Equal Justice Works and Legal Services Corporation Announce Class of 2024 Rural Summer Legal Corps Student Fellows

50 law students will spend their summer helping to improve access to justice for people living in rural communities. 

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 6, 2024— 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 50 law students for the Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC). 

“These law students are the next generation of much needed legal advocates. Through our collaboration with LSC, these students will provide critical legal assistance to people in rural areas,” said Verna Williams, CEO of Equal Justice Works. “Accessible legal resources in rural communities are a key element of closing the justice gap. I am inspired by our RSLC Fellows’ projects addressing the unique challenges the nation’s rural communities face, and grateful for their service.” 

The Rural Summer Legal Corps is a partnership between Equal Justice Works and LSC that supports law students serving rural communities each summer. Program participants, called Student Fellows, spend eight to ten weeks hosted by LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations, where they assist residents with their legal problems. Their work is essential because, as the American Bar Association has reported, fewer than 2 attorneys currently serve every 100,000 rural residents. In too many areas, no attorneys are available to help. As a result, large populations of rural Americans are forced to travel hundreds of miles to find legal assistance for such issues as intimate partner violence, custody matters, or securing VA benefits.  

The 2024 class of Rural Summer Legal Corps Fellows includes 50 students from 36 law schools who will work at 44 LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations across the United States and its territories, providing critical legal assistance to people in rural areas. The program gives Student Fellows the opportunity to serve clients in need, engage in community outreach and education, and build capacity at the organizations where they are hosted. 

“We are thrilled to welcome these students to rural legal aid providers across the country where they will contribute to the life impacting work that these organizations carry out every day, while learning indelible lessons about the power of providing access to legal help to low-income Americans everywhere,” said LSC President Ron Flagg.   

This year’s class of RSLC Student Fellows will take on projects that address a range of access-to-justice issues, including: 

• Eliot Usherenko, hosted at Legal Aid of West Virginia (LAWV), will work closely with LAWV staff on eviction prevention with a special emphasis on manufactured home tenants at risk of eviction due to large corporations purchasing local mobile home parks. He will also assist with several innovative projects by helping to conduct outreach, develop legal materials, deliver legal education, and provide legal services. Eliot is a student at Boston College Law School. 
• Will Lavallo, a student at University of Texas School of Law, will join the Migrant Farmworker Division at Colorado Legal Services (CLS), where he will help farmworkers address such issues as wage theft, sexual harassment, human trafficking, and immigration. Will also plans to visit migrant farm workers throughout the region to ensure that they have information regarding their legal rights and CLS services. 
• At DNA-Peoples Legal Services, Hannah Waltz will work alongside Navajo- and Hopi-licensed attorneys to provide outreach, community legal education, and a full spectrum of legal assistance to clients. Her project focuses on the Hopi code, working to ensure that it provides protections comparable to those available in other tribal courts. Hannah is a student at CUNY School of Law. 
• At Legal Services of Northern Michigan (LSNM), Whitney Dean will focus on continuing to build a network of family law clinics for self-represented litigants. She will advocate for domestic and/or sexual abuse survivors by assisting LSNM staff attorneys with client intakes, interviews, research, document drafting and hearing preparation. 

In 2023, RSLC Student Fellows collectively contributed 13,129 hours to help rural communities, with 4,881 hours spent on direct legal services. These Student Fellows also participated in 139 outreach events, created or expanded more than 144 collaborations with community partners, and provided legal information to more than 1,763 individuals. 

To learn more about the Rural Summer Legal Corps, visit here. 

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About Equal Justice Works 

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. 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. 

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 131 independent nonprofit legal aid organizations in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. Visit www.lsc.gov for more information. 

Contact: 

Emily Singer 

Senior Manager of Marketing & Communications 

Email: [email protected] 

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 29, 2024—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced that Jim Chosy, Molly Giguiere, and Teresa Younger have been named to the organization’s board of directors. 

“We are honored to welcome Jim, Molly, and Teresa to the Board of Directors,” said Verna Williams, CEO of Equal Justice Works. “Their diverse expertise—from corporate law, to serving as an Equal Justice Works Student Fellow, to nonprofit leadership—paired with their advocacy, passion for public service, and unique perspectives make them strong additions to our dynamic and knowledgeable Board. I look forward to working with them as we further the access to justice movement and support public interest lawyers and leaders across the country.” 

Jim Chosy is the Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel of U.S. Bancorp. He is responsible for all aspects of the company’s legal affairs and serves on the Managing Committee, comprised of the senior-most executives within the organization.  

Jim has demonstrated a strong commitment to service throughout his career, including his involvement with the Fund for Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association. He is also a Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a member of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity. 

Equal Justice Works recognized Jim’s dedication to public interest law and pro bono in 2023 by presenting him with the Scales of Justice award. 

