Meet the Fellows in Our Housing Justice Program

Across the United States, evictions are on the rise and families are losing their homes. Among larger cities, Richmond has the second highest eviction rate in the country at 11%—that’s three to four times the national average, according to an analysis of millions of eviction case court records by Princeton University’s Eviction Lab.

We recently launched our Housing Justice Program, a two-year Fellowship program aimed at helping individuals and families in the Greater Richmond Region of Virginia who are currently, or are at risk of, experiencing housing instability.

Hosted at Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Legal Aid Justice Center, and Virginia Poverty Law Center, Equal Justice Works Fellows and Housing Organizers are working as a unified front to ensure greater access to legal services for residents facing the possibility of eviction. Together, Fellows and Organizers are building collaborative partnerships among tenant groups and community members, and engaging in activities to effect systemic change.

Here’s a sample of what our Fellows in the Housing Justice Program are working on:

Justin Geyer is hosted by the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society where he provides direct representation to low-income tenants facing eviction or other adverse housing actions.

Daryl F. Hayott, Esq. represents residents in housing matters and leads a wide range of outreach and education activities, including engaging residents in Tenant Town Halls, conducting Tenant’s Assertion seminars, and door knocking in high-eviction communities to gauge community concerns. Daryl is hosted by the Virginia Poverty Law Center.

Palmer Heenan provides direct legal aid, outreach, and advocacy to low-income tenants facing eviction. Palmer is hosted by the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society.

Louisa Rich is hosted by the Legal Aid Justice Center and represents tenants in court with an eye toward impact solutions. Through public comment, legislative work groups, and community collaboration, Louisa also advocates for local policy change and enables low-income tenants to self-advocate.

Kateland Alan Woodcock is taking a multifaceted approach to her Fellowship, performing direct representation in addition to working with community organizers to help educate the public on their rights. Kateland is hosted by the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society.

Laura Wright is using a community lawyering model to work with other Fellows and Community Organizers to build networks within high eviction neighborhoods to assess the greatest housing needs, provide know your rights trainings, and refer clients to partner organizations for emergency legal assistance. Laura is hosted by the Virginia Poverty Law Center.

The Housing Justice Program is made possible by the generous support of The JPB Foundation. Learn more about the program here.

Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced that former United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch is scheduled to speak at the upcoming Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair.

Each fall, Equal Justice Works hosts its two-day Conference and Career Fair, the largest national public interest legal career fair, bringing together more than 200 public interest employers and 1,400 law students and recent law graduates. Attendees participate in prescheduled interviews, workshops and informal “table talk” discussions; receive résumé advice; and network with law students and legal professionals.

This year, the Conference and Career Fair will be held October 18–19 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia, and will include a special session with former United States Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. At the session, Loretta E. Lynch will discuss her commitment to public service, including three presidential appointments, as well as addressing important topics in public interest law with the Honorable Ann Claire Williams, formerly of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Visit here for more information about the Equal Justice Works Conference and Career Fair.

The 2017 hurricane season was one of the busiest and most destructive hurricane seasons on record, with billions of dollars in damages. Following the aftermath of these hurricanes, Equal Justice Works established the Disaster Recovery Legal Corps, a two-year program aimed at helping residents in disaster-affected communities in Texas and Florida, navigate the complex web of legal issues.

Launched in the summer of 2018, the Disaster Recovery Legal Corps has been on the front lines helping to rebuild communities and lives. In its first year, Fellows across Texas and Florida have made outstanding achievements in responding to current recovery needs, as well as strengthening the long-term capacity of legal aid organizations to administer services for future disasters.

From applying for FEMA benefits, to protecting against unscrupulous contractors and unlawful evictions, and ensuring those with physical disabilities can safely access their homes—Fellows have been a critical part of the recovery process in the communities where they serve.

In Texas, Fellows provided 9,080 individuals with legal information, and 2,815 individuals with counsel or direct representation, exceeding the program’s year-one performance measure target by almost 65 percent! Fellows in Texas have also managed to secure about $1.1 million in economic benefits for their clients in the first year.

