Meet our Summer Interns & Law Clerks!

July 13, 2018

As summer gets into full swing, we would like to introduce our summer student interns in our San Francisco office. This year, we are fortunate to have a Development and Communications intern and two summer law clerks, who will assist with a variety of pro bono projects as well as with the Justice Bus.

Join us in welcoming Clare, Kimy and Swaaliha to the OneJustice team!

Welcome Clare! What drew you to the work of OneJustice and what will you be working on this summer?

OneJustice’s commitment to helping any person who needs legal aid regardless of circumstance or location really resonated with me. Since I was little, I have been volunteering with the homeless in Los Angeles, and I have noticed their lack of access to justice. The United States’ convoluted justice system makes it impossible for anyone except lawyers to understand its procedure. Furthermore, OneJustice helps more than just people with immediate needs. It focuses on trying to fix the source of injustice.

Clare Burgess, Development & Communications Intern

This summer, I am working as OneJustice’s Development and Communications intern. So, I will be assisting the DevComm team with any projects regarding development or OneJustice’s social media presence, such as writing this blog post.

What were you up to before coming to OneJustice?

I am a rising junior at Claremont McKenna College majoring in Government. At CMC, I write for the Claremont Journal of Law and Public Policy; I recently wrote an article comparing nonprofit laws in the United States and in the United Kingdom. Also, this past semester I studied theology and philosophy at King’s College London. And last summer, I had an internship with the U.S. District Court in Los Angeles.

What’s something quirky about you?

I have a twin sister who looks nothing like me.

Thanks Clare! Now, we welcome Swaaliha! Why did you choose OneJustice for your summer clerkship and what will you be doing this summer?

I was first introduced to OneJustice during the SFO protest regarding the Muslim Ban that OneJustice played a huge role in organizing. I had never been apart of a protest of that scale, so watching the information move through the hundreds and hundreds of people that showed up was awe-inspiring. OneJustice also came to Hastings during my first year of law school and did PI/PS Day. So, I interviewed with them.

So, I am on the Pro Bono Justice Clinics team. Since being on the team, I have been to a couple of the clinics through the Justice Bus program. At the clinics, I am responsible for the organizational aspect of the clinics (signing in clients, etc.). I have also been able to help consult and sit down with clients. I assisted with filling out their paperwork, while simultaneously doing the support staff work.

What were you up to before coming to OneJustice?

Kimy Cabrera (left) and Swaaliha Abdul-Rahman (right) – Pro Bono Justice Summer Law Clerks

As a 1L at Hastings, I participated in a few of the volunteer clinics. The best times I have had in law school have been while doing the volunteer clinics. One particular clinic I have enjoyed was LARC that was held at Hastings. So, basically one Saturday each month people from the Tenderloin and all over come to Hastings. We (the law students) do their intake, and then they are referred to legal volunteers for their free legal consultation. I am also participating in the Homeless Legal Services Program, where law students go to homeless shelters and help with their intake. These programs are extremely grounding and helped me connect with people.

What’s something quirky about you?

I was born two months premature, and I am a huge Harry Potter fan. So, one time when I had to write a paper, I titled it “The Girl Who Lived.”

Finally, we welcome Kimy! What drew you to the work of OneJustice, and what will you be responsible for this summer?

In law school, I learned that I really wanted to work in human rights or international human rights because I would be able to make an impact and I would be passionate about it. When I was looking through different summer opportunities, I realized that I wanted to be California specific because I am so grateful, as an immigrant, to be in a state that has been so welcoming. I first heard about OneJustice when Mai, from the L.A. team, came to talk about the Justice Bus at USC. I had been to some of the counties that she talked about, and I realized their limitations of access. I went to the career center to discuss human rights summer opportunities, and they gave me this list from public interest career day with many different organizations. I recognized OneJustice’s logo. I decided to apply because OneJustice seems really in tune with the legal atmosphere and the the needs of the Californian population. I looked online and saw their vast amount of programs throughout California. What really sold the deal for me, though, was their question on the application for clerkships. It was all about cultural sensitivity and equity, which I have come to value a lot in my own life.

