“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
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 up to twenty fellows, each summer, across the globe.
"The HOPE Fellowship Program allows me to pursue my ambitions in public interest law on an international level by relieving my financial burdens to allow me to volunteer with an international organization. I am very excited to embark on my summer internship with NATO, and I am eager to immerse myself in diplomacy and international law while gaining valuable experience along the way. I anticipate gaining firsthand insight into the vital role that legal frameworks play in promoting peace, security, and justice on an international scale."
~Leanna Maharaj, HOPE Fellow North Atlantic Treaty Organization Paris, France
Mollie Blank (Class of 2025) graduated cum laude from the University of Miami in December 2021 with a B.S. in Communications, a double major in Honors Communication (with a specialization in Media and Public Affairs) and Public Administration, and a minor in Classics. During her 1L summer at Miami Law, she served as an intern with both the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics & Public Trust and the Miami-Dade Guardian ad Litem Program, the former of which she continued to work with during her 2L year. Mollie also spent the fall semester of her 2L year as a student intern in the Administrative Law Section of the Children & Youth Law Clinic. These opportunities allowed her to continue exploring her interests in administrative law, children’s welfare and education, and public policy. Mollie has been actively engaged in campus life, including involvement in the Student Bar Association, Society of Bar & Gavel, Child Advocacy and Family Law Society, and Cardozo Legal Society. She also served as an Orientation Chair for incoming JDs and a site leader for HOPE Day of Service. During her 2L summer, Mollie served as a HOPE Fellow for the Advocates for Justice and Education in Washington, D.C., which seeks to eliminate education inequity and provide adequate legal advocacy for families experiencing special education needs and systematic pushout issues.
Maia Boatwright (Class of 2025) graduated magna cum laude from Georgia Southern University in 2022 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Spanish. Prior to law school, she worked as a paralegal intern for the Georgia Legal Services Program, a non-profit that provides free legal assistance to low-income individuals and aims to ensure equal access to justice. This opportunity to assist attorneys in advocating for clients on various civil legal issues inspired her goal of becoming a lawyer dedicated to social justice. At Miami Law, she is a Dean's Merit Scholar and is actively involved in the Hispanic Law Students Association and First-Generation Law Association. As a 1L, Maia served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow (SPIF) with the Office of the Miami-Dade State Attorney in the Child Support Division. As a 2L, she took part in the Children & Youth Law Clinic, providing legal services to foster youth and advocating on their behalf in dependency hearings. In 2024, she was selected to attend the Bergstrom Child Welfare Law Summer Fellowship, a legal training dedicated to inspiring and teaching those committed to child welfare, hosted by Michigan Law. During her 2L summer, Maia served as a HOPE Fellow with the National Youth Law Center in Washington, D.C., an organization that helps empower youth through impact litigation, policy advocacy, and community work. She served on the Justice & Equity and Legal Advocacy teams, working on policy development, lobbying, class action litigations, and community organizing.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE OF DELAWARE COUNTY, PHILADELPHIA, PA
PJ Chandra (Class of 2026) graduated from American University in 2022 with a B.A. in CLEG (Communications, Legal Studies, Economics, Government) and a minor in Finance and Public Health. He spent a year working in consulting for private equity before entering Miami Law. PJ serves on the Junior Board for the Challenged Athletes Foundation based out of New York, helping athletes with physical disabilities participate in recreational sports. He has also spent time volunteering for the Special Olympics, Ronald McDonald Houses, and at homeless shelters in Wilmington, DE. During his 1L summer, PJ served as a HOPE Fellow with the District Attorney’s Office of Delaware County in Philadelphia, PA.
CHILDREN’S RIGHTS, NEW YORK, NY
Tiffany DeFranza (Class of 2025) graduated magna cum laude from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania in 2019 with a B.S. in Education and from Drexel University in 2021 with an M.S. in Special Education. Prior to law school, Tiffany worked in The School District of Philadelphia as a special education teacher. During her 1L year, Tiffany became a Florida Guardian ad Litem and during her 1L summer she served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow (SPIF) in the Children’s Defense Division of the Miami-Dade Public Defender’s Office. As a 2L, Tiffany was a legal intern with the Children & Youth Law Clinic (CYLC) where, under the supervision of an attorney, she represented young adults transitioning out of Florida’s dependency system. She was also a law clerk with Legal Services of Greater Miami, Inc., in the Health & Income Maintenance Unit. During her 2L summer, Tiffany served as a HOPE Fellow with Children’s Rights in New York City, where she worked on impact litigation focused on constitutional violations to children’s rights by government systems.