Collaboration and partnership among Fellows and the wider community of disaster recovery organizations has been an essential part of the program. Fellow Christina Brown at Lone Star Legal Aid partnered with the American Red Cross and the Liberty County Disaster Recovery Group to schedule outreach events and provide information and resources to the citizens of Liberty County. Fellow Stephanie Duke, at Disability Rights Texas and Fellows Christina Brown, Carla (CJ) Krystyniak, Lauren Masullo, Chase Porter, and Meghan Smolensky at Lone Star Legal Aid worked with the American Association of Retired Persons to perform outreach, give presentations, and conduct a clinic on clearing titles for individuals affected by Hurricane Harvey.

Rebuilding is an arduous process, and the needs of individuals who have experienced a disaster are profound and require multi-disciplinary responses. The Disaster Recovery Legal Corps Fellows are working diligently to resolve the short and long-term legal needs of individuals who would otherwise be unable to secure disaster-related legal services.

Click here to learn more about the Disaster Recovery Legal Corps Fellows.

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, Sharon and Ivan Fong Family Foundation, and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.

* May 2018 to March 2019 reporting period

This summer, Equal Justice Works will mobilize 100 law students, representing 60 different law schools, to serve in its Veterans Legal Corps (VLC), an AmeriCorps program that helps low-income and homeless veterans secure access to income, housing, employment, and health care.

Through the program, law students, referred to as “Student Members”, will have a unique opportunity to gain hands-on legal experience, engage in community outreach and education projects, deliver presentations on veterans’ rights, and build relationships with community partners to help strengthen support for veterans.

Student Members will work across 60 host organizations and 28 states to serve the veteran community on a wide range of issue areas, many of which overlap—these include affordable housing and evictions, medical-legal partnerships, consumer and medical debt, family law, and more.

Here’s a sample of what of our Student Members will be working on:

Jesse Lieberfield will serve at Bay Area Legal Aid, collaborating with the office’s veterans legal services attorney, organizing naturalization clinics for non-U.S. citizen veterans, and providing legal information to family members who may qualify for immigration benefits as a result of the veteran’s military service. Jesse is a student at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.

Tyler McIntosh will provide a broad range of legal services at Iowa Legal Aid, including VA benefits, discharge upgrades, consumer protection, landlord/tenant, wills and power of attorney, child support modifications, and disability law. Tyler is a student at Creighton University School of Law.

Arturo Montoya will assist in legal research to write litigation and policy, and advocate for homeless veterans to provide permanent supportive housing and other benefits. Arturo is a student at the University of La Verne College of Law and will be serving at Inner City Law Center.

Diona Willis will work closely with The Bronx Defenders’ Family Defense Practice to serve low income clients including veterans and their families. She will engage in client interviews and participate in an intensive trial training program. Diona is a student at Florida A&M University School of Law.

We are excited to see what our Veterans Legal Corps Student Members will accomplish this summer. Learn more about the program here.

VLC is an AmeriCorps National program funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

Across the state of New York, immigrants struggle to access the legal assistance they need to protect their families and build a better life in our communities. In January 2018, Equal Justice Works launched the New York State Family Security Project (NYSFSP), a Fellowship program aimed at delivering legal services to immigrant families, specifically in areas outside of New York City where legal aid is more difficult to access.

During the one-year program, 13 NYSFSP Legal Fellows and 38 law students achieved results toward capacity-building at their host organizations, including expanding a range of legal services available to immigrants. NYSFSP Legal Fellows and law students provided immigrants with legal consultations and screenings, representation in deportation proceedings, and help with filing immigration applications for naturalization, employment authorization, and permanent residence.

Collectively, NYSFSP participants conducted 277 community outreach and educational activities, performed 1,548 legal screenings, and provided direct representation to 1,263 individuals.

A Fellow and law student team at Journey’s End Refugee Services collaborated on an asylum case on behalf of a woman, who was seeking safety from persecution in her home country due to her LGBTQ+ status. The team developed strong corroborating evidence that helped get her asylum application approved.

At Unlocal, one law student under attorney supervision worked on an asylum application on behalf of a man who feared return to his home country after suffering persecution and being sexually assaulted because of his gender identity. Throughout the process, the law student assisted with client interviews, gathered supporting documents for the application, and accompanied the client to his interview with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Asylum Officer. The client’s asylum application was approved weeks later, and he was able to obtain work authorization and remain in the United States.

With the growing climate of fear in immigrant communities and the ever-changing maze of complex immigration laws, access to immigration legal services is more important than ever. Learn more about specific NYSFSP Fellowship projects here, and see the other Fellows who are working tirelessly to meet the legal needs of low-income immigrants across our country.