“I am honored to join Equal Justice Works’ Board of Directors and grateful for the opportunity to deepen my longstanding engagement with the organization,” said Jim Chosy. “I am inspired by EJW’s mission of pursuing equal justice through developing the next generation of public interest lawyers, and am proud to serve and eager to contribute in this new capacity.” 

Molly Giguiere is a law student representative on the Equal Justice Works Board of Directors. She joins the organization from the University of San Francisco School of Law. 

Molly’s commitment to public service is evident in her many activities.  At present, she serves as the president of the Women’s Law Association, the Social Media Chair for the Public Interest Law Foundation, and an Events Coordinator for the Disability Rights and Advocacy Student Association. In addition, Molly competes in Moot Court and advocates for Afghan women through the International Human Rights Clinic. During her 1L summer, she was an Equal Justice Works Student Fellow in the Disaster Resilience Program, where she worked with Disability Rights California to address the needs of people with disabilities concerning natural disasters in California. 

“I know first-hand how difficult it can be to want to pursue a career in public interest, but have financial barriers in your way,” said Molly Giguiere. “I wanted to come to law school not for the academic exercise of it all; with the power of legal education [comes]…the responsibility to use our skills to give back and create a more equitable and just society. Being in law school now, I understand more than ever the importance of an advocate’s lived experience. Yet it is those of us with lived experience who are held back the most by the lack of financial resources to pursue the very careers that drew us to become attorneys in the first place. [Equal Justice Works] helped me through my own fellowship achieve my dreams, and I am so proud to be on the board to pay this gift forward to others.” 

Teresa Younger is the President and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women (MFW). She is an activist, advocate, and a proven leader in the philanthropic and policy sectors. Before joining MFW, Teresa led the Connecticut General Assembly’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Women, and served as executive director of the ACLU of Connecticut.   

A thought leader at the critical intersections of gender and race, Teresa has worked on initiatives to shape and change the narrative of women and girls, including the Women’s Funding Network, Grantmakers for Girls of Color, Philanthropy New York, Black Girl Freedom Fund and Funders for Reproductive Equity. She was named one of the “50 Most Powerful Women in Philanthropy” and to the “Top 100 Leaders in Philanthropy” by Inside Philanthropy. 

Teresa also lends her expertise to a number of boards including the Ethel Walker School, Essie Justice Group and Hedgebrook. 

“Equal Justice Work has a legacy of Fellows on the leading edge of legal strategies,” said Teresa Younger. “I look forward to supporting Equal Justice Works and the future of those Fellows as they push the limits of how they use their legal degrees. I am very excited about the opportunity to serve on the board of Equal Justice Works.” 

To see the rest of the Equal Justice Works Board of Directors, click here. 

84 public interest lawyers will spend the next two years advancing access to justice for underserved communities across the United States. 

84 law firms, corporations, private foundations, and individual donors sponsored the 2024 class of Equal Justice Works Fellows. 

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 22, 2024—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today named its 2024 class of Fellows. Each of the 84 law school graduates, in collaboration with a nonprofit organization, has designed a two-year Equal Justice Works Fellowship project to address unmet legal needs of the community they will serve. 

“I am so honored to welcome these public service leaders to our Equal Justice Works community. These new Fellows advance our longstanding work of building a movement of public interest leaders who are transforming communities across the nation,” said Verna Williams, CEO of Equal Justice Works. “Millions of people in the United States lack access to legal assistance to avoid eviction, maintain custody of their children, or escape an abusive partner, which makes growing the public interest sector vital. We are proud of our Fellows working to increase access to justice for communities throughout our nation.” 

Each year, Equal Justice Works selects a class of passionate public interest leaders who have designed unique projects in partnership with nonprofit organizations. These projects are funded by law firms, corporations, foundations, and individual supporters. 

The 2024 class of Equal Justice Works Fellows includes graduates from 42 law schools who will work at 79 legal services organizations across 22 states and Washington, D.C. Among this year’s 84 sponsors are 33 leading law firms recognized in the Am Law 200 and 25 Fortune 500 corporations.  

“Bloomberg is proud to be a longstanding supporter of Equal Justice Works and its Fellowship program, which inspires recent law school graduates to address unmet legal needs in our communities,” said David Levine, Chief Legal Officer at Bloomberg L.P. and a member of Equal Justice Works’ Board of Directors since 2023. “In partnership with Proskauer Rose LLP, Bloomberg has co-sponsored four Equal Justice Works Fellows who have contributed to the fight against injustice through their work with nonprofits such as the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project and the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. In addition to sponsoring a Fellow with Proskauer this year, we’re also excited to expand our support of a sole Bloomberg Fellow, who will be working with the Center for Reproductive Rights to protect and expand access to reproductive health care across the United States.” 

