Akin Gump Welcomes 12th Class of Pro Bono Scholars

(Washington, D.C.) — Akin Gump is proud to announce its 2019 class of Pro Bono Scholars. Now in its 12th year, the Pro Bono Scholars Program provides top first-year law students the opportunity to develop early and deep experience in public interest law. The individuals acquire skills during this unique two-year program enabling them to build a foundation for pro bono work and billable practice that will serve them throughout their careers.

This year’s scholar class includes 10 in the United States as well as two trainee solicitors in Akin Gump’s London office. Since its inception, the program has sponsored 89 U.S. Pro Bono Scholars at 39 different organizations across the globe. Thirty-five former Pro Bono Scholars are now associates or counsel at Akin Gump.

Akin Gump’s pro bono partner Steve Schulman said, “We are very excited to welcome another strong class of Pro Bono Scholars to the firm. I look forward to working with each of the scholars as we team up once again with some of the leading public interest organizations and continue to strengthen this incredible program.”

Starting May 20, the U.S. Pro Bono Scholars will spend the first four weeks of the program at Akin Gump working on pro bono matters, receiving substantive assignments and training in areas in which the firm focuses its pro bono practice, including asylum, civil rights and prisoner rights. All scholars will then spend three days in Alabama and Mississippi at a “Pro Bono Scholars Boot Camp” learning about the U.S. civil rights movement and working with the Mississippi Center for Justice. After their time at the firm, the scholars will spend at least seven weeks at a public interest organization of their choosing.

Speaking of the program, Akin Gump’s firmwide hiring partner David Botter said, “This group of scholars represents the future of our firm and the legal profession. Each of these individuals has demonstrated an interest not only in the practice of law but also in serving those in need, and we are thrilled to offer them a platform that allows them to combine these passions. I am delighted to welcome another strong class to the program.”

The 12 Pro Bono Scholars and their respective office locations are:

Sahar Abas, London (BPP Law School) is a trainee in Akin Gump’s London office. She is working on developing a relationship with the British Red Cross, which helps millions of people in the UK and around the world get the support they need when a crisis strikes.

Allison “AJ” Blair, Los Angeles (USC Gould School of Law) will work at the Inner City Law Center, a nonprofit law firm that provides free legal services to the poorest and most vulnerable residents of Los Angeles.

Joe Capobianco, Washington, D.C. (University of Texas School of Law) will work at The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia, which provides legal services to clients in the areas of domestic violence/family, housing, public benefits and consumer law.

Orion de Nevers, Washington, D.C. (Georgetown Law Center) will work at Texas Defender Services in Austin, a nonprofit organization that aims to improve the quality of representation afforded to those facing a death sentence

Billy Fowkes, New York (Stanford Law School) will work at Safe Passage Project, a nonprofit immigration legal services organization providing free lawyers to refugee and immigrant children in the New York City area who face deportation back to life-threatening situations.

Kelly Joseph, London (BPP Law School) will start as a trainee in the London office in September 2019 and work with that office to continue to develop its pro bono practice.

Christine Mullen, New York (Duke University School of Law) will be the 7th Pro Bono Scholar to work with Her Justice, a nonprofit organization that provides free legal services in family, divorce and immigration law to low-income women living in New York City.

Raj Patel, Dallas (Emory University School of Law) will work at Human Rights Initiative of North Texas, which provides free legal and support services to refugees and immigrants who have suffered human rights abuses, advocates for justice and promotes international human rights.

Michelle Rodriguez, New York (Georgetown Law Center) will work at Harvard Law School’s Cyberlaw Clinic at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, a provider of pro bono legal services on issues relating to the Internet, new technology and intellectual property.

Alexa “Lexi” Rummel, Washington, D.C. (Tulane Law School) will work at the National LGBTQ+ Task Force, an organization advocating for the advancement of full freedom, justice and equality for LGBTQ people.

Peter Wright, Washington, D.C. (University of Michigan Law School) will be the 9th Pro Bono Scholar to work with the general counsel of the KIPP Foundation, which supports a network of public schools that help students from educationally underserved communities develop the knowledge, skills, character and habits needed to succeed in college and the competitive world beyond.

Jennifer Yu, New York (Cornell Law School) will work at Sanctuary for Families, a leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and related forms of gender violence.

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP is a leading international law firm with more than 900 lawyers in offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

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