HOPE Summer Public Interest Programs 2015

PUBLIC INTEREST RESOURCE CENTER SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST PROGRAMS

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“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.

Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.� ~Margaret Mead

HOPE FELLOWS PROGRAM The HOPE Fellows Program gives rising 2L and 3L students, with a commitment to public interest advocacy, the opportunity to create their public interest dream job at an agency locally, nationally or internationally, and receive a stipend from the HOPE Public Interest Resource Center. HOPE Fellows work with public interest organizations to provide legal advocacy, policy development and implementation, and to devise systems to enhance the delivery of legal services.

The HOPE Fellows Program challenges students to identify host agencies and develop on-site projects to uniquely address the unmet needs of the organization’s constituency. Upon their return to Miami Law, HOPE Fellows design and implement initiatives to educate and engage law students in advocacy related to their area of concentration. Over the years, the program has grown from just two fellows, placed in local agencies, to include up to twenty fellows, each summer, across the globe.

As a HOPE Fellow at the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights, I am looking forward to spending the summer learning how my law degree can be used to advocate for those whose voices are not heard. The HOPE Fellowship has given me the opportunity to dedicate my summer to learning more about advocating for clients and facilitating systemic change. ~Lauren Georgalas, HOPE Fellow, Washington, DC

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KELLY COX § CLASS OF 2016

CITY OF MIAMI ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Miami, FL Kelly Cox graduated from North Carolina State University with B.S. degrees in Natural Resources and Political Science. Prior to law school, she worked with the Environmental Defense Fund where she focused on policy issues surrounding energy efficiency and public housing. She also worked with the U.S. Forest Service where her forestry and watershed research was used to advise the North Carolina General Assembly on Best Management Practices legislation. Kelly is a joint JD/MPS student, studying Marine Affairs and Policy at the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science while earning her law degree. Since arriving at Miami Law, Kelly has worked with the Florida Department of Transportation on land use legal issues and the Everglades Law Center on water quality and energy concerns. She conducts research for the Center for Ethics and Public Service on local environmental justice issues and has contributed pro bono legal research to Miami-Dade Reef Guard. She is the President of the Environmental Law Society and the newly formed Miami Law DiveBar Student Chapter. Kelly will be working for the City of Miami Attorney’s Office in the Land Use and Transactional Division this summer as a HOPE Fellow.

MICHAEL DEUTSCH § CLASS OF 2016

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE-CRIMINAL DIVISION, Washington, DC Michael Deutsch received his B.A. in Government from Georgetown University, graduating cum laude in 2013. During his undergraduate career he served as a legislative intern with the Office of Congressman Ted Deutch and held several internships with Organizing for America. Michael is continuing his pursuit of a career in public interest at Miami Law, where he is a Miami Scholar and chair of the Public Interest Leadership Board. During his 1L summer, he was a legal intern with Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). As a 2L, he served as a judicial intern with the Honorable Alicia M. Otazo-Reyes of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida and participated in the University of Miami Health Rights Clinic. He also serves on the School of Law’s Honor Council, Trial Team, and is a member of the Society of Bar and Gavel. During his 2L summer, Michael will be serving as a HOPE Fellow with the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section, in Washington, DC.

JOCELYN EZRATTY § CLASS OF 2016

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, Bronx, NY Jocelyn Ezratty earned her undergraduate degree in Legal Studies with minors in Sociology and Entrepreneurship from the University of Central Florida. During her second year of law school, Jocelyn served as an intern in the Health Rights Clinic. There, she had an opportunity to represent indigent and disabled clients in obtaining government benefits. During her time in the Health Rights Clinic, she also advocated for policy reform for more efficient and effective processing of disability-related Medicaid applications through the Florida Department of Children and Families. During her 3L year, she will continue

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to serve impoverished and disabled clients in Miami as a Clinical Fellow for the Health Rights Clinic. This summer, Jocelyn will be interning at the Bronx Criminal Division of the Legal Aid Society of New York, where she will assist clients and aid in the prevention of unwarranted collateral effects of criminal charges.

CARMELINA FORZISI § CLASS OF 2017

SAN DIEGO VOLUNTEER LAWYER PROGRAM, San Diego, CA Carmelina Forzisi triple majored in Criminology Law and Society, Psychology and Social Behavior, and Social Ecology, with a minor in Educational Studies, at the University of California Irvine. During her last two years of undergrad, and the year following graduation, she worked at a law firm that specialized in criminal record relief, where she assisted clients in getting a fresh start. During her second year at Miami Law, Carmelina will be the Vice President of the Children and Family Law Society, a member of the Public Interest Leadership Board, an intern with the Children and Youth Law Clinic and the Center for Ethics and Public Service, and will participate in Books and Buddies. Interested in making a difference in her hometown of San Diego, Carmelina will be serving as a HOPE Fellow with the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program in the Family Law Department.