At OneJustice, I am on the Pro Bono Justice Team on the consulting side. I am responsible for helping to gather data and outreach towards Pro Bono Managers and Coordinators from different Legal Service Organizations. I have also been working with the Immigration Pro Bono Network on their newsletters, events, website. Mainly assisting with their organizational needs. With that, I’ve also been conducting a lot of case study interviews.

What were you up to before coming to San Francisco for your clerkship?

I do a lot with the International Law and Relations clubs at USC. This last year, I worked as an interpreter for the International Human Rights Clinic. I worked on a human trafficking case with them, which reminded me of all the good I could do as a lawyer. I thought that that was an awesome experience. I also did Street Law, which was a program where we taught high school students about law. I was a high school teacher for a year in the Philippines before law school, so it was cool to revisit that.

Lastly, what’s something quirky about you?

I have very strange hobbies. I like to kayak in a lake near a decommissioned power plant because I love kayaking. But it also makes me feel like I am in a Marvel movie. I also have recently gotten into wood burning, which is like pyrography.

We’re so grateful to have such amazing & talented students joining us to bring legal help to those in need!

A Hippo Fan, an Art Appreciator, a Podcast Lover, and a Cheeto-Eater

There’s been an awful lot going on in the world and within the realm of civil legal aid. And while everyone on the OneJustice team has been putting their nose to the grindstone, we almost forgot to introduce our newest group of team members! The four newest faces at OneJustice all come to us with amazing skill sets and serve in vital roles for the organization. And what’s more – they’re all amazing people. As we do with all our new staff members, we asked them to answer these four questions:

What drew you to OneJustice’s vision, mission, and strategies?
Tell us a bit about your position at OneJustice and what you hope to achieve?
What was your path in coming to OneJustice?
And please tell us something about yourself that not everyone might know.

With that, please welcome Lauren Hipolito, Bruno Huizar, Joel Kim, and Chantilly Rocha!

Lauren Hipolito – Corporate Relations Manager

I realized that my drive and motivation in my professional life was people – helping people, working with people. Working with an amazing group of individuals towards a greater mission, that was what I wanted and with my legal experience, OneJustice was where I knew I should be. I had actually been following OneJustice for a few years and have even applied in the past, but I am a true believer in timing and this time, it all just aligned.

As the Corporate Relations Manager, my job is to build and cultivate meaningful relationships with new corporations, existing corporate partners and law firms to further support our mission, recruit volunteers and broaden OneJustice’s universe and reach.

I went to the University of San Francisco with a major in Psychology and I was told by a professor that everything in law is just a mind game – so that Psychology major has really come in handy in my career. I’ve been working in some sort of legal position since I was 20 years old. I went from being a process server for CPS in the Tenderloin and Oakland to working in a criminal defense/family law firm back home in Stockton after college. After getting my Paralegal Certificate in Stockton, I got a contract job at Google, then at the Hewlett Foundation and after that, Playstation. I wasn’t really sure what type of law I wanted to root down in, so contract positions were a good process of elimination. After Playstation, I was offered a contract position at the U.S. Attorney’s Office here in San Francisco and I was immediately thrown into a world of RICO, gangs, guns, violence, etc. Exciting as all of that was, it was the clients and victims that motivated me, drove me to work harder every day, case by case. After that contract sadly ended, I jumped back into corporate law and knew immediately that that was not where I wanted to be, which lead me to applying to this position at OneJustice. See what I mean about timing?

I really REALLY love Hippos, (because of my last name and elementary school nickname). I also love cooking, I come from a pretty mixed, multi-racial family so we kind of cook a little bit of everything but my favorite dishes are usually Mexican or Filipino. There may be some days when I make the whole SF office smell like adobo or posole, I apologize in advance.

Bruno Huizar – Pro Bono Justice Program Associate

I am a movement builder deeply committed to organizing with directly impacted communities to end the mass detention and deportation of immigrants. I joined OneJustice because I want to transform the legal aid system and ensure all immigrants have access to life-changing resources and legal services.