The 2024 class of Fellows will take on projects that address a range of access-to-justice issues. Some of these projects include: 

• Clayton Pierce will work at the ACLU Voting Rights Project to protect voting rights for people with disabilities by challenging state laws that limit and criminalize voter assistance. Bloomberg and Proskauer are sponsoring Clayton’s Fellowship. 
• David Cremins will work with California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc. to enforce worker health and safety laws regulating heat exposure and other environmental stressors amongst agricultural workers in California’s Central Valley. The Vertex Foundation is sponsoring David’s project. 
• Samantha Nagler will work with Gender Justice to improve access to reproductive healthcare in Minnesota by challenging crisis pregnancy centers’ harmful practices. An anonymous donor is sponsoring Samantha. 
• Frances Tyler will provide legal services and educational resources to nonprofits that serve survivors of domestic violence. Frances is hosted by Lawyers Alliance for New York and sponsored by Verizon & DLA Piper. 
• Alizeh Sheikh will work at the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network, where she will advocate on behalf of immigrants are facing language access issues and due process issues in the immigration process. UPS and Greenberg Traurig are sponsoring Alizeh’s project. 
• Adrienne Phạm will work at Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, where she will seek post-conviction relief for southeast Asian refugees navigating the immigration process and ensure that culturally sensitive legal representation is accessible. Microsoft Corporation and Reed Smith LLP are sponsoring Adrienne. 

Over the past three decades, Equal Justice Works has awarded more than 2,700 postgraduate fellowships to public service leaders committed to ensuring equal access to justice for underserved communities. 

Equal Justice Works Fellowship programs are designed to effect change in communities throughout our country by mobilizing Fellows to work on key issue areas such as disaster resilience; voting rights; safe, fair, and affordable housing; and crime victims’ rights. Equal Justice Works Fellowships also expand the ability of nonprofit organizations to design and implement unique projects responding to emerging needs. On average, 85% of Equal Justice Works Fellows remain in public service positions, continuing to help fulfill our nation’s promise of equal justice for all. 

Click here for a full list of the 2024 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 creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. 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. 

Contact 

Emily Singer 

Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications 

[email protected] 

The grant from the American Red Cross will help Hawaiian communities recover from the Maui wildfires that occurred in 2023 and build resilience towards future disasters

WASHINGTON, D.C., May 1, 2024— Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, has been awarded an $884,000 grant by the American Red Cross to provide legal aid to Hawaiian communities impacted by the 2023 Maui wildfires through the organization’s Disaster Resilience Program, which mobilizes lawyers in areas that have been affected by disasters.

“A great need remains for legal aid in Maui as communities continue to recover and rebuild,” said Linda Anderson Stanley, the Director of Fellowships at Equal Justice Works. “We are thankful that the American Red Cross has extended their generous support to provide aid to Maui as communities recover from this disaster.”

The Maui wildfires of 2023 were reported as the fifth deadliest wildfire in U.S. history and the worst natural disaster in Hawaii’s history. The destruction caused by these fires exceeded $6 billion in damages, with over a hundred lives lost. An after-action report provided by the County of Maui Department of Fire and Public Safety stated that the entire island’s limited resources were extremely stretched by the scope and scale of the disaster. 

The grant from the American Red Cross mobilizes five Fellows in Maui to provide legal aid to those whose lives were affected by the wildfires and help communities build resilience towards future disasters. Fellows supported by this grant will serve at Legal Aid Society of Hawaii, Native Hawaiian Legal Corporation, The Legal Clinic, and United Policyholders as they help communities recover and rebuild from the Maui wildfires. The presence of these Fellows will also support capacity-building at each of the organizations where they are embedded, enabling them to support Maui and Hawaii as a whole in the face of future challenges. 

“We are so excited for what these Fellows will achieve and what they will empower the organizations they are embedded in to accomplish,” said Amanda Ree, Red Cross Director of Wildfire Long Term Recovery Programs. “We think of these collaborations less as simply providing grants and more as building partnerships. In addition to providing grant funding, we have worked alongside Equal Justice Works to provide programmatic support, design processes, identify needs and build capacity. It is through community working together that recovery really begins to take shape.” 

Equal Justice Works has developed targeted programs to mobilize lawyers to support disaster-affected communities since 2005. The organization launched its award-winning Disaster Resilience Program in 2020, placing six Fellows (lawyers) and six Student Fellows (law students) at legal services organizations in Texas and Florida to address the critical legal needs that communities face before, during, and after a disaster. Since then, the program has hosted 40 additional attorney Fellows who have advocated for communities that were affected by incidents such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, COVID-19, humanitarian crises, and other disasters across the states of Arkansas, California, Florida, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, and Tennessee.  

The Disaster Resilience Program is currently funded by the American Red Cross, Arkansas Community Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Danaher Foundation.  

To learn more about the work of Fellows in the Disaster Resilience Program, click here. 

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About Equal Justice Works  

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. 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.  

About the American Red Cross  

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media. 

The grant from the American Red Cross will mobilize Fellows to help low-income communities in Florida recover from Hurricane Ian.  

The grant provided by the Center for Disaster Philanthropy will provide aid for communities affected by hurricanes in Florida and Puerto Rico, specifically those affected by Hurricanes Ian and Fiona.  