LAUREN GEORGALAS § CLASS OF 2016

YOUNG CENTER FOR IMMIGRANT CHILDREN’S RIGHTS, Washington, DC Lauren Georgalas graduated from St. Edward’s University in Austin, Texas, with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication.

While at Miami Law, Lauren has participated in HOPE Day of Service and has served as Co-Coordinator of Books and Buddies. She is also the university liaison for ACLU-UM. Lauren was a 2014 Summer Public Interest Fellow at Catholic Charities Legal Services, where she assisted attorneys working with low-income immigrants. As a 2015 HOPE Fellow, Lauren will be working in Washington, D.C. at the Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights, where she will assist unaccompanied and separated children pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act and will work on policy advocacy at the local and national level to promote consideration of best interests in all decisions concerning immigrant children.

ASHLEY GEORGE § CLASS OF 2016

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, Queens, NY Ashley George graduated from the University of Miami with a B.A. in Criminology and commissioned into the Florida Army National Guard through the university’s Army R.O.T.C. Program. At Miami Law, Ashley has served as a legal intern in the Health Rights Clinic and an Equal Justice Works/AmeriCorp J.D. Veterans Rights Fellow. She also serves as the President of Student Veterans of America, Miami Law Chapter, which focuses on serving the student veterans on campus; and Treasurer of the Child Advocacy and Family Law Society, which includes serving the community through the Empowered Youth program. During her 2L summer, Ashley will serve as a HOPE Fellow working at the Legal Aid Society, Criminal Defense Division, in Queens, New York.

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NICOLE HALMOUKOS § CLASS OF 2016 HARVARD LEGAL AID BUREAU, Boston, MA

Nicole Halmoukos is a rising third-year student at the University of Miami School of Law and a Soia Mentschikoff Scholar. She received her Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Miami in 2013. Prior to attending law school, Nicole worked as an EMT in poverty-stricken areas of Miami and Atlanta. In this line of work, she developed a keen understanding of the societal inequities, legal and medical, which characterize those areas. During her time at Miami Law, she has served as Vice-President of the Children and Family Law Society and as an active member of the Health Law Society, and endeavors to continue to explore the intersection of those two disciplines as a HOPE Fellow with Harvard Legal Aid Bureau in Boston.

CAROLINE MCGEE § CLASS OF 2016

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION, Phoenix, AZ Caroline McGee graduated from the George Washington University in 2005 and received her Master’s degree in Spanish and Latin American studies from American University in 2007.

Shortly thereafter, Caroline moved to Guatemala and worked for an organization that provides education opportunities for underprivileged children. After four years in Guatemala, she moved to Nicaragua to manage site operations for an organization that implements health care initiatives in rural communities. She returned to the United States in 2012 and worked as a legal assistant prior to law school. At Miami Law, Caroline is a Miami Scholar, a member of the University of Miami Law Review, and a legal intern with the Immigration Clinic. She spent the summer after her 1L year working as an extern for the Honorable Andrew D. Hurwitz of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. This summer, Caroline will be serving as a HOPE Fellow with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Phoenix, Arizona.

JANYL RELLING § CLASS OF 2016

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, Miami, FL Janyl Relling graduated from South University with a Bachelor of Science in Legal Studies. At Miami Law, she is the Editor-inChief of the Race & Social Justice Law Review, Treasurer of the ACLU-UM Chapter, member of the Society of Bar & Gavel, and member of the Black Law Students Association. Janyl is dedicated to volunteerism and serves the community through her efforts with Habitat for Humanity, Christ Fellowship Church, Books and Buddies, and Chapman Partnership. She is deeply passionate about civil rights issues affecting minorities and those of low socio-economic status. As a HOPE Fellow, Janyl will be working with the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida where she will work to effectively advocate for disenfranchised members of society.

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STEPHANIE ROSENDORF § CLASS OF 2016 FLORIDA LEGAL SERVICES, Miami, FL

Stephanie Rosendorf graduated with a degree in political science in May of 2009 from Florida Atlantic University. At Miami Law, she is a Miami Scholar, President of Law Students for Reproductive Justice, and President of the law school’s chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. She is also the Chief Articles Editor of the National Security & Armed Conflict Law Review, Secretary of the Society of Bar & Gavel, Historian of the UM-ACLU, and a member of the Charles C. Papy, Jr. Moot Court Board and the Law Public Interest Leadership Board. During her 2L year, Stephanie worked in the Immigration Clinic and Historic Black Church Program’s Civil Rights Project. During the summer of 2015 she will serve as a HOPE Fellow with the Community Justice Project of Florida Legal Services, helping to empower low-income communities to fully realize their rights. During her 3L year, she will be a fellow with the Historic Black Church Program.