The New York State Family Security Project was supported by the New York State Commission on National and Community Service, as well as match funding from the Ford Foundation, Carnegie Corporation of New York, individual donors, and host site contributions.

Equal Justice Works is proud to announce that Disaster Recovery Legal Corps (DRLC) Fellows Hannah Dyal and Brittanny Perrigue have been selected as members of the American Bar Association (ABA) Young Lawyers Division (YLD), Disaster Legal Services Program. Both Hannah and Brittanny are passionate public service leaders, whose experience working on disaster assistance and recovery efforts will help to strengthen the program’s impact throughout the United States.

“It is a tremendous honor to be given the opportunity to take the experience I have gained while working with disaster survivors as an Equal Justice Works Disaster Recovery Legal Corps Fellow, to provide equal access to legal resources to disaster survivors nationally,” said Hannah Dyal, DRLC Fellow hosted by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. “I hope to work with the other ABA YLD, Disaster Legal Services Team Members to bring high quality legal assistance to all individuals affected by disasters.”

Through the Disaster Legal Services Program, the ABA YLD and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) provides immediate temporary legal assistance to disaster survivors at no charge. As program representatives, Hannah and Brittanny will coordinate in the delivery of legal services to individuals affected by major disasters throughout the United States. Their responsibilities include interacting with national, state, and local Bar leaders; FEMA; and legal aid organizations to ensure individuals receive necessary services.

“Low-income disaster survivors face an uphill battle in recovery, and often their needs are left unheard,” said Brittanny Perrigue, DRLC Fellow hosted by Texas RioGrande Legal Aid, Inc. “I am proud to have the opportunity to be the voice for low-income disaster survivors by representing their interest nationally as a member of the ABA YLD, Disaster Legal Services Team and as an Equal Justice Works Disaster Recovery Legal Corps Fellow.”

In the aftermath of a disaster, access to civil legal aid is essential for rebuilding. DRLC Fellows like Brittanny and Hannah are committed to providing legal assistance to individuals in Texas and Florida who would otherwise be unable to secure disaster-related legal services. These Fellows address legal issues arising from hurricanes that struck in 2017, including insurance claims, title clearings, unlawful evictions, and unscrupulous contractors.

Click here to learn more about the 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, Sharon and Ivan Fong Family Foundation, and the Texas Access to Justice Foundation.

Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced its 2019 Regional Public Interest Award recipients. Each year, the Equal Justice Works National Advisory Committee honors eight law students who have demonstrated commitment to public interest law and pro bono work.

Chosen for their innovation and impact, each of the students selected is recognized for providing outstanding service through law clinics, volunteer work, internships, extracurricular projects, and more.

“We are proud to recognize these eight exceptional law students with the Regional Public Interest Award,” says Aoife Delargy Lowe, director of law school engagement and advocacy at Equal Justice Works. “As an organization founded by law students, we have always valued students’ passion for and commitment to public interest work.”

The 2019 Regional Public Interest Award recipients include:

Allie Cabibbo
St. Johns University School of Law
Northeast Region

Catharine Grainge
Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Mid-Atlantic Region

August Hieber
Chicago-Kent College of Law
Midwest Region

Jilisa Milton
University of Alabama School of Law
Gulf Region

Megan Mitchell
Vanderbilt Law School
South Region

Lucia Ornelas
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
Mountain Region

Sasha Novis
UCLA School of Law
Pacific Region

Denali Wilson
University of New Mexico School of Law
Southwest Region

Recipients will be presented with a commemorative plaque and a monetary reward of $250.

If you would like more information on how you can serve on your campus, please contact [email protected].

Housing plays a fundamental role in the well-being of children, families, and communities. Our Georgia Housing Corps (GHC) Fellows and Community Advocates work at legal services organizations throughout the state of Georgia to help deliver holistic legal aid to residents affected by the foreclosure crisis.

In the second half of the program’s first year*, GHC Fellows and Community Advocates made remarkable progress in implementing groundbreaking legal housing assistance throughout the state of Georgia. Collectively, GHC Fellows and Community Advocates took 762 legal cases or matters and provided advice and brief service to 529 individuals.