The grant from the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative will aim to deliver direct legal services and advance systemic change to ensure that legal services are equitably accessible to immigrant populations in Houston. 

WASHINGTON, D.C., March 28, 2024—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, has been awarded a total of $1.44 million in grants by the American Red Cross, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), and the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative to provide legal aid to communities impacted by hurricanes and humanitarian crises through the organization’s Disaster Resilience Program, which mobilizes lawyers in areas that have been affected by disasters. 

“We are grateful to the American Red Cross, CDP, and the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative for their generous continued support of our program,” said Linda Anderson Stanley, Director of Fellowships at Equal Justice Works. “From Florida and Puerto Rico to Texas and beyond, our nation is facing increasing threats to our climate. Through this partnership, we’re able to equip the communities most impacted with access to a lawyer to overcome barriers to recovery and secure their wellbeing.”

Equal Justice Works has developed targeted programs to mobilize lawyers to support disaster-affected communities since 2005. The organization launched its award-winning Disaster Resilience Program in 2020, placing six Fellows (lawyers) and six Student Fellows (law students) at legal services organizations in Texas and Florida to address the critical legal needs that communities face before, during, and after a disaster. Since then, the program has hosted 40 additional attorney Fellows who have advocated for communities that were affected by incidents such as wildfires, hurricanes, tornadoes, COVID-19, humanitarian crises, and other disasters across the states of Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, New Mexico, and Tennessee. 

The grant from the American Red Cross mobilized three Fellows to provide low-income communities in Florida with the legal aid they need in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.  

Hurricane Ian caused one of the largest insured losses in Florida—only second to Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of impacted individuals are in the process of seeking money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to aid in their recoveries, also leading to an increased need for legal assistance filing FEMA appeals, amongst a myriad of other legal needs. 

The Fellows below work to provide free, comprehensive, and responsive legal aid in Florida, especially in low-income communities.  

• Charles Grimsley 
• Kevin Sarlo 
• Nickole Durbin-Félix 

“Legal aid is a consistent need we see after disasters of all kinds. Funding these types of projects is critical to a community’s recovery,” said Robert Sofaly, director of Hurricane Ian Long-Term Recovery at the American Red Cross. “We are grateful for the work Equal Justice Works is doing to support recovery in Florida.” 

The grant from CDP will support the second year of the three Fellows—listed above—in Florida and one Fellow in Puerto Rico to provide legal assistance for communities impacted by Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Florence. These storms left sustained damage in communities throughout Florida and Puerto Rico. Hurricane Fiona caused significant flooding and a widespread power blackout in Puerto Rico. The impact of Hurricanes Fiona and Ian remains evident in remote communities. 

The Fellows funded by this grant will provide direct legal services to communities in Florida and Puerto Rico that have been affected by hurricanes and share tools to ensure that these communities remain resilient. The three Fellows listed above will work with Floridian communities to continue providing legal aid for those affected by Hurricane Ian, and the Fellow listed below will provide legal assistance for Puerto Rican communities affected by Hurricane Fiona. 

• Diana Jordán-González  

 “Many communities affected by disasters need legal assistance on the long, complex road to recovery,” said Kristina Moore, senior director of marketing and communications at CDP. “CDP is pleased to support Equal Justice Works’ efforts in Florida and Puerto Rico to help Hurricane Ian and Hurricane Fiona survivors recover stronger.” 

The grant from the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative mobilized three Fellows to deliver direct legal services and advance systemic change to ensure that legal services are equitably accessible to immigrant communities in Houston in areas such as immigration, housing, and workplace exploitation, while also helping them build resilience to protect their futures. 

Fellows funded by this grant have customized their projects to the needs of the host organization and the communities that they serve. Their work focuses on fortifying the legal protections that fail many during humanitarian crises and advancing equity in the distribution of resources. 

• Ashley Winford 
• Tabitha Hooten 
• Jessica Zarate 

“Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative is proud to partner with Equal Justice Works to grow the pipeline of immigration lawyers who help secure immigration protection and obtain citizenship for immigrants in Greater Houston,” said Zenobia Lai, Executive Director of the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative. “We want to express our gratitude to Houston Endowment for making these fellowships possible.” 

The Disaster Resilience Program is currently funded by the American Red Cross, Arkansas Community Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, and the Danaher Foundation. 

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About Equal Justice Works 

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. 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. 

About the American Red Cross 

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media. 

About the Center for Disaster Philanthropy 

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy mobilizes philanthropy to strengthen communities’ ability to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. It provides expert advice and resources while managing domestic and international disaster funds on behalf of corporations, foundations and individuals through targeted, holistic and localized grantmaking. Find out more at disasterphilanthropy.org and on LinkedIn. 