My position as Program Associate allows me to utilize my personal, professional, and community organizing experience to defend and protect immigrant communities by expanding pro bono legal services to immigrants in deportation proceedings throughout Los Angeles. One of my core responsibilities at OneJustice is working with local nonprofit organizations and law schools to design and coordinate the Los Angeles Pro Bono Removal Defense Collaborative. We are building local and national partnerships to engage and provide training materials to law students, attorneys, and additional volunteers in order to increase pro bono legal services for immigrants in removal proceedings.

Additionally, I am coordinating with the L.A. Raids Rapid Response Network and working alongside immigrant communities to organize against ICE raids and enforcement operations. I hope to achieve a sustainable legal and organizing network that successfully prevents deportations in Los Angeles County.

Prior to joining the OneJustice team, I worked with Lambda Legal where I conducted hundreds of legal intakes and provided information and resources to people living with HIV and LGBTQIA+ communities across the country. I worked alongside the Transgender Rights Project and assisted in coordinating the Name Change Project which provided pro bono attorneys to transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) communities in order to assist TGNC communities amend their identity documents.

I graduated from University of California, San Diego and received a dual degree in Ethnic Studies and Political Science with a focus in International Relations.

I really love art of all mediums, cooking with friends, and collectively reimagining and rebuilding a society where all living beings are in harmony.

Joel Kim – Staff Attorney, Pro Bono Justice Consulting

I work at OneJustice because I believe that all people deserve meaningful access to the legal system. At OneJustice, I pursue innovative approaches to increasing access to justice for all.

As a Staff Attorney on the Pro Bono Justice Consulting team, I work with legal services organizations throughout California to build up their pro bono practices. As a former direct services attorney myself, I know that legal services attorneys work incredibly hard. I want to help these organizations multiply their impact by implementing thoughtful and effective pro bono projects. My current focus has been on developing pro bono networks in different regions throughout the Bay Area. Down the line, I plan to develop training modules and other tools for legal services organizations to create their own pro bono networks. My goal is to assist legal services organizations to develop new pro bono partnerships and improve current partnerships.

Before joining OneJustice, I was a staff attorney with the Homeless Action Center in Berkeley, where I represented clients in public benefits and Social Security disability claims. I also worked as a Public Interest Fellow with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area, where I coordinated a free legal clinic in collaboration with the GLIDE Foundation. While in law school, I interned with the Christian Legal Aid of Los Angeles, the National Housing Law Project, and LAF. I graduated from UC Berkeley with a B.S. in Forestry and Natural Resource Management. I received my JD from the University of Chicago Law School.

I love podcasts! I listen to KQED’s Bay Curious (weird facts about the Bay Area), NPR’s Ask Me Another (trivia quiz show), and the California Politics Podcast from the LA Times.

Chantilly Rocha – Development Assistant

I grew up in an neighborhood of immigrants from all over the world and witnessed the legal struggle that my friends and their families endured as they were trying to gain citizenship, green cards, while feeling unsafe of local law enforcement. I wanted an opportunity to help my peers as they were striving to make the most of their life here in America in consideration of the risks and fear my community members faced. One Justice has created a immersive network of law professionals and volunteers to increase the access that so many individuals in California are in need of. We are a team who have the responsibility to work innovatively together in providing meaningful support and legal justice to those in need.

As the Development Assistant, I assist in elevating donor stewardship within our major donor program. I also provide support in managing fundraising efforts – including planning, visual design, and assembling components.

I am currently studying to obtain my B.S. at San Francisco State University. For four years, I served as a board member and class ambassador for the AVID program which encouraged and helped low income students in the community to pursue higher education, and explore their options. During those four years, I also served as a group leader for the CIMAS Leadership Association in Santa Ana and conducted workshops and youth summits to organize community service events and improve team building. My community service revolved around assisting with teachers and academic tutors in the AVID program at a local middle school in Orange County

I really love hiking in Pacifica, bike camping, taking photos, painting, fashion forecast reports, and eating hot cheetos.

Introducing Our Newest Board Member – Ellen LaPointe

April 3, 2018

You might know that OneJustice has welcomed plenty of new staff members in the last year. But those aren’t all the new faces around here. In addition to all our awesome new teammates, we recently added a new member of the Board of Directors: Ellen LaPointe, President and CEO of Northern California Grantmakers! Ellen joined the Board last fall, and we finally had time to sit down with her to ask a few questions. We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know her as much as we have!