NATIONAL ARCHIVES & RECORDS ADMINISTRATION–OFFICE OF GENERAL COUNSEL, WASHINGTON, D.C.
Emily Finch (Class of 2025) holds a B.A. in English and History, with a minor in Political Science and concentration in American Studies, from Kalamazoo College and both a Master of Science in Information (with a focus in Libraries, Archives, and Digital Curation) and a Graduate Certificate in Museum Studies from the University of Michigan. At Miami Law, Emily is an honors JD/Entertainment, Arts, and Sports Law LLM candidate and has served as president of Miami Law Women and the Intellectual Property Law Society, vice president of the Society of Bar and Gavel, and as Staff Managing Editor of the Race and Social Justice Law Review She is also a member of the Public Interest Leadership Board. After her 1L year, Emily pursued a Postgraduate Certificate in Art Crime and Cultural Heritage Protection. She is passionate about advocating for artists, cultural heritage institutions, the freedom to read, and access to information, and works to support researchers as a Research Assistant at the University of Miami Law Library. During her 2L summer, Emily served as a HOPE Fellow at the Office of General Counsel for the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION–OFFICE OF CIVIL RIGHTS, ATLANTA, GA
Arielle Frank (Class of 2025) graduated from American University in 2022 with a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies-Communications, Legal Institutions, Economics, and Government, with a minor in Education Studies. While at American, Arielle interned in Congressman Ted Deutch's office, where she worked on issues related to education, gun control, and animal rights. Arielle also interned with the University of Florida's Lastinger Center, where she assisted in the rollout of the New Worlds Reading Initiative, one of the Florida legislature's largest bipartisan initiatives in 2021. During her 1L summer at Miami Law, she split her time between Dade Legal Aid's Child Advocacy Division and clerking at Mitrani, Rynor, Adamsky, and Toland P.A. Arielle has also worked on the launch of the Futures Agenda, a cradle-to-career policy platform to ensure every child in the United States has an equitable opportunity for success. Arielle is an active member of the Cardozo Legal Society, Miami Law Women, and the university's club powerlifting team, U Iron Sports. During her 2L summer, Arielle served as a HOPE Fellow with the Atlanta office of the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights.
FAYETTE COUNTY OFFICE FOR THE COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY, LEXINGTON, KY
Cassandra Hacker (Class of 2025) graduated summa cum laude from the University of Kentucky in May 2022 with B.A.s in Foreign Language, International Economics and Psychology, and a minor in International Studies. While in college, she worked as a student athletic trainer for the football, women’s soccer, and women’s tennis teams. At Miami Law, Cassandra is a member of the First-Generation Law Students Association, the Human Rights Society, and the Disability Law Association. During her 1L summer, she served as a Manne Homeless Prevention Program Fellow with Legal Aid Service of Broward County, advocating for families facing eviction and homelessness in South Florida. During the fall of her 2L year, Cassandra continued this work aiding families on the brink of homelessness. She also served as an intern for the Human Rights Clinic, where she worked primarily on issues of gender justice. During her 2L summer, Cassandra served as a HOPE Fellow with the Fayette County Office for the Commonwealth’s Attorney in Lexington, KY.
NEW YORK LEGAL AID SOCIETY, NEW YORK, NY
Ummul Baneen Jafry (Class of 2025) graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2021 with a B.A. in Communication and Leadership. As a 1L at Miami Law, Ummul was a member of the Civil Rights Reading Group and the South/West Asian and North African Law Student Association. During her 1L summer, she worked with the United States Department of Education in the Office of Civil Rights, where she engaged in research and policy drafting. During
her 2L year, Ummul served as an intern with the Immigration Clinic, representing a client in court who was in deportation proceedings, drafting legal briefs and memos, and conducting legal research. She also took part in the Litigation Skills program during the spring 2024 semester. During her 2L summer, Ummul served as a HOPE Fellow with the New York Legal Aid Society in the Criminal Defense Unit.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE–AVIATION, SPACE & ADMIRALTY LITIGATION SECTION, WASHINGTON, D.C.
