Congratulations to Han Fang, Benjamin Jones, and Kristen Colburn who are this year’s Equal Justice Works Summer Corps members! The Equal Justice Works Summer Corps program affords law students the opportunity to work in a nonprofit public interest organization, where they work with low-income clients in order to expand the delivery of legal services to a vulnerable population.
Han Fang:
Han will be a legal intern at the Asian Outreach Unit of Greater Boston Legal Services. As an intern Han will conduct in-takes and provide educational services in various settings around Boston, such as the Chinese Progressive Association and the South Cove Community Health Center. Han will conduct interviews, perform research, write briefs and will also participate in educational services regarding accessible legal services.
The Asian Outreach Unit is an extremely vital source in providing legal aid to those who might not normally be able to afford an attorney, or access one due to cultural and language barriers. The staff and interns are culturally adept and speak several different Asian languages, making access for community members feasible. AOU serves as a bridge for many clients who might else have no where to turn. AOU's primary client base are low-income, immigrant Asian and Asian American communities in the Greater Boston area.
Benjamin Jones:
Benjamin will be working for Shelter Legal Services in their office in Newton and in shelters around Greater Boston.
As a Summer Intern, Benjamin will be interacting with indigent clients at a series of shelters around Boston; there will be weekly visits to homeless shelters, veterans' shelters, and a women's shelter. As a part of working with these clients, he will carry his own case load, research legal issues, and confer with attorneys. The clientele of Shelter Legal Services are indigent veterans, homeless, and women. In reaching these groups, the aim is to have those with the greatest need gain the basic legal aid they deserve.
Kristen Colburn
Kristen will be an intern at the Harvard Immigration and Refugee Clinic at Greater Boston Legal Services. She will prepare applications for asylum, conduct legal research and research into country conditions, and interview clients. Kristen will meet people who are suffering from international human rights violations.