About the Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative 

The vision of Houston Immigration Legal Services Collaborative is to co-create a vibrant and resilient ecosystem where all immigrants, migrants, and refugees belong. We are committed to improving the lives of immigrants in the Greater Houston region by forging a path toward inclusive and equitable support. Our mission is built on four core principles: holistic legal services capacity, equitable access to services, amplified voices, and catalyzed ecosystems.  

Funding to Train Lawyers and Support Free Legal Services for People Impacted by the Opioid Crisis

NEW YORK (March 21, 2024) – The Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE) today announced it is awarding a grant of $1,361,005 over 30 months to Equal Justice Works to launch a national Opioid Crisis Response Legal Fellowship Program that will address the legal consequences of the opioid crisis. The program will provide intensive education on opioid crisis-related issues to a cohort of early career lawyers who will provide free legal representation to low-income individuals and families affected by the opioid and overdose crisis.

Read the full release.

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About Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts (FORE)

FORE was founded in 2018 as a private 501(c)(3) national, grant-making foundation focused on addressing the nation’s opioid crisis. FORE is committed to funding a diversity of projects contributing solutions to the crisis at national, state, and community levels. FORE’s mission is to support partners advancing patient-centered, innovative, evidence-based solutions impacting people experiencing opioid use disorder, their families, and their communities. Through convening, grantmaking and developing informational resources, FORE seeks to bring about long-term change. To date, FORE has awarded 104 grants to 91 organizations, totaling $41.9 million. Follow us on X and LinkedIn.

About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. 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 a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice.

Equal Justice Works, American Bar Association (ABA) Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness, the ABA Young Lawyers Division’s Disaster Legal Services Program, American Red Cross, Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP), Legal Services Corporation, Pro Bono Net, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), and the World Institute on Disability have teamed up to raise awareness for disaster resilience this March. 

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 28, 2024— Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, announced today that ABA Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness, the ABA Young Lawyers Division’s Disaster, Legal Services Program, Pro Bono Net, American Red Cross, Center for Disaster Philanthropy, Legal Services Corporation, National VOAD, and the World Institute on Disability will take part in the fourth annual Disaster Resilience Awareness Month this March. 

Equal Justice Works created Disaster Resilience Awareness Month in 2021 as a collaborative effort to call attention to disaster-related challenges, provide resources for survivors and advocates, and highlight the important role that legal professionals play in disaster preparedness, recovery, and resilience efforts. This year, national partners will join Equal Justice Works in spearheading an education campaign to highlight the important role legal professionals play in helping communities navigate disasters.

Throughout Disaster Resilience Awareness Month, Fellows in the Equal Justice Works Disaster Resilience Program will share their expertise and information on the legal services available to disaster survivors and best practices to advocate for communities recovering from the legal effects of disasters. Topics will include the short and long-term needs of immigrant communities recovering from disasters; issues that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) housing communities experience with extreme heat events; and the complications that often arise from the aftermath of hurricanes; among other disaster-related legal matters.   

“In the four years since launching Disaster Resilience Awareness Month, the frequency and severity of disasters have only increased —from devastating wildfires and brutal heat to intense hurricanes and extreme flooding. In the face of increasing threats to our climate, the communities most impacted must have access to a lawyer to overcome barriers to recovery and secure their wellbeing,” said Verna Williams, CEO of Equal Justice Works. “The burden of hardship in the wake of climate disaster falls disproportionately on lower income communities and communities of color, exacerbating inequality. We are proud to work with our coalition partners to call for greater investment in disaster resilience as both a strategy to address climate change and combat racial injustice.”  

“The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is proud to join Equal Justice Works and other national partners to highlight the critical importance of disaster resilience. As the frequency and severity of natural disasters continues to increase, LSC-funded legal aid organizations provide critical civil legal services to low-income disaster survivors,” said Lynn Jennings, vice president for grants management at LSC. “By empowering people to prepare for disasters, understand their risks and access available resources, we can build resilient communities before disaster strikes. LSC and our partners have gathered disaster information on two websites. Heartland Disaster Help provides essential information for residents across ten states in America’s heartland that have faced significant flooding, windstorms, extreme heat and wildfires over the past decade. The Legal Aid Disaster Resource Center offers comprehensive resources to assist legal services organizations, courts, individuals, and communities in preparing for and responding to disasters.”    

“We are proud to be participating in Disaster Resilience Awareness Month again this year,” said Robert Sofaly, Long-Term Recovery Director with the American Red Cross. “A focus on resilience is so important. It’s not just about responding in the immediate aftermath, as we do with our shelters and feeding operations, but also about ensuring communities have the support they need to be prepared and resilient before the next disaster strikes.” 

“Having spent decades in this work, I have witnessed firsthand how response, recovery and resiliency are all intertwined,” said Nicole Behnam, vice president of strategy, innovation and special projects of CDP. “During this Disaster Resilience Awareness Month, the Center for Disaster Philanthropy is proud to support Equal Justice Works in highlighting the need to invest in building resilience, especially among marginalized communities, so that they can recover stronger and thrive after disasters.” 