Lauren LaBeck (Class of 2026) graduated cum laude from George Washington University in 2022 with a B.A. in Psychological & Brain Sciences and a minor in Political Science & Government. While at GW, she served as a student leader and tutor with the non-profit Grassroots Health, a studentathlete led organization that focuses on educational programming in sexual, mental, and nutritional health for at-risk D.C. youth. As a 1L at Miami Law, Lauren was a member of the First-Generation Law Association, Miami Law Women, Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, the American Constitution Society, and served as the 1L representative for the Disability Law Student Association. As a 2L, she is serving as an intern with the Environmental Justice Clinic, as well as treasurer of DLSA, social chair of APALSA, and 2L representative for the ACS. During her 1L summer, Lauren served as a HOPE Fellow with the United States Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. in their Aviation, Space & Admiralty Litigation Section.
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO), PARIS, FRANCE
Leanna Maharaj (Class of 2026) graduated from the University of Central Florida in 2023 with a B.S. in Economics and a minor in Legal Studies. While there, she volunteered with the Legal Aid Society, assisting with sealing and expunging services and took part in two summer internships with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France. Working at the OECD inspired Leanna to pursue a career in international public interest on a macro scale. At Miami Law, she is president of the Caribbean Law Student Association and treasurer of the Human Rights Society. During her 1L summer, Leanna served as a HOPE Fellow with the NATO Office in Paris, France.
NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE OF HARLEM, HARLEM, NY
Ashley Nuñez (Class of 2025) graduated cum laude from the University of Florida in May 2020 with majors in English and Political Science. At UF, Ashley took a course about the intersection of law, literature, and race where she learned about the work of social justice lawyer Bryan Stevenson. His call to action to use the
power of law to fight for the rights of the marginalized and vulnerable members of society inspired Ashley to choose a life of advocacy through law. Ashley began her journey as a legal assistant with Rubenstein Law in Plantation, FL, where she assisted with opening personal injury cases and preparing documents for future settlement and litigation. At Miami Law, Ashley is a Dean’s Merit Scholar working towards an area of focus in Immigration. During her 1L summer, Ashley served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow (SPIF) with Americans for Immigrant Justice in their Detention Program and successfully argued a bond motion in front of a Krome immigration judge to secure a low bond amount for her client’s release. As a 2L, Ashley served as an intern with the Immigration Clinic and represented a client detained at Baker County Jail who was in removal proceedings. During her 2L summer, Ashley served as a HOPE Fellow with the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem on their Immigration Defense Team in Harlem, NY.
Annie Pompa Morejon (Class of December 2024) graduated from the University of Havana School of Law in 2007 with a degree equivalent to a Juris Doctor in the U.S. She moved to Mexico in 2008 and graduated from Jalisco Business School in 2010. She developed a family project in the hospitality industry, acquiring a vast experience in startups within the boutique hotel sector. While in Mexico, she graduated from University of Del Valle School of Law in 2016 with a degree equivalent to a Juris Doctor in the U.S. In 2014, she moved to the U.S. and studied principles of accounting for small business in the state of Nevada and started working in the logistics industry, becoming the Chief Financial Officer of a rising startup in Las Vegas, NV in the field of business associations. Her passion for law led her to enroll in law school in the U.S. and, in 2022, she moved to Miami and began her journey at Miami Law as a JD/ LLM student while keeping her CFO duties. During her 2L summer, Annie worked for the Health Rights Clinic and participated as an advocate in multiple opportunities organized by the law school to support the communities’ legal needs. During her final summer at Miami Law, she served as a HOPE Fellow with Catholic Legal Services in Miami.