Ellen LaPointe

What made you interested in becoming a OneJustice Board member?

Like many people, I am alarmed by the threats we are confronting in the current political environment. In the wake of the 2016 elections I was urgently motivated to become involved in an organization that is focused on those who are most at-risk. OneJustice fit the bill perfectly.

I am so inspired by the dedication, passion, skill, and creativity of the leadership and team at OneJustice. The organization is providing vital, life-changing services to people and nonprofit organizations in communities that are overlooked and excluded throughout California. I believe that without OneJustice, thousands of people would suffer needless, avoidable harm. Board service is one way I can contribute to the success of the organization, and I am proud to be a part of it.

What is your role at Northern California Grantmakers (NCG), and how do you hope to use your perspective as a Board member?

NCG helps funders do their work better, collaborate more effectively to amplify philanthropic impact, and wield their collective influence to inform and shape policies that affect the communities and people we all care about.

As the President and CEO, my job is to ensure we have a compelling vision, actionable goals, and effective strategies for our work. I create the conditions within the organization to enable the staff to deliver great results and thrive, and engage members, partners, and stakeholders along the way to amplify our visibility and leverage our efforts. I am also an attorney. I look forward to contributing my perspective, knowledge, and skills in any way that will be helpful to OneJustice.

What are your hopes for your time as a Board member?

This is a critical moment in our country. So many of the gains we have painstakingly achieved over decades to support and strengthen our communities and create opportunities for people to prosper and thrive are in peril. How we respond now will have an impact on these communities and the people who live in them for years, if not generations. Moreover, there are still many unmet needs, and we have aspirations and hopes regarding how to make things better. We must continue to stand for our values and push for more progress, even as we resist efforts to undermine us. I can’t imagine a better time to be involved with OneJustice.

What’s something you really love?

I love my family. I love laughter. I love kindness. I love to sing. I love creating community. I love the ocean. I love this question, because answering it made me happy!

Welcome to the OneJustice family, Ellen!

Mall Massage Lover + Meal Prepper + Karaoke Queen + Outdoor Enthusiast + Passion for Justice = ?

January 17, 2018

The answer: an amazing new group of social justice advocates here at OneJustice!

OneJustice is starting off 2018 with a staff of 27 people – the largest we’ve ever been! Our newest team members all come to us with amazing skill sets and serve in vital roles for OneJustice. And what’s more – they’re all amazing people. As we do with all our new staff members, we asked them to answer these four questions:

What drew you to OneJustice’s vision, mission, and strategies?
Tell us a bit about your position at OneJustice and what you hope to achieve?
What was your path in coming to OneJustice?
And please tell us something about yourself that not everyone might know.

We think you’ll enjoy hearing their responses below. And we know that you’ll enjoy working with them as they get up and running in their work! Join us in welcoming Blossom Cole, Lusik Gasparyan, Roel Mangiliman, and Patrick Kelleher-Calnan.

Blossom Cole – Executive & Grants Coordinator

Since I grew up in California in a low-income community, many of my experiences were extremely traumatic, and were systematically shaped by politics and divisive agendas. Much like today, our government during the Reagan administration in the 80s, pushed racist policies. Social services were defunded throughout the country, and particularly in California, where mental hospitals were closed. The patients undergoing treatment got released to their own devices. My mother was one of those people, suffering from schizophrenia, and had been involuntarily committed, yet they let her out anyway.

OneJustice’s program participants are now facing their own trauma at the hands of our government, which I can identify with personally. My people are losing government benefits, facing legal problems, fighting to stay in the only country they know, and they need help now.

As the Executive and Grants Coordinator, I am responsible for managing the CEO’s schedule, and responding to internal and external requests for her time. I also assist Program Leads at OneJustice in completing grant reporting to our funders in a timely manner. I hope to completely overhaul our physical and digital grants filing system so that is it more accessible and easier to obtain the information required for reporting.