“Implementing, monitoring, and enforcing the civil rights protections of people with disabilities, (27% of adults in the US), is key to resilience for all,” said Marcie Roth, WID’s Executive Director and CEO. “True community resilience can only be achieved when the whole community is involved before, during and after disasters.” 

“Our communities are stronger and more resilient when we invest in preparedness, and every legal professional has a role to play in these efforts” said Liz Keith, Chief Partnerships Officer at Pro Bono Net. “Pro Bono Net is honored to join forces with Equal Justice Works and other national partners on this cross-sector collaboration to raise awareness of one of the most critical justice issues of our time, and pathways to get involved.” 

“National VOAD enthusiastically joins forces with National VOAD Member Equal Justice Works to once again commemorate Disaster Resilience Awareness Month. This collaboration celebrates the fundamental principles of the VOAD Movement’s 4 C’s: cooperation, communication, coordination, and collaboration. Through educational initiatives, outreach programs, and advocacy efforts, we strive to foster resilience at every level, ensuring that individuals and communities are equipped to navigate challenges and emerge stronger in the face of adversity,” said Amelia Mendizabal, Director of Programs at National VOAD. “Together, we believe in the power of collective action to build more resilient communities and promote a safer, more prepared future for all.” 

“As major disaster events become more frequent and severe – and disproportionately impact the most vulnerable Americans – a focus on resilience is the only sustainable path forward in this fight for justice,” said Amanda Brown, Director of the ABA Young Lawyers Division’s Disaster Legal Services Program. “Collaborative campaigns like Disaster Resilience Awareness Month are the key to raising awareness of disaster resilience, helping us collectively increase our impact.” 

Last year, as a part of Disaster Resilience Awareness Month, Equal Justice Works partnered with the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Disaster Response and Preparedness, the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services, and Stetson University College of Law to host a Disaster Resilience Symposium. The two-day event convened over 100 legal, academic, and community voices instrumental in disaster law to share their experiences, expertise, and delivery strategies for advocating on behalf of people affected by disasters, which continue to grow in frequency and severity. Recordings of the panels from the symposium are available here. The next symposium will take place in 2025.  

Since 2005, Equal Justice Works has mobilized hundreds of passionate public service lawyers to deliver legal services to disaster-affected communities. To learn more about the organization’s efforts to mobilize public service leaders who are helping individuals and communities navigate all kinds of disasters including COVID-19, hurricanes, flooding, tornados, extreme heat, wildfires, and winter storms, visit here.

If your organization is interested in joining Equal Justice Works for Disaster Resilience Awareness Month, please reach out to [email protected].

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 About Equal Justice Works 

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. 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 a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice. 

About the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services Program 

The American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Disaster Legal Services Program (DLS) collaborates with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate the delivery of free legal services to low-income survivors of major disaster events. DLS works to ensure survivors who do not have the means to secure adequate legal services have access to confidential, free legal.  

About the American Red Cross 

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media. 

 About the Center for Disaster Philanthropy 

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy mobilizes philanthropy to strengthen communities’ ability to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. It provides expert advice and resources while managing domestic and international disaster funds on behalf of corporations, foundations and individuals through targeted, holistic and localized grantmaking. Find out more at disasterphilanthropy.org and on LinkedIn. 

 About Legal Services Corporation 

Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974. For 50 years, LSC has provided financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. The Corporation currently provides funding to 131 independent nonprofit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories.  

 About National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster 

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) was founded over 50 years ago in response to the challenges many disaster organizations experienced following Hurricane Camille, a category 5 storm that hit the Gulf Coast in August 1969. National VOAD promotes cooperation, communication, coordination and collaboration, and fosters more effective delivery of services to communities affected by disaster. 

 About Pro Bono Net 

Pro Bono Net’s mission is to create scalable and sustainable technology solutions and partnerships that bring free, safe and high-quality legal help to millions of people. Its programs (i) enable individuals to directly access the power of the law; (ii) empower advocates and volunteers to more effectively reach and represent those in need; and (iii) equip legal, social justice and community organizations with tools and resources to grow their impact. Through Advocates for Disaster Justice (https://www.advocatesfordisasterjustice.org), Pro Bono Net and its partners harness the power of shared experience and offer free resources to survivors and legal advocates working to advance equity, rights and resilience in communities impacted by climate-driven and other disasters. 

About the World Institute on Disability 

The World Institute on Disability (WID) is a registered 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization that is dedicated to designing, building, and supporting whole community solutions by removing barriers to include people with disabilities. Our mission on a global scale is to continuously advance the rights and opportunities of more than 1.3 billion people with disabilities. To help create a more inclusive global society, we share our expertise and focus our efforts on three strategic areas that profoundly impact people with disabilities: Accessibility and Universal Design; Emergency, Disaster, and Climate Resilience; and Community Inclusion. Together we are disrupting exclusion, transforming inclusion, and centering the leadership of multiply-marginalized disabled people and the principles of disability justice. For more information about WID, please visit www.wid.org.  