CAROLINE SCHWARTZ § CLASS OF 2016

SHELBY COUNTY OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER, Memphis, TN Caroline Schwartz graduated from the Whitehead School of International Affairs and Diplomacy at Seton Hall University with a B.S. in Diplomacy and Modern Languages. At Miami Law, she has participated in the Street Law program and the Human Rights Clinic, and will be a part of the Federal Appellate Clinic during her 3L year. She has also volunteered with Books and Buddies and HOPE Day of Service. She served as a 2014 Summer Public Interest Fellow with Americans for Immigrant Justice, where she interned in the Human Trafficking Division. During her time at Americans for Immigrant Justice, she realized that Spanishspeaking immigrants struggle to obtain adequate representation in the criminal justice system. During her 2L summer, Caroline will serve as a HOPE Fellow with the Shelby County Office of the Public Defender in Memphis, Tennessee, where she will help members of the immigrant community in Memphis to gain better representation in criminal proceedings.

AMBER SEYMOUR § CLASS OF 2016

DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Savannah, GA Amber Seymour graduated from the University of Georgia in 2012 with a degree in Philosophy. She is a certified mediator for the State of Georgia. During her first summer at Miami Law, she served as a HOPE Fellow with the Mediation Center of Savannah, where she engaged in the application of Alternative Dispute Resolution in the public sector. During her 2L year, she worked with the Disability Independence Group, focusing on Americans with Disabilities Act compliance and accessibility issues. This summer, Amber will be a HOPE Fellow with the District Attorney’s Office in Savannah and plans to coordinate with area public interest agencies such as Savannah Citizens Advocacy Group, Georgia Legal Services, and the Mediation Center, to assess and respond to the needs of the community through education and expansion of services.

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KELLY SHAMI § CLASS OF 2016

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, Miami, FL Kelly Shami graduated with a degree in Psychology from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. At SMU, Kelly realized her interest in law while volunteering for the Innocence Project of Texas. At Miami Law, Kelly has participated in the Leipzig Exchange Program, has volunteered with Books and Buddies, and held a leadership role with HOPE Day of Service. During her 3L year, she will serve as Editor-in-Chief of the International and Comparative Law Review, a member of the Public Interest Leadership Board, treasurer for the Society of Bar and Gavel, 3L Member at Large for the Health Law Association, research assistant for Professor Markus Wagner, and an intern with the Health Rights Clinic. During her 1L summer, Kelly worked at the Public Defender’s Office of Miami-Dade County in the Domestic Representation Unit as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow. This summer she will serve as a HOPE Fellow with the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, working on issues including women's rights, reproductive freedom and youth rights.

SOFIA TARAFA § CLASS OF 2016

PUBLIC DEFENDER SERVICE FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, Washington, DC Sofia Tarafa graduated from Florida State University with a dual degree in English Literature and Communications. Before attending Miami Law, Sofia taught writing at Miami Dade College in a course designed to help underprivileged students transition to college. During the summer of 2014, Sofia interned with external affairs at Bacardi, U.S.A. and had the opportunity to help shape the company’s charitable initiatives. Sofia went on to work with the Children and Youth Law Clinic during her 2L year, where, in advocating for clients in the foster care system, she was exposed to a broad variety of legal issues. This summer, Sofia will work as a HOPE Fellow in the Civil Legal Services Division of the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. As a fellow, Sofia will be assisting in the representation of indigent persons in collateral civil matters arising out of criminal charges.

CLAIRE WHEELER § CLASS OF 2016 FLORIDA JUSTICE INSTITUTE, Miami, FL

Claire Wheeler studied international relations and history at Mount Holyoke College and, prior to entering law school, worked with the Boys and Girls Club of the Ozarks. During her 1L summer, she served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with Americans for Immigrant Justice, where she worked with unaccompanied minors. During her 3L year, she will serve as Submissions Editor for the Race and Social Justice Law Review and Vice President of the Insightful Mind Initiative. Claire is devoted to using her legal skills to ensure full and fair due process for those who cannot represent their own interests and will be serving as a HOPE Fellow with the Florida Justice Institute where she will advocate on behalf of prisoners and the indigent.