Working together, Fellow Erik Provitt and Community Advocate Shameka Dixon, at Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation (AVLF), helped a client living in income-based housing to dismiss several evictions filed against her, and establish a rental payment plan with housing management.

Crystal Redd, another Fellow at AVLF, represented a tenant who was accused of lease violations and combative interactions with housing management, but lacked the resources to move or locate other housing. Through intense negotiations, Crystal was able to keep the tenant in her home, and both parties were able to establish a professional relationship based on mutual respect. Crystal’s client credits this accomplishment to having a trusted advocate speak to management on her behalf.

At Atlanta Legal Aid, Fellow Farley Ezekiel represented several clients whose landlords were pursuing writs of possession against them. In one case, Farley was able to file an emergency motion to stay the writ, allowing her client to go to a job interview the same day as the originally scheduled eviction, confident that the sheriff would not dump her belongings on the street. Following the filing, the client was able to secure the job, and Farley managed to get the writ of possession permanently quashed.

Without access to legal assistance, many individuals are often unaware of their rights and protections under the law. GHC Fellows and Community Advocates are bringing high-quality legal services to those in need, and their stories illustrate the lasting impact of the program on individuals and communities throughout Georgia.

The Georgia Housing Corps is supported by the Georgia Bar Foundation. Learn more about the GHC Fellows who are working to improve housing outcomes for residents in Georgia.

* April 1 to September 30, 2018 reporting period

Crime victims often face significant challenges in accessing comprehensive, trauma-informed legal services for myriad legal issues relating to their victimization. Our Crime Victims Justice Corps (CVJC) is bridging this gap by helping victims of crime access trauma-informed legal assistance. Hosted at legal services organizations across the country, Equal Justice Works Fellows provide legal services to human trafficking survivors and other crime victims, including survivors of campus sexual assault, hate crimes, fraud, identity theft, as well as immigrant victims of crime.

In the last several months, sixty-one CVJC Fellows have been working tirelessly to meet the multitude of legal needs of crime victims. Collectively, Fellows have served 1,190 crime victims, including 725 trafficking survivors. Of all those served, 706 of them received direct representation, while the remainder received brief service and/or advice and counsel. Fellows have assisted crime victims on a diverse range of legal services such as immigration, consumer/finance, gender-based violence, family law matters, and crime victims’ rights enforcement in criminal proceedings. At South Carolina Legal Services, Fellow Diana Idiaghe helped a survivor clear her criminal record stemming from her victimization and assisted another survivor with regaining custody of her child.

Along with legal advice and representation, outreach and education efforts have been a key component of CVJC. In the first quarter of the program, more than half of the Fellows conducted educational activities, including training 3,234 people and distributing at least 5,037 outreach materials. To help identify survivors of human trafficking and other crimes and inform them of available services, Fellow Alina Launchbaugh from Legal Services of Northern Virginia, Inc. created a handout listing all of the civil legal services provided by her  organization, including services for legal issues that may not be apparent at first. At Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc., Fellow Ashilee Dickinson reestablished a 24-hour hotline to serve survivors of campus sexual assault.

The needs of crime victims are profound and require long-term multi-disciplinary responses. In the short time that CVJC Fellows have been in the field, they have made remarkable strides in ensuring human trafficking survivors and other crime victims receive the right legal assistance to rebuild their lives. Learn more about the CVJC Fellows who are working to deliver civil legal assistance and enforce the rights of crime victims.

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.

*From June 1 to December 31, 2018

In late 2018, the National Association for Law Placement (NALP) announced updated guidelines regarding on-campus recruiting. Under the new rule, the 28-day period during which summer and permanent employment offers remain open has been eliminated, and the October 15 and December 1 timing guidelines for advising and recruiting first-year students have been eliminated.

Equal Justice Works recognizes NALP’s essential role in designing and promoting recruitment policies and procedures for the legal career field, and will continue to follow the association’s guidance. At this year’s Conference and Career Fair, first-year law students will be eligible to apply for scheduled interviews. It is at the discretion of public interest employers at the event to offer interviews to first-year law students.

Under the guidance of its National Advisory Committee, Equal Justice Works will provide online resources prior to the event to support and educate first-year law students on attendee best practices.

If you have questions regarding policies at the Conference and Career Fair, please contact the Equal Justice Works Law School Engagement and Advocacy team at [email protected].

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.