Meet our Summer 2022 Volunteers
Volunteers make GCLC’s work possible. This summer, we are grateful to welcome over 20 interns and Fellows who are assisting with a range of our practice areas. Meet nine of them.
Alina Esanu
Mindich Service Fellow with the Immigration Law Program and undergraduate student at Harvard University
“Before this internship, I have studied issues like immigrants’ barriers to integration and the unequal access to the justice system from the privilege and comfort of an academic classroom. Interning at GCLC is a great opportunity for me to acquire a more complete picture of both the struggles and incredible resilience of marginalized communities. Hearing clients’ stories and assisting with filling out immigration forms made me more confident that I want to pursue a career in public interest law. I hope to use my skills and knowledge to empower individuals who are historically disadvantaged in the judicial system.”
Ashlyn Amador
Baum Fellow with the Immigration Law Program and law student at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
“I want to work in the public interest legal sector to serve my community by protecting their rights. In my current position at GCLC I am able to help advocate for community members and their family in the immigration system.”
Brandon Bryer
PILI Graduate Fellow from Sidley Austin LLP, working in the Criminal Records Program
“[Since starting at GCLC I have learned about] the benefits and challenges that come from direct client communication and the human-aspect of law! I’ve learned so much from talking with clients directly whether its explaining the petition process in simple terms or helping to calm nerves before a court hearing. More importantly, I’ve seen the reality that behind the online research and case numbers are real people. I’ve talked with clients who have been denied a job, a promotion, or an opportunity simply because of their prior record. I’ve gained a lot of respect for the persistence and resiliency of these clients, and it is one of the best feelings to congratulate them when those barriers are no longer present. It’s those real-life stories that give me the motivation to help others seal/expunge their records both during the summer and through pro bono work once I begin practice.”
Caitlin Federici
Legal Intern with the Environmental Law Program and law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law
“I came to law school to better position myself as an advocate for humanitarian and social justice issues, but I have always had a strong interest in environmental justice as well. During my first semester, I joined Chicago-Kent’s Journal of Environmental and Energy Law as an associate research editor and quickly realized that environmental justice is a core pillar of both humanitarian and social justice. The environment we live in shapes the experiences we have in all other aspect of our lives and we all deserve to exist in conditions meant for sustaining life.”
Carly Rogers
Legal Intern with the Environmental Law Program and law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law
“As an undergraduate, I studied biological sciences with a focus in sustainability and environmentalism. Throughout my time in college, I quickly learned that there are many areas of environmental law and policy that needed improvement, which ultimately led me to law school. GCLC has allowed me to be part of the change that is happening, specifically helping those in my community who otherwise would not have access to that type of support. The work that GCLC does is admirable and important, and I am very grateful I have been able to be a part of it.”
Dakotah Olah
Law Clerk with the Environmental Law Program and law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law
“I am a rising third-year law students pursing a certificate in Environmental and Energy Law working with the Environmental Law Clinic this summer. The Clinic’s mission is to assist people who are disadvantaged as it pertains to environmental problems. My future career interest is to work with underprivileged communities that experience environmental justice issues. The Clinic has provided me the opportunity to experience real-life work along with the ability to help people with environmental concerns.”
Gabby Struik
Legal Intern with the Immigration Law Program and law student at the University of Wisconsin Law School
What drew you to GCLC in particular?: “I really loved the fact that GCLC meets clients where they are through their use of a sliding scale fee approach based on income. This sort of approach makes legal aid much more accessible to the people of Chicago, which is so important in having a more inclusive legal system overall. I also was very excited to get hands-on experience in areas like immigration that have such a large impact on people in this country.”
Janie Sanford
Legal Intern with the Environment Law Program and law student at Chicago-Kent College of Law
“As a millennial, I’ve been acutely aware of the effects of human activity on our climate since I was a young child. But I developed a specific interest in environmental and energy law during my time at Chicago-Kent, which drew me to the 2022 National Energy & Sustainability Moot Court Competition. It was at that competition and through the mentorship of my coach, who also works at GCLC, that I began to fully understand the intersection of environmental law and human rights. I chose to work with GCLC this summer because low-income communities and communities of color are often disproportionately, negatively impacted by the environmental decisions of their municipalities. GCLC has a history of advocating on behalf of these communities and thus, it was the perfect fit.”
Julia Linares
Legal Intern from the University of Chicago working with on eviction and consumer debt matters
“After my 1L year, I needed a reminder of my “why” for law school. I missed my background working directly with citizens as an AmeriCorps fellow. While having general goals to pursue a career in legal aid, I knew that I wanted a direct service position, and Attorney Boykin ensured me that this summer would be spent doing just that. My internship allows me to give back to my native region, and I appreciate that GCLC services are not limited to the bounds of Chicago. Lastly, I was inspired by the robust programs and services GCLC supports. Having a background in environmental policy, I was ecstatic after learning of the Environmental Law Program. Before GCLC, I did not know of any legal clinic or legal aid office that included such a program amidst their other services.”
Ryan Ortiz
PILI Intern with the Family Law and Domestic Violence Programs and law student at University of Illinois Chicago School of Law
“I have always had a passion for the intersection of mental health and one’s life experiences and its effect on underrepresented groups specifically. When thinking about attending law school, I knew I wanted to do public interest work. During undergrad, I focused in clinical and community psychology where I learned the effects of different environmental and social circumstances on one’s mental health, such as experiences involving family. My current internship with the Family Law and Domestic Violence programs at GCLC gives me the opportunity to assist and learn different ways to provide legal aid in various domestic matters to help alleviate issues within families giving them the hope for a better life moving forward.”