David Somoza (Class of 2026) graduated with a B.A. in Business Administration from the University of Florida in August 2020. Before starting his legal studies, he served as a healthcare manager in a cardiovascular clinic in Honduras. In this role, he oversaw programs that provided free medical services to underserved families. Driven by his passion for public service and healthcare access, David co-founded a nonprofit organization in Honduras that provides free cardiovascular health services to vulnerable populations. David envisions launching more projects that address critical societal needs. His vision includes encouraging doctors to offer pro bono health check-ups for individuals with limited resources and organizing medical brigades to deliver essential healthcare services directly to communities in need. David also spearheaded a program as an
intern with the Felix Project in London, combating food insecurity by distributing over 28,000 meals to the city's most vulnerable populations. His advocacy efforts extend to civil rights, domestic violence rights, and immigration rights. At Miami Law, he has supported the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, aiding individuals in advancing their voting rights, has assisted victims of domestic violence through an Alternative Break Program with Women in Distress, and is a member of the Public Interest Leadership Board. During his 2L summer, David served as a HOPE Fellow with Legal Aid Chicago, focusing on addressing the immigration crisis in the city.
Arisleidys Trujillo (Class of December 2024) graduated from Universidad Hermanos Saiz Montes de Oca in Pinar del Rio, Cuba, in 2014 with a degree equivalent to a Juris Doctor in the U.S. Arisleidys began her career as an attorney at the Dirección Municipal de Justicia in San Luis, Pinar del Rio, Cuba, where she provided notary services and assisted clients with estate planning, real estate transactions, and probate documents. After moving to the U.S., she worked for three years as a legal assistant at the Law Offices of Peter R. Abesada & Associates P.A. in Miami, where she managed various legal documents and assisted with real estate transactions, probate, and litigation tasks. At Miami Law, she is pursuing a JD/LLM in Transnational Law and served as an intern in the Health Rights Clinic, aiding clients with legal issues related to healthcare access, disability claims, and patients' rights. She was awarded the Dean's Certificate of Achievement in Summer 2023 for her work in the clinic. Arisleidys has also engaged in communityfocused activities, such as volunteering at the "Pathways to Citizenship" event in collaboration with the Hispanic Unity of Florida. She contributed to helping many immigrants gain citizenship and settle into new lives in the U.S. by providing them with essential tools and resources. During her final summer at Miami Law, Arisleidys served as a HOPE Fellow with Catholic Legal Services in Miami.
Cameron Weiss (Class of 2026) graduated cum laude from the University of Florida in 2023 with a B.S. in Finance and a minor in Economics. She held several leadership positions in Student Government, including Senior Class Secretary and Director of Women’s Affairs in the Student Diversity Cabinet, where she coordinated with Gainesville police for self-defense seminars for women and facilitated round table discussions with female faculty, leaders in academia, and student leaders. Prior to law school, she was an intern at a personal injury law firm, where she prepared notes for jury instructions, assisted in drafting complaints and interrogatories, and abbreviated depositions. During her 1L summer at Miami Law, Cameron served as a HOPE Fellow with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida in West Palm Beach in the Civil Division. As a 2L, she will continue her dedication to public service by serving as a legal intern with the Startup Clinic.
The Squire Patton Boggs Foundation Fellowship Program awards fellowships to exceptional law students who demonstrate a commitment to public service and a developed interest in public policy. Each year, SPBF sponsors a student who commits their summer to advancing public policy issues. In addition, Miami Law students are able to apply for Sustained Impact Fellowships, in areas including: Post-Disaster Relief, Racial Justice and Veterans’ Advocacy.
“I entered law school with the goal of using law as a vehicle for reform and to dismantle ideologies and systems that uphold the unjustified abridgment of fundamental rights. My public interest career cannot fully develop without engaging with my surrounding community and learning from them before advocating for them. With the SPB Racial Justice Fellowship, I will develop the skills and tools needed to protect and defend civil rights at the local and national level. This fellowship exposes me to a network of driven advocates that work together to create legal reform and community empowerment. It also connects me with a community of advocates and mentors who prioritize equity, collaboration, and social justice.”