After earning my Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University, I went on to earn my Paralegal Certificate with a focus on immigration. After an internship in family based immigration, I transitioned to a career in business immigration. Understanding and processing/drafting petitions for both prongs of immigration left me with a serious passion for immigration law. OneJustice gives me an opportunity to still be involved with immigration and allows me to go back to my social justice roots and offer an authentic perspective about what it means to be low-income in California and how support and access can change lives.

Analyzing our politics and governmental processes allows me to learn from my colleagues, who have a winning formula that reaches and communicates to those who are in the business of offering help to people who are disenfranchised. I get to have “a seat at the table” in order to shape OneJustice’s program reach and assist in obtaining funds to sustain our services, which help families and people like me. I give thanks to a great support system that helped me to succeed so that I could give back to my community. Touching one life is all I can ask for, and changing the perspective of one person can effect change, which will be my legacy.

I really love to sing, and I am a karaoke queen. I love learning new things and going to theme parks, especially with my family, which includes my four-year-old son.

Lusik Gasparyan – Project Manager, Pro Bono Justice

In my first year of law school, I realized that I wanted to work for an organization that is not only a problem solver, but is passionate about what they do and wants to improve the lives of those who face many obstacles in the legal system. OneJustice aims to increase everyone’s access to justice, regardless of income, citizenship status, or location of residency. OneJustice approaches the law from an innovative point of view, believing that everything can be improved and new ideas are always welcomed–a belief that I personally share myself.

I am the Project Manager for the Rural Justice Collaborative clinic. The Clinic organizes immigration, criminal record expungement, and housing clinics for those living in the rural parts of the Bay Area, where the access to legal services is limited. Through my work, I hope to increase access to justice for those living in the rural parts and be able to update and advance our clinics based on the needs of the community. My aim is to expand the impact of Rural Justice Collaborative project.

I have a background in dependency, immigration, and family law. Prior to joining the OneJustice team, I was a law clerk at the Children’s Law Center of CA (CLC), where I interviewed minor clients in the dependency system about their living situation and explained to them the dependency court process. In addition, I helped my supervising attorney make recommendations regarding the minor’s care and housing. I also interned at Kids in Need of Defense, helping unaccompanied minors receive asylum or Special Immigrant Juvenile Status by interviewing them and working on their immigration court paperwork. While at the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law and Pepperdine’s Restoration and Justice Clinic, I assisted survivors of domestic violence with their Family Law and Restraining Order paperwork and representation. In addition, at the Restoration and Justice clinic, I helped a survivor of human trafficking apply for a criminal record expungement so she could obtain a job. At the Coalition for the Advocacy of the Persecuted and the Enslaved, I assisted survivors of human trafficking with gaining legal status and worked with clients who were applying for U-Visa and renewal of DACA.
While in law school, I organized workshops that educated youth from transitional homes on their constitutional rights during police encounters. I created the materials that provided instructions on how to avoid self-incrimination and reduce the chances of being charged with obstruction of justice.

All of those experiences have prepared me for my current role by providing me with an understanding of the different legal issues people face. In addition, those experiences gave me an ability to empathize and connect with different clients and give value and validation to their stories. Those experiences have also made me want to improve the system.

I enjoy going grocery shopping and meal prep for the week. I love cooking and preparing a feast for my friends or family. I believe lemon juice, salt, pepper, and garlic are essentials for almost any savory dish.

Roel Mangiliman – Manager of Innovation and Learning

Everyone at OneJustice works on a constant everyday basis to answer the question, “In what ways can we increase access to justice for those who need it?” I decided to work here because not only do we answer the question, we take action.

As Manager of Innovation and Learning, I promote the theories and practices around topics of innovation, human-centered design, and organizational change as approaches to transform California’s civil legal aid system. Success in this work looks like growing acknowledgement among the legal community that “innovation” is not just brand speak, or referring to iPhones – but rather an organizational development process that resonates as urgent, actionable, and exciting to entities of all kinds looking to increase impact.

