Meet the Fellows: I believe...
The 2024 Justice Fellows — our largest class of Fellows yet — will soon join their host organizations, working to provide quality legal counsel to immigrants in need.
Below, we have highlighted six of the 2024 Fellows who shared their beliefs about legal representation, the IJC Fellowship, and immigrants’ rights.
I believe that legal representation for immigrants is important because they are in very vulnerable positions being in a new country, where they might not speak the language or understand their legal cases and issues.
Caroline Abramovici
Central West Justice Center
Emory University School of Law
I believe that protecting the rights of immigrants, especially refugees, is a key component of fulfilling America’s obligations under international law.
Javi Burdette
Just Neighbors
University of California, Berkeley School of Law
I believe that the constitutional protection of the right to counsel should include non-citizens. When the Department of Justice becomes involved in a person’s life because of their status, legal representation should be provided.
Stephanie Burke
Journey’s End Refugee Services
University at Buffalo School of Law
I believe the mentorship, training, and support offered by the fellowship program will help me transition into lawyering with the tools I need to serve the immigrants in my community well.
Marlene Pierce
Catholic Charities of Central Colorado
University of Denver Sturm College of Law
I believe IJC opens doors to the training I need, at incredible host organizations that I admire and respect incredibly, to become a knowledgeable and experienced attorney.
Katherine Tello
ABA Fund for Justice and Education, Immigration Justice Project
California Western School of Law
I believe that every immigrant should have the right to comprehensive legal representation, and I hope that I can help increase access to those kinds of services through my fellowship with IJC.
Cristina Villalovas
Canal Alliance
University of Wisconsin-Madison Law School
