He also interned for the National Urban League, Brennan Center for Justice, African American Policy Forum, and Congressman Donald Payne Jr. through the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation.

Walter earned his B.A. in Political Science and African American Studies with Honors from Columbia University, and an M.S. in Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania.

A full list of Equal Justice Works Board of Directors can be found here.

Each year, Equal Justice Works recognizes a leader in the legal community whose work exemplifies a high-level commitment to public service and a passion for equal justice. On October 24, 2019, supporters from the legal community will gather at the Equal Justice Works Annual Dinner to join us as we present the Scales of Justice Award to David Zapolsky, Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Amazon.

“We are proud to honor David Zapolsky with our 2019 Scales of Justice Award for his exceptional dedication to pro bono and public service,” said David Stern, Executive Director at Equal Justice Works. “He is an inspiring leader who has set a strong example for his colleagues at Amazon on how lawyers and legal professionals can apply their skills and knowledge to make a difference in people’s lives.”

During his tenure at Amazon, David has created a culture of pro bono, offering many ways for Amazon’s legal team to serve communities around the world. He established Amazon Justice League to enable legal department members to serve across a variety of issue areas, from providing immigration assistance to resolving landlord-tenant disputes to drafting wills for first responders, and more. Under David’s guidance, Amazon’s legal department has contributed to effective pro bono service and demonstrated its commitment in helping to fulfill our nation’s promise of equal justice for all.

We hope you will join us this fall as we celebrate David’s extraordinary dedication to improving equal access to justice for individuals and communities in need. More information about the Equal Justice Works 2019 Annual Dinner can be found here.

Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced that Fatima Goss Graves, president and chief executive officer of the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) has been named to the organization’s board of directors.

“Fatima is a forward-thinking anti-discrimination and women’s rights advocate with a proven track record of bringing systemic change to improve the lives of women and their families across the nation,” said David Stern, executive director at Equal Justice Works. “We are honored to have her join our board and we are grateful for the guidance and support she will provide in helping Equal Justice Works mobilize passionate public service leaders.”

For more than a decade, Fatima has served in numerous roles at NWLC. As president and chief executive officer, she guides NWLC as a leader of landmark legal, policy and culture changes that dramatically improve the lives of women and girls. Fatima is also a co-founder of the TIME’S UP Legal Defense Fund, which is housed and administered by NWLC, and which connects individuals experiencing sexual harassment or other forms of sex discrimination at work with legal and public relations assistance. Previously, Fatima served as NWLC’s senior vice president for program, leading the organization’s broad program agenda to advance progress and eliminate barriers in employment, education, health and reproductive rights, and lift women and families out of poverty. Prior to this role, Fatima led NWLC’s anti-discrimination initiatives, including work to promote equal pay, combat harassment and sexual assault at work and at school, and advance equal access to education programs.

“The National Women’s Law Center has a long history of hosting Equal Justice Works Fellows, and each has expanded our efforts to champion policies and laws that transform the lives of women and girls,” added Fatima. “I have seen firsthand the important legal help they bring to communities, and I am excited to join Equal Justice Works in supporting other lawyers who share a passion for equal justice and public service.”

Fatima began her career as a litigator at the law firm of Mayer Brown LLP after clerking for Judge Diane P. Wood of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles and her J.D. from Yale Law School.

A full list of Equal Justice Works Board of Directors can be found here.

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Contact
Heena Patel
Communications Manager
Phone: 202.466.3686
Email: [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WHAT:
Former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates will sit down with the Honorable Ann Claire Williams to discuss her career and unyielding commitment to public service and the law at the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair.

WHO:
More than 200 public interest employers and over 1,400 law students will attend the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair, the largest national public interest legal career fair. Attendees will have the opportunity to sign-up for interviews, participate in workshops, network with law school professionals, and hear from Former U.S. Deputy Attorney Sally Yates about her service at the Justice Department.

WHEN:
Date: Friday, October 26, 2018
Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET

WHERE:
Hyatt Regency Crystal City at Reagan National Airport
2799 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202

CONTACT:
Heena Patel, Communications Manager
202.466.3686
[email protected]