Prior to joining OneJustice, I spent five years studying organizational change initiatives in a range of charitable contexts including legal aid, academia, philanthropy, and mental health. At Seneca Family of Agencies, I led training initiatives and innovation efforts to meet the changing organizational needs of a mental health agency expanding rapidly across different states, service type, and compliance entities. At Bay Area Justice Funders Network, as a research fellow I studied philanthropic best practices for social change, and created training content for foundation staff looking to influence their foundations. Earlier, at the SF Superior Court Self-Help Center, I held a management fellowship where I studied the impacts of sudden budget cuts on staffing and service areas, ran strategic planning retreats, and consulted executives on staff and resource development. I completed my JD at UC Davis Law School, and received my BA in political science from UC San Diego. I am licensed to practice law in California, and regularly complete continuing education in nonprofit law, change leadership, and organizational development.

A hobby of mine is getting mall massages – those stations in the mall where people faceplant into a chair and get 45 mins of deep tissue massage (more like body work) at an affordable rate, with no talking. Paradise.

Patrick Kelleher-Calnan – Operations Manager

I was attracted to the mission of OneJustice because I believe lack of access to legal aid is a serious source of harm for many Californians, and I appreciate that OneJustice deals with the legal aid system as a whole. OneJustice appealed to me as an organization because it has a track record of success and displays a willingness to evolve as an organization.

At OneJustice I am responsible for the day-to-day and long term operations of the offices, everything from bookkeeping to IT support. I’m excited to be joining such a high-caliber operation, and looking forward to finding ways to keep our processes effective and efficient as OneJustice continues to grow.

My professional background includes a diverse mix of operational and data-related roles. For five years I was the Admission Technical Specialist for graduate business programs at Northeastern University where I managed several admissions and marketing systems, performed a lot of data analysis and reporting, and making sure operations ran smoothly. Before that I ran the day-to-day operations of a growing bicycle tour, rental, and repair business. Since moving to San Francisco I’ve worked in an accounting office and as a Finance Administrator for a New Zealand based winery.

My work and volunteer experience also includes conducting geospatial research for a Human Right to Water campaign, wrangling data for the Eviction Defense Collaborative in San Francisco, and starting and running a neighborhood bicycle nonprofit in Boston.

I earned my BA from Wesleyan University and my MS in Urban and Regional Policy from Northeastern University.

Since moving to the Bay Area I’ve made it my mission to take advantage of every outdoor recreation opportunity in the area. So far my favorite has to be encountering elephant seals on the beaches of Point Reyes.

A high-fiver, a pancake maker, a saxophone player, a baker, and a swimmer all walk into an office…

November 2, 2017

…and now they all help expand access to legal assistance for all Californians!

OneJustice has been growing a lot in these past few months, and our newest team members bring a huge swath of new skills to the organization – in addition to their wonderful and unique personalities, of course. We sat down with them and asked them to share a little something about themselves, including:

What drew you to OneJustice’s vision, mission, and strategies?
Tell us a bit about your position at OneJustice and what you hope to achieve?
What was your path in coming to OneJustice?
And please tell us something about yourself that not everyone might know.

We think you’ll enjoy hearing their responses below. And we know that you’ll enjoy working with them as they get up and running in their work! Join us in welcoming Xiomara Castro, Semhal Gessesse, Alex Ramsey, Gillian Sonnad, and Jess Temple!

Xiomara Castro – Program Associate, Pro Bono Justice

I was drawn to OneJustice because of the organization’s commitment to bringing legal services to underserved communities and expanding the legal aid landscape through a multi-faceted approach. The Justice Bus is an incredible and unique project in its mission to close the legal services gap in rural communities, where poverty is increasing and access to legal services are few. I was also drawn to OneJustice because it’s an organization that prioritizes diversity and equity among its staff and brings that dynamic to the public in the form of clinics, consulting and policy work.

I hit the ground running in support of the Justice Bus Project in Southern California. My first day at OneJustice was an overnight trip to San Diego for a DACA and Naturalization clinic in Escondido. I look forward to growing my skills to serve clients with a range of issues including naturalization and general immigration, record expungement, and veteran’s issues. As someone with social services experience, I know that many underserved communities face basic legal barriers that prevent them from accessing life-changing services. I am proud of the Justice Bus and its work to remove those barriers and create equity for marginalized people.