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I am grateful to Miami Law and the HOPE Fellows program for offering opportunities to students interested in public interest advocacy. My HOPE Fellowship is allowing me to spend the summer gaining unparalleled experience within the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in an area of law that I am passionate about. ~Caroline McGee, HOPE Fellow and Miami Scholar, Phoenix, AZ

I will be interning this summer at the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Division, Fraud Section, in Washington, D.C. As someone who would like to pursue a career in government, I am very excited to have this opportunity, and so thankful to be the recipient of a HOPE Fellowship. Without the HOPE Fellowship stipend, I would not have been able to partake in an out-of-town summer internship. ~Mike Deutsch, HOPE Fellow and Miami Scholar, Washington, DC

“It is phenomenal to see the HOPE and SPIF students evolve as public interest advocates through their work locally, nationally and internationally.

They are touched by the people and communities they serve and are committed to effectuating change and promoting access to justice for others.� ~Marni Lennon, Assistant Dean for Public Interest and Pro Bono

SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWS PROGRAM The Summer Public Interest Fellows Program (SPIF) is designed to engage the public interest-minded student during the summer following their first year of law school. This selective program involves full-time work at a South Florida public interest agency for eight weeks during the summer along with a legal research and writing project. Fellows also participate in a seminar where members of the bench, bar and legal community visit and students share their experiences. Participating students are given a stipend and receive three academic credits.

HOPE is proud to support the public interest work of an increasing number of students who serve clients and communities in extraordinary ways.

Miami Law, especially the SPIF program, allows opportunities that could not be duplicated in the standard classroom. Our legal system is not built fairly and having the ability to advocate for those disadvantaged by it has been dream of mine since I was young. SPIF is the stepping stone in achieving that dream. The program gives us the opportunity to work hands-on with the best public interest opportunities available in the Miami area. Individually, it allows me to build on my past experience and become a more well-rounded advocate, while helping others through my placement with Legal Services of Greater Miami. ~Amanda Powell, SPIF Fellow, Miami, FL

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EMILY BALTER § CLASS OF 2017

OFFICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY, Miami, FL Emily Balter graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in Business and Environmental Policy. Since enrolling at Miami Law, she has served as a Student Ambassador and a member of the Hispanic Law Student Association. This summer she will serve as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Miami-Dade State Attorney. She looks forward to gaining hands-on legal experience in the criminal justice system.

ARIANA BARLAS § CLASS OF 2017 CATHOLIC LEGAL SERVICES, Miami, FL

Ariana Barlas graduated from the University of South Florida with degrees in History and Political Science. During undergrad she served as a mentor for girls enrolled in the Pace Alternative School. Her experience studying abroad in Spain helped fuel her interest in international human rights law. This summer she will serve as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with Catholic Legal Services, where she will work on immigration cases on behalf of children.

VINCENT CALARCO § CLASS OF 2017

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, Miami, FL Vincent Calarco graduated from Flagler College and, prior to entering law school, worked as a paralegal in social security disability law and also worked in the professional sports industry.

His experience working with disabled clients ignited a passion for public interest work, which led him to Miami Law. This summer Vincent will serve as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Chief Counsel for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He hopes this experience will help him develop an understanding of the policies and protocols of DHS.

GABRIELA CENTOFANTI § CLASS OF 2017

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Miami, FL Gabriela Centofanti attended the University of Florida and began her public interest work through Florida Alternative Breaks’ Migrant Worker’s Rights service trip. Upon graduating with a degree in economics, she joined AmeriCorps: City Year Miami. She helped high school students struggling to pass standardized testing through individualized instruction, while promoting school-wide literacy. This summer she will be working with the Miami-Dade County School Board Attorney’s Office as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow and will be exposed to a variety of constitutional law and employment law issues.

MIAMI LAW SUMMER PUBLIC INTEREST FELLOWS PROGRAM

ASHLEY JACKSON § CLASS OF 2017

LEGAL SERVICES OF GREATER MIAMI, INC., Miami, FL Ashley Jackson received her B.S. in Political Science from Kennesaw State University in 2013. While there, she was an active member of Omega Phi Alpha, a National Service Sorority. She also worked on service projects such as Books For Africa, Light The Night, and City of Refuge, and served as a high school mentor assisting at-risk youth with the college application process. During her 2L year at Miami Law, she will be the President of the Children and Family Law Society and a member of Pubic Interest Leadership Board.

She will also participate in Street Law, and the Historic Black Church Program. This summer she will serve as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow at Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., where she will focus on the rights of children.

ALEXA KLEIN § CLASS OF 2017

OFFICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC DEFENDER, Miami, FL Alexa Klein is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor’s degree in Media & Professional Communications.