Susan Alexander is Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Biogen 

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 21, 2024 — Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced that Susan H. Alexander, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of Biogen, will be honored at the Equal Justice Works Scales of Justice event on October 15, 2024, in Washington, D.C.

Equal Justice Works CEO, Verna Williams, applauded Susan’s dedication to advancing justice: “Susan’s commitment to improving access to justice and long-term support of public interest law make her a deserving recipient of the Scales of Justice award. Her work and contributions embody the spirit of this honor, and we are thrilled to recognize her at this year’s event.” 

Susan’s commitment to public interest stems from her belief that legal services must be available to all. In response to her selection as the 2024 Scales of Justice recipient, Susan stated, “Undeniably, everyone is entitled to a free, fair, and just society. It is my personal and professional privilege and duty to seek access to justice for all. I am honored by this recognition and grateful for the opportunity to support Equal Justice Works and its mission to mobilize passionate public service leaders whose work creates a lasting impact on our communities and justice system.” 

Equal Justice Works presents the Scales of Justice Award annually to a legal leader who exemplifies exceptional support of public interest law and a commitment to equal access to justice, and who has made significant contributions to the mission and vision of Equal Justice Works. Susan has played a pivotal role in advancing the cause of equal access to justice and supporting public interest law throughout her illustrious career. As a longtime member of both the Equal Justice Works Scales of Justice Steering Committee and the Board of Counselors, Susan has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to advancing the organization’s mission, including her support of Biogen’s co-sponsorship of seven Equal Justice Works Fellows since 2012. Her involvement in the Boston Bar Association’s Statewide Task Force to Expand Civil Legal Aid in Massachusetts, which produced a roadmap for cost-effective funding of civil legal aid, reflects her dedication to addressing societal barriers to access to justice. 

Susan’s commitment to pro bono work and equal access to justice is deeply rooted in her personal experiences and values. Growing up in Washington, D.C., during the civil rights movement, Susan witnessed the need for equal access to justice and developed a strong belief in the role of the rule of law in securing it. Equal Justice Works is pleased to honor Susan with the Scales of Justice Award. 

Click here for more information about the Scales of Justice. 

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About Equal Justice Works 

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. 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 a lifelong commitment to public service and equal justice. 

Contact
Sarah Lackritz
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
Email: [email protected] 

Equal Justice Works has launched applications for law students to participate in a summer of service! Law Students are invited to apply to spend their summer serving crime victims with the Crime Victims Advocacy Program, helping communities affected by disaster with the Disaster Resilience Program, or increasing access to legal aid in rural areas with the Rural Summer Legal Corps. Applications for law student summer opportunities in the Rural Summer Legal Corps and the Crime Victims Advocacy Program opened on January 4^th, 2024. *Applications for law student summer opportunities with the Disaster Resilience Program opened on January 17^th, 2024.

Interested in spending a summer of service gaining hands-on legal experience? If you’re a first or second-year law school student, apply for one of these law student opportunities offered by Equal Justice Works:

• Rural Summer Legal Corps (RSLC)—a partnership between Equal Justice Works and Legal Services Corporation (LSC)—supports 50 law students in serving rural communities. Student Fellows take on challenging projects through LSC-funded civil legal aid organizations, addressing legal issues such as affordable housing and evictions, domestic violence, education, farmworkers’ rights, and family law matters in Native American communities and tribes.
• Crime Victims Advocacy Program (CVAP) places 21 law students to increase access to legal aid for survivors of crime, especially in underserved BIPOC communities. This program is supported by an award under 15POVC-22-GK-01116-NONF, awarded by the Office for Victims of Crime, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.
• Disaster Resilience Program mobilizes 11 law students to work alongside Equal Justice Works Fellows as they provide critical legal assistance to disaster-prone areas. Student Fellows support efforts to improve disaster preparedness and recovery for communities prone to climate-related and human-made disasters such as flooding, hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, COVID-19, and humanitarian crises.

*Summer law student applications for the Disaster Resilience Program opened on January 17th

“I enjoyed my conversations with my supervising attorney and see him as a mentor in public interest for my future career,” said Selma Lara, 2023 Rural Summer Legal Corps Student Fellow. “He is skilled and passionate in his work, and he is extremely approachable. My law school experience made me lose sight of why I went in the first place, and this experience made me passionate again.”

Participants, called Student Fellows, will spend eight to ten weeks gaining valuable legal experience, expanding their network within the legal field, and serving communities in need this summer—all while working toward a $7,000 stipend! Student Fellows take on a wide range of responsibilities, such as providing direct client services, engaging in community outreach and advocacy efforts, and building capacity at their host organization. Additionally, Student Fellows will have access to trainings and the opportunity to participate in networking events throughout their time in the program.