I am coming into the legal field with a background in social services, education and community organizing. I have experience organizing with LGBTQ youth of color around various issues, including disability and access, housing, educational equity, and state and interpersonal violence. I also have experience providing direct services and counseling to low-income and undocumented youth and families in the Los Angeles area. I am excited to use my skills to continue serving these and adjacent communities with the Justice Bus Project.

I really love high fives, karaoke and foodie hunts for the best of LA. So far I have found some of the best pizza, takoyaki, fish tacos, and sushi in LA. Next up, ramen.

Semhal Gessesse – Program Associate, Pro Bono Consulting

I was drawn to OneJustice by its mission to bring legal services to those most in need and its multifaceted clinic and consulting work to achieve it. I was drawn to my role, specifically, for its emphasis on both building the capacity of California’s pro bono work and improving the way it is delivered.

My core responsibilities here at OneJustice include working closely with the Pro Bono Justice Consulting Team to help both implement new pro bono networks around the Bay Area and strengthen existing mechanisms that have the potential to create long-lasting pro bono relationships. Through my work, I hope to increase access to justice by fostering better community relations between those with legal needs and those who have the resources and expertise to help.

Prior to joining the OneJustice team, I most recently worked on a range of city initiatives at the New York City-based policy and advocacy organization FPWA. The bulk of my work related to equitable workforce development for immigrant populations and it is here that I developed an interest in advocacy and public policy, a background I am excited to bring to OneJustice.

My passion for public interest law and social justice developed intensely during my time at New York University and while working at the Legal Aid Society and the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. Working in both spaces within the span of two years allowed me to get a better, more nuanced understanding of justice and sentencing disparities in a large, urban legal system such as New York. Additionally, working directly with clients highlighted to me how external factors such as poverty, education attainment, and national origin can impact the outcome of a case.

I really love pancakes and enjoy eating them as a weekend breakfast or late night snack. I like to think I have the best recipe and technique out so I always welcome some friendly competition!!

Alex Ramsey – Communications Associate

This is my first job out of college, and I was really hoping I could get involved in an organization that’s making a difference. I’m interested in helping to create a more just and equitable justice system, and OneJustice serves a vital role in helping fulfill that dream. After I spoke with Julia, our CEO, I was confident that this would be a place where my work would have an impact.

As the Communications Associate, I’m in charge of managing OneJustice’s social media accounts, helping edit the website, creating graphics for physical mailings and digital campaigns, drafting blog posts and newsletters, and a bunch of other tasks. I’m hoping that I can help to improve our digital presence and expand our following – I want to spread the word about the awesome stuff that’s going on here.

In June I graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in African and African American Studies, with Honors. In the summer of 2016, I was an intern with the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office in the Communications and Policy Department, where I did some work similar to what I do at OneJustice: I helped with social media campaigns, conducted legal research, and worked on the office’s annual report. While at Stanford, I had a number of pretty different jobs and positions. I was a research assistant with the Martin Luther King Jr. Research and Education Institute, where I helped put together scripts for a digital course; the Center for Spatial and Textual Analysis, where I created a website to map all 9/11 memorials outside of the United States; and a student leader in the Stanford Marching Band, where I helped write field shows for football performances and create social media content.

I play the tenor saxophone, and I can recite multiple episodes of Spongebob Squarepants from memory. I know, it’s weird.

Gillian Sonnad – Staff Attorney, Healthy Nonprofits

I’ve worked primarily in local legal services programs, and I know how fundamental their work is to providing access to justice for underserved and underrepresented communities. So OneJustice’s work to strengthen and support the legal services organizations through training, technical support, and advocating for additional funding really drew me in.

I will be running the Executive Fellows program and starting up a new area of consulting for the Healthy Nonprofits (HNP) team. I’m looking forward to providing support and training for the legal services organizations and hope to enable them to do their very important work more efficiently, effectively, and in an inclusive manner.

Prior to my work with OneJustice, I was a Senior Consultant with the Race Equity Project and the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law. I was an inaugural fellow for the Shriver Center Racial Justice