~Estefania Hernandez Squire Patton Boggs Racial Justice Fellow Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law Washington, DC
LAWYERS’ COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Estefanía Hernández (Class of 2025) graduated cum laude from Wheaton College (IL) with a B.A. in Theology and a Certificate in Peace and Conflict Studies. While an undergraduate, she was involved in Student Government where she served first as the executive vice president of diversity and then as the first Latina student body president. There, she worked alongside the Chief Diversity Officer to create a Latin American Certificate program for undergraduate students. As a 2L at Miami Law, she interned with the Human Rights Clinic and served as the Advocacy Co-Chair of the Public Interest Leadership Board. She is continuing in a leadership role with PILB as a 3L. During her 2L summer, Estefanía served as a Squire Patton Boggs Racial Justice Sustained Impact Fellow with the Voting Rights Project of the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law in Washington, D.C.
Greta Schultz (Class of 2025) graduated cum laude from the University of Florida in 2020 with a B.A. in Political Science and International Studies with a focus on the Middle East. While at UF, Greta interned with the League of Women Voters, UF Student Legal Services, and the Child Advocacy Center. At Miami Law as a Dean’s Merit Scholar, Greta has continued her work in advocacy through volunteering with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, Guardian ad Litem, and the ACLU of Florida Detention Database Project. During her 1L summer, she served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow (SPIF) with Florida Justice Institute. During her time with FJI she advocated for the rights of homeless individuals and for criminal justice reform. She has served on the Public Interest Leadership Board as a Public Interest Network Chair, connecting incoming 1Ls who are interested in public service with upper division students who are pursuing that path. As a 3L, she is continuing her involvement with PILB. During her 2L summer, Greta served as a Squire Patton Boggs Public Policy Fellow with the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, working on voting rights and reproductive justice.
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 Social Justice Lawyering Seminar where members of the bench, bar and legal community share their work in the public sector, walking students through problem-solving exercises and fostering their skills. 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.
"Our time in law school races by in just three short years, urging us to embrace every opportunity that ignites our passions. While public interest opportunities may often come with the burden of being unpaid, the SPIF program has liberated me from the constraints of financial pressures through their generous stipend. I am now able to fully dedicate myself to my love for litigation and social justice through my summer placement at the MiamiDade State Attorney's Office. The SPIF program has also served as a gateway, introducing me to lifelong connections of like-minded individuals who are committed to changing the world through public interest work."
~Amy Mantilla, Summer Public Interest Fellow Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office Miami, FL
Daniela Acosta (Class of 2026) graduated from Florida International University in May 2023 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in International Relations. She received a certificate in Pre-Law Studies and served as a board member of the Phi Alpha Delta Legal Honor Society, where she honed her skills on the Mock Trial Team. As a 1L at Miami Law, she was elected president of Cuban American Bar Association and is a member of Miami Law Women, First Generation Law Association, and Hispanic Law Student Association. During her 1L summer, she served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the U.S. Coast Guard JAG Corps, starting work on her goal of using her passion for law with a global perspective to address complex legal issues on an international scale.
Jade Armstrong (Class of 2026) graduated from Pepperdine University in May 2021 with a B.A. in International Studies and a minor in Hispanic Studies. She also obtained a Certificate in Dispute Resolution, specifically negotiation, mediation, and arbitration, from Pepperdine Caruso School of Law. Prior to college, she mentored foster children who had endured severe abuse. While in college, she studied abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she volunteered at a refuge and rehabilitation center assisting single mothers and abandoned children and partook in a community outreach initiative in a secluded, poverty-stricken zone in northern Argentina. She also studied abroad in SavuSavu, Fiji, where she assisted surgeons from all over the world with medical procedures on villagers from around the island, taught elementary and high school students at a village school, and collaborated with Fijian Islanders on construction and agricultural initiatives in several of the island’s villages. She authored a Fijian talanoa, or story, recounting her experiential learning in the Fiji Islands, which was published in a scholarly book. Prior to law school, she was a legal intern at Zumpano Patricios in Coral Gables for three summers where she worked on high-profile cases that included human rights abuses. At Miami Law, she is a Dean’s Merit Scholar. During her 1L summer, Jade served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Miami-Dade State Attorney Felony Division.