While at Pitt, Alexa served as an intern for Pennsylvania State Representative Frank Darmody. At Miami Law, she is the Secretary of Miami Law Women and a member of the Miami Law Student Ambassadors. This summer, Alexa will be a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Miami-Dade Public Defender, where she will focus on defending the rights of the accused.

ELLEN KRUK § CLASS OF 2017

OFFICE OF CRIMINAL CONFLICT AND CIVIL REGIONAL COUNSEL, Miami, FL Ellen Kruk is a graduate of the University of Florida with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in History. Prior to entering law school, Ellen pursued several opportunities motivated by her interest in public affairs and her strong belief in civic engagement. She served as an aide to a member of the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem and performed research for the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs. She then worked at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee for over three years, where she trained students and young professionals nationwide to advocate on important issues through participation in the American political process. This summer, Ellen will be a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow at the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel.

LETICIA MORA § CLASS OF 2017

UNITED STATES ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, Miami, FL Leticia Mora is a graduate of Florida State University with a degree in Theatre and Psychology. During undergrad she worked on human rights issues by directing theatrical pieces on the subject and by working with organizations such as Humanity in Action, which gave her the opportunity to spend a summer working on minority issues in the Netherlands. Additionally,

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Leticia served as a traveling member and officer of her undergraduate Model United Nations team and competed nationally and internationally. At Miami Law, Leticia is a Miami Scholar and will be working as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the United States Attorney’s Office.

LINET SUAREZ § CLASS OF 2017 FLORIDA LEGAL SERVICES, Miami, FL

Linet Suarez graduated from Bryn Mawr College in 2013 with a B.A in Political Science and a minor in Anthropology. During undergrad, she served as an intern with the Center for Peace and Global Citizenship in Mexico. She worked at a support center for women along with a group of female lawyers focused on addressing domestic violence. During her summer in Mexico, she also worked as a migration program intern, aiding refugees with housing and education. At Miami Law, Linet is a Miami Scholar and will be a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with Florida Legal Services, where she will focus on health law.

JADEE POPE § CLASS OF 2017

OFFICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC DEFENDER, Miami, FL Jadee Pope graduated from the University of Michigan with a double major in Political Science and American Culture. While at Michigan, she participated in the Beyond the Diag Program, which served the off-campus student community. This summer, Jadee will serve as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Miami-Dade Public Defender, where she hopes to eventually work as an attorney. During the fall of her 2L year, she will take part in the Innocence Clinic, where she plans to take advantage of her new-found advocacy skills on behalf of those accused and convicted of crimes.

AMANDA POWELL § CLASS OF 2107

LEGAL SERVICES OF GREATER MIAMI, INC., Miami, FL Amanda Powell earned a B.A. in Speech Pathology and a B.A. in Psychology from Northern Arizona University. Prior to law school, she worked as a victim advocate and a therapist for children with autism. This summer she will serve as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., where she will focus on housing issues affecting lowincome clients. Her goal is to start a non-profit connecting early intervention programs to children with mental health needs.

YISELLE SEIGLIE § CLASS OF 2017 DADE LEGAL AID, Miami, FL

Yiselle Seiglie graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University in 2013 with a degree in history and a minor in education. While earning her undergraduate degree, she worked for Miami-Dade County Public Schools as an After Care Leader. Her experiences motivated her to be an advocate for vulnerable children who might otherwise fall through the cracks of a broken system. This summer she will serve as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with Dade Legal Aid, where she will work with children and families.

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I came to Miami Law with a strong passion to work on the issue of sex trafficking and with the overall intent to work in public interest law, and I have been able to accomplish this goal. Through the Summer Public Interest Fellows Program, I will be working at the United States Attorney's Office in the Special Prosecutions section. I would not have been able to delve into this work without the guidance and support from the SPIF. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to work towards my goal of becoming a public interest attorney after graduation. ~Leticia Mora, SPIF Fellow and Miami Scholar, Miami, FL

SPIF is important to me because it has provided me with the means and the opportunity to work in a field that I am passionate about. Because of SPIF’s summer placement, I am able to gain invaluable work experience at the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office and am now one step closer to fulfilling my goal of being a public interest lawyer. ~Jadee Pope, SPIF Fellow, Miami, FL

Interest MIAMILAW HOPE Public Resource Center UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI SCHOOL OF LAW

1311 Miller Drive B446 ยง Coral Gables, FL 33146 P: 305.284.2599 ยง F: 305.284.3646 umhope@law.miami.edu www.law.miami.edu/hope