Fundraiser for Public Interest Law Fellowships

Here are just a few testimonials of how Summer Public Service Fellowships are making an impact for society:

Natalie Garcia, Bayou City Waterkeeper (BCWK): “I learned so much about the environmental law landscape in Texas and the dynamic between different agencies, businesses, and the broader community. I can’t put into words how much this internship was the right place for me to be in during the summer, especially with COVID-19 going on and the public unrest surrounding the death of George Floyd and many others. It was just perfect and the Summer Public Service Fellowship made it possible! [A colleague] could sense that I became frustrated with the decisions made by local and national environmental entities regarding a specific case . . .. I expressed all of my disappointments with her and she plainly said, 'We’re all just doing our best.' While she may not have realized how important this message was, I was personally going back and forth with myself in envisioning my future career. This intuitive comment eased my worries and gave me a new perspective which will consciously open even more doors. This is something I wouldn’t have had if it weren’t for the Summer Public Service Fellowship. I’m absolutely grateful for it.”

Karen Munoz, Just Futures Law: “I really am so grateful for the opportunity to work with such a great agency. Getting a stipend through the Fellowship gave me the chance to really delve into the work and focus all my attention on it. I would not have been able to commit myself to an unpaid internship this summer without the financial support I received through the Fellowship. While I had done some work around police accountability in the past, spending the summer with Just Futures Law was the first time I had ever given serious thought to law enforcement's use of data surveillance technology. After having the chance to learn more about this specific issue, I've been able to expand the scope of my work. I'm writing my Scholar comment this year about data surveillance and the Fourth Amendment implications - a comment topic I would have never considered before the Fellowship.”

Elizabeth Pliego, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: “As a Latina and growing up with Mexican immigrants, having an internship that does not pay, has never been a thing they have ever appreciated. It has always been discouraging because my parents do have a huge influence in my decisions on matters such as this. So, when I came to law school and I told them I was looking at a summer internship that would not pay, it was not something they were immediately willing to accept with open arms. The fellowship gave me the freedom to have an income while also providing me with the liberty to explore the area of public interest without the extra guilt.”

Lydia Harris, Texas RioGrande Legal Aid: “The Summer Public Service Fellowship kept me housed this summer and allowed me to spend my summer working full time at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid instead of having to pick up a full time job to make ends meet this summer. It enabled me to focus my time and energy on learning new legal skills, making connections within the legal community, and working with clients. I truly appreciate being chosen as one of this summer's fellows.”

Fernanda Palacios Herrera, Human Rights Initiative of North Texas: “The Summer Public Service Fellowship impacted me by helping alleviate my worries of having to pay for expenses to be able to do my internship. Thanks to the fellowship I was able to fully focus on my internship and serving clients instead of having to worry about my expenses or having to get a job. It gave me great peace of mind which allowed me to better serve clients.”

Angela Bauman, Disability Rights Texas: “As someone who came to law school with the intent of going into public service, I cannot deny that paying for law school with the anticipation of going into a field that is not the highest paid type of law has been stressful. The fellowship eased my mind of knowing I can find funding for public service jobs and projects.”

Bianca Ybarra, The Network for Victim Recovery of DC: “The Fellowship allowed me to work in a field I’m passionate about without worrying about how I was going to afford my cost of living during the summer. Often time most want to do public interest work but aren’t privileged enough to work without pay. I was able to have this opportunity because I was awarded the Public Service Fellowship. The fellowship made my experience seamless because I was able to focus on learning instead of how I was going to afford my cost of living.”

Kayley Viteo, Travis County District Attorney’s Office: “It enabled me to work in my dream internship without the worry of payment. I would not have been able to do that without the Fellowship.”