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY OFFICE OF RESILIENCE, MIAMI, FL
Olivia Clausen (Class of 2026) graduated magna cum laude from Northeastern University in 2021 with a B.S. in Economics and a minor in Environmental Studies, with semesters abroad at the University of Sydney and the University of Edinburgh. During college, Olivia ranked in the top 4% of lifetime volunteers at Community Servings, a food kitchen in Boston
providing medically tailored meals to people in need across Massachusetts. She also hosted a radio show on WRBB 104.9 FM and wrote for NU Sci, Northeastern’s studentrun science magazine. Prior to law school, Olivia worked at MIT-Solve, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology initiative supporting global social impact entrepreneurs focused on addressing sustainable development through innovative technologies. As a 1L at Miami Law, Olivia joined the Environmental Law Society and was elected as treasurer for her 2L year. During her 1L summer, Olivia served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Miami-Dade County Office of Resilience.
Olivia Fox (Class of 2026) graduated from the University of Miami in May 2022 with a B.B.A. in Marketing and minors in Business Law and Finance. She was a Student Government Eco Agency member and assisted in student-led, environmentally friendly campus initiatives. Prior to law school, she worked as a legal assistant for a boutique law firm in West Palm Beach, assisting in plaintiff representation in personal injury, worker’s compensation, and employment discrimination cases. At Miami Law, she is a Dean’s Merit Scholar and a member of the Health Law Association and Environmental Law Society and is participating in the Environmental Justice Clinic as a 2L. During her 1L summer, Olivia served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow at the Office of Criminal Conflict & Civil Regional Counsel.
OFFICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC DEFENDER, MIAMI, FL
Emily Johnson (Class of 2026) graduated from the University of South Florida in 2023 with a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science. During her time at USF, she co-founded and served as the president of the Women in Pre-Law Society. She worked as a mentor at the SPARK Initiative, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching a mental health curriculum aimed at reducing recidivism and substance use within the criminal justice system. She also partnered with the IOS Collective, collaborating with non-profits worldwide to research ways to address disparities in education and the criminal justice system. Emily cofounded Advocates for LGBTQ Equality, a platform that amplifies resources and voices within the LGBTQ community. As a 1L at Miami Law, Emily joined the Criminal Law Society and Hispanic Law Students Association. During her 1L summer, she served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Miami-Dade Public Defender.
OFFICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC DEFENDER, MIAMI, FL
Minah Malik (Class of 2026) graduated from George Washington University in 2018 with a B.A. in Political Science and minors in International Affairs and Spanish. While in undergrad, she worked as a legal intern at the Department of Justice, Department of International Affairs, specifically on the South
America team assisting with extraditions and mutual legal assistance matters. Prior to law school, Minah worked in sales and partnerships at POLITICO. As a 1L at Miami Law, Minah joined the South/West Asian and North African Law Students Association, and served as a Legal Profession Program intern at the Center for Ethics and Public Service. During her 1L summer, she served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Miami-Dade Public Defender.
OFFICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE STATE ATTORNEY, MIAMI, FL
Amy J. Mantilla (Class of 2026) graduated from the University of Central Florida in May 2022 with a B.S. in Economics. While an undergraduate, she competed on the UCF Mock Trial Team and worked as a research assistant under Dr. Eric Schmidbauer where she performed substantive research on partial cross ownership and antitrust law. Upon graduation, she worked as the sole paralegal for a Workers’ Compensation firm where she guided clients through the settlement process and assisted with drafting and filing pleadings. As a 1L at Miami Law, Amy participated in HOPE’s Alternative Spring Break in San Diego and Tijuana, where she assisted with an asylum clinic, street releases, port of entry monitoring, and lecture translations. She also volunteered for Hispanic Unity of Florida, where she assisted legal permanent residents in completing their N-400 applications. During her 1L summer, Amy served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
OFFICE
THE
STATE ATTORNEY, MIAMI, FL
Juliana Monroy (Class of 2026) graduated summa cum laude from Florida State University in July 2022 with a B.S. in International Affairs and minors in Business and French. While at FSU, she was President of the Puerto Rican Student Association and a member of the Leadership Board for the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity. Following graduation, Juliana gained valuable experience working at both an international business law firm and a family law firm in Miami. During this time, she became acutely aware of the disparities within the legal system, which ignited her determination to pursue a career that addresses these disparities and advocates for equitable access to legal representation. During her 1L year at Miami Law, Juliana became a First-Generation Law Association member. As a 2L, she is serving as president of the Miami Law Mental Health Collective and participating in the Human Rights Clinic. During her 1L summer, Juliana served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow in the Human Trafficking Unit of the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office.
OFFICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC DEFENDER, MIAMI, FL
Olivia Pertierra (Class of 2026) graduated from the New College of Florida in 2020 with a B.A. in Social Sciences. While there, Olivia became deeply interested in immigrant rights, nation formation, citizenship as a legal category, and migrant resistance and identity formation. She investigated these topics
in her thesis, “Somos Seres Humanos, Merecemos Vivir Dignamente”: Coloniality and Human Rights in the Face of Family Separation. Following graduation, Olivia moved back to Miami to contribute to her community. She worked with local organizations, such as Food not Bombs, distributing food and COVID-19 protective gear to houseless groups, and helped provide protest safety and first aid to those participating in the Summer of 2020 protests against police brutality. Olivia also worked with family law and criminal defense clients as a law clerk. As a 1L at Miami Law, Olivia joined the Civil Rights Reading Group, where she participated in research about racially discriminatory policies that affected West Grove residents’ access to public pools. During her 1L summer, Olivia served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Miami-Dade Public Defender.
OFFICE OF THE BROWARD STATE ATTORNEY, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
Andrés Rakower (Class of 2026) graduated as an Honors in the Major recipient from the University of Central Florida in 2018 with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in History. Prior to law school, he worked as a law clerk for a high-volume first-party property insurance litigation firm in Fort Lauderdale, helping clients with their breach of contract claims across the State of Florida. Andrés was previously a development fellow with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in Miami, where he assisted professionals from an array of backgrounds in becoming involved in political advocacy, and helped these advocates build relationships with their legislators. During his 1L summer at Miami Law, Andrés served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Broward State Attorney in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
OFFICE OF CRIMINAL CONFLICT & CIVIL REGIONAL COUNSEL, MIAMI, FL
Zoë Raney (Class of 2026) graduated cum laude from the Honors Program at Temple University in 2021 with a B.A. in Global Studies, minors in Italian and Economics, and a certificate in French. Prior to law school, she worked as a paralegal in the federal habeas unit for the progressive District Attorney of Philadelphia for two years, assisting prosecutors in providing habeas relief. As a 2L at Miami Law, Zoë is participating in the Children and Youth Clinic and serving as vice president of the International Law Society. During her 1L summer, Zoë served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of Criminal Conflict & Civil Regional Counsel.
OFFICE OF THE BROWARD PUBLIC DEFENDER, FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
Emma Rice (Class of 2026) graduated cum laude from the University of Florida in 2022 with a B.A. in Political Science and a B.S. in Business Marketing. Prior to law school, she worked as a legal assistant for the Office of the Broward Public Defender in
Ft. Lauderdale, where she coordinated depositions and helped clients communicate with their attorneys in both the Juvenile and Major Crimes Divisions. As a 1L at Miami Law, Emma was a Housing and Community Equity Project Intern with the Center for Ethics and Public Service. During her 1L summer, Emma returned to serve as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Broward Public Defender.
