“Growing up in a low-income community was pretty hard. I was told I would have to basically try twice as hard to get anywhere. That was very obvious to me especially going to club events and tournaments. I decided to be hard headed and not let things stop me.
Honestly, the Summer Legal Fellowship Program helped me in so many different ways. It showed me how many of us (low income, people of color, struggling students) were interested in law. We all wanted to help people so they wouldn’t hurt like we do. Although I was hesitant to go to my assigned internship at the District Attorney’s Office, it turned out to be the perfect match. Meeting all the wonderful people from this program shaped me into who I am today, and I still consider many of them friends and even family.
After high school, I enrolled at Sacramento State. When the whole pandemic started I felt very lost, but I remembered that I had met people who were paralegals in the summer program, so I looked into it. I am now in the paralegal and legal studies BA program at North Central University. It’s been amazing. I will get my BA in 2024. I have also studied to become a notary public. I just took the Notary Public exam, and I’m excited to see those results! For my future, I am considering law school. It has always been a dream!
I am also working at an immigration law office as a receptionist/legal assistant/interpreter and I use what I learned at my internship in this job, such as filing, court procedures, and victim etiquette. I love being able to help people receive their legal status."
How the Summer Legal Fellowship Program is Launching our Future Leaders
High school students from first-generation and marginalized backgrounds spend two months over the summer learning about law and social justice, working in paid professional internships, and developing college and career readiness as well as interpersonal skills and confidence. They have the opportunity to be immersed in the UC Berkeley environment (during nonpandemic times). After students complete the program, we provide ongoing mentoring to support students’ educational, career, and civic pursuits. More than 92% of our program alumni attend higher education, and many have achieved careers in law, education, restorative justice, community organizing, and social services.
Operated in cooperation with UC Berkeley School of Law
Board of Directors
Anitha Anne, Attorney, Cooley LLP
Creighton Davis, Attorney, Baker McKenzie LLP
Allyson Deraps, Associate Counsel, Burning Man Project
Hon. Danielle Douglas, Judge, Contra Costa County Superior Court
Natalie Friedman, Artist
Alison Gilliam, Director of Emerging Legal Issues, Seagate Technology
Hon. Joni Hiramoto, Judge, Contra Costa County Superior Court
Jesse Hsieh, Deputy Public Defender, San Francisco County
Su-Jin Lee, COO and General Counsel, Axis Network
James G. Roberts, Attorney
Ariana Shaffer, Attorney, Cooley LLP
Cherrie Tan, Attorney, McManis Faulkner, CYDL Program Alumna
Ben Therriault, Police Detective, City of Richmond
Adam Wilks, Deputy District Attorney, Contra Costa County
Michael Wilson, Assistant Public Defender, Alameda County
Leadership Council
Brian Barsky
Ray Cardozo
Stanley Friedman
Ben Hamburg
Hon. Brenda Harbin-Forte
Hon. Barbara Lee
Melissa Nelken
Reginald Oh
Dorian Peters, CYDL Program Alumnus
Miriam Rokeach Winslow O. Small