“The most exciting part of the program was that I was engaging in real legal practice and impacted real people in need, not corporations,” said Ethan Barnes, 2023 Rural Summer Legal Corps Student Fellow. “Calling a client and telling them their issue is resolved was a rewarding feeling that trumps all others.”

Applications for law student summer opportunities in the Rural Summer Legal Corps and the Crime Victims Advocacy Program are being accepted until February 13, 2024. Applications for law student summer opportunities in the Disaster Resilience Program are being accepted until February 20, 2024. For more information about eligibility and requirements and to apply, please visit here.

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

The Alumni Advisory Council (AAC) is a non-fiduciary advisory board comprising a diverse group of 15 Equal Justice Works alumni who provide advice and counsel in support of the organization’s alumni engagement initiatives. AAC members work in partnership with the director of alumni relations to build lifelong relationships between Equal Justice Works, its Fellowship alumni, and current Fellows through programming, communication, and volunteerism. The AAC works to advance and promote the mission of Equal Justice Works and our programs while representing the interests and concerns of alumni to Equal Justice Works, and the interests of Equal Justice Works to its alumni.

AAC members are appointed to serve three-year staggered terms and may be reappointed for one additional consecutive three-year term. Members are reflective of the diverse strengths, Fellowship programs, geographic distribution, professional accomplishments, and public interest disciplines of the Equal Justice Works alumni community. Recently, the AAC welcomed five new members.

“We are excited to welcome these new members to our Alumni Advisory Council,” said Lynbea Toombs, the Director of Alumni Relations at Equal Justice Works. “Each new member has a lot to contribute to the AAC through their insights, perspectives, and ideas.”

The new members of the Alumni Advisory Council include:

Dana Dohn, 2016 Fellow

During Dana’s Equal Justice Works Fellowship at the Children’s Law Center, she worked to address the legal, policy, and service gaps that children affected by broken adoptions face. After her Fellowship. Dana spent years representing children in abuse, neglect, guardianship, child support, and PINS cases. Dana now works at the Legal Aid Society, where she is a staff attorney. As a staff attorney, Dana continues to represent youth who have experienced broken adoptions, advocate for legislative adoption subsidy reform, and educate the community on issues related to adoption.

Kyla Moore, 2016 Fellow

Kyla’s Fellowship with Start Small Think Big built a novel pro bono civil legal services clinic that was held across New York City for big law attorneys to aid under-resourced micro-entrepreneurs, primarily servicing women of color. Kyla is now a Pro Bono Manager at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP. In this role, Kyla develops and manages pro bono initiatives for the firm’s three offices in Indiana while also collaborating on firmwide pro bono initiatives. Kyla’s pro bono involvement extends to managing pro bono trainings, events, opportunities, and resources.

Antoinette Naddour, 2012 Fellow

Antoinette provided civil legal aid to veterans through her Fellowship with Veteran’s Justice Project at the Public Law Center. The Veteran’s Justice Project provided veterans with legal services such as expungement, discharge upgrades, access to veterans benefits, and general civil services. Antoinette also presented on veterans’ legal issues and operations at conferences on the local and national level. After the Fellowship, Antoinette co-founded the Veterans Legal Institute, where she is currently continuing her work aiding veterans as the Executive Director. In this role, Antoinette leads the overall strategic direction and management of the organization by managing partnerships, facilitating development projects, and collaborating with the Board of Directors to develop strategies and meet the organization’s goals.

Robin Runge, 1997 Fellow

Robin’s Fellowship at the Employment Law Center for the Legal Aid Society of San Francisco (now Legal Aid at Work) advocated for the employment rights of survivors of domestic violence. After her Equal Justice Works Fellowship, Robin continued her career as an assistant professor at the University of North Dakota School of Law, a Fulbright Senior Research Scholar studying the legal system response to violence against women in China, director of the American Bar Association Commission on Domestic Violence, and the Deputy Director and Coordinator of the Program on Women’s Employment Rights (POWER) at the DC Employment Justice Center. Currently, Robin is a Distinguished Professorial Lecturer in Law and a Consultant for the George Washington University Law School and the Women’s Bureau of the United States Department of Labor.

Verjine Adanalian, 2018 Fellow

During her Equal Justice Works Fellowship at the Ohio Justice & Policy Center, Verjine offered free legal services to help survivors of human trafficking overcome criminal records-based barriers and expand their rights across the state of Ohio. After the Fellowship, Verjine continued her work at the Ohio Justice and Policy Center as the Director of the Second Chance Project. In this role, she expanded her approach to include policy work, training of other legal professionals, and representing clients that are not only struggling in the community but also currently incarcerated.

“It is my honor to chair the Equal Justice Works Alumni Advisory Council this year and I’m delighted to welcome our new AAC members,” said Alumni Advisory Council Chair, Claire Johnson Raba. “This year, the AAC looks forward to working with Equal Justice Works to build community among alumni and Fellows, and supporting the racial justice and DEI priorities of Equal Justice Works.”

To learn more about the Alumni Advisory Council, visit here.