Lezah Richardson (Class of 2026) graduated cum laude from Franklin and Marshall College in May 2020 with a B.A. in Business and Psychology. Prior to law school, Lezah worked as a Legislative Assistant for a Member of Congress in Washington, D.C. where she managed a diverse portfolio of policy issues, drafted legislation, and monitored legislative developments. She joined Moms Fed Up, a Political Action Committee (PAC), to support moms running for political office and advocating for policies to enhance the lives of women and families. As a 1L at Miami Law, Lezah was elected Alumni Relations Chair of Miami Law Women, joined the Cardozo Jewish Legal Society and First-Generation Law Association, served as a Student Ambassador, and participated in HOPE’s Community Service and Pro Bono Challenges. During her 1L summer, Lezah served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow in the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
OFFICE OF THE MIAMI-DADE PUBLIC DEFENDER, MIAMI, FL
Aaron Rissman (Class of 2026) graduated from Duke University in 2020 with a B.A. in Public Policy and a minor in Psychology. Prior to law school, Aaron was a contractor at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In his position as a Public Health Advisor, Aaron played an integral role in developing and executing the U.S. government’s strategy to combat the introduction and spread of communicable diseases—such as COVID-19, Mpox, and Ebola—into and around the United States. At Miami Law, Aaron is a Dean’s Merit Scholar, serves on the Public Interest Leadership Board, and interns with the Center for Ethics and Public Service Health Equity Project. As a 2L, Aaron is participating in Miami Law’s Innocence Clinic. During his 1L summer, Aaron served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow at the Office of the Miami-Dade Public Defender.
OFFICE OF CRIMINAL CONFLICT & CIVIL REGIONAL COUNSEL, MIAMI, FL
Jonathon Shashoua (Class of 2026) graduated from the University of Texas with a B.A. in Government and a minor in Chinese. While pursuing his undergraduate degree, Jonathon worked for over two years at the Texas Capitol, serving as head intern for Representative Greg Bonnen in the Texas House of
Representatives. Jonathon worked on projects to help the legislature directly address the individual needs of constituents and learned about the practical workings of the legislative process. As a 1L at Miami Law, Jonathon joined the Cardozo Jewish Legal Society, Jewish Comparative Law Society, and Intellectual Property Law Society. He has also been involved in fundraising efforts to provide aid to those impacted and displaced by the ongoing conflict in Israel. During his 1L summer, Jonathon served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of Criminal Conflict & Civil Regional Counsel in the Criminal Division.
Kyle Spohn (Class of 2026) graduated cum laude from the University of Florida in May 2023 with a B.S. in Business Management and a minor in Communications Studies and Spanish. As a 1L at Miami Law, Kyle became involved with the Center for Ethics and Public Service (CEPS) as an intern working to promote housing and health equity in local Miami communities threatened by gentrification. He is a member of the Environmental Law Society and the FirstGeneration Law Association. During his 1L summer, Kyle served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the P.E.E.R. Group, working on a variety of local projects related to environmental justice in Miami. As a 2L, Kyle will continue to pursue his passion for public interest and the environment as a legal intern with Miami Law’s Environmental Justice Clinic.
Megan Thomas (Class of 2026) graduated magna cum laude from Pepperdine University in 2021 with a B.A. in both Political Science and Sociology, and a minor in Hispanic Studies. She earned recognition as the Outstanding Graduate of her class in the Sociology Department. During her time at Pepperdine, Megan participated in the Social Action & Justice Colloquium program and spent a transformative year studying abroad in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She dedicated her summers to volunteer work, teaching at a non-profit school in Guatemala and supporting displaced children in Argentina. Megan also interned at an NGO offering legal aid to Central American refugees in Downtown Los Angeles and at a law firm in Coral Gables, working on human rights abuse cases. Following graduation, Megan worked as a language assistant at a low-income high school in Madrid. At Miami Law, she is a Dean’s Merit Scholar and on the Dean’s List. During her 1L summer, Megan served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Office of the Federal Public Defender for the Southern District of Florida.
ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, MIAMI, FL
Itiel Wainer (Class of 2026) graduated cum laude from the George Washington University in May 2020 with a B.A. in International Affairs and a minor in History. He held several internships in the Washington, D.C. area, all of which included either government or non-profit work. Prior to law school, he worked at a government-affiliated non-profit focused on international development and rule of law in Latin America. At Miami Law, he is a Dean’s Merit Scholar and a member of the Cardozo Legal Society, Hispanic Law Students Association, and First-Generation Law Association. During his 1L summer, Itiel served as a HOPE Summer Public Interest Fellow with the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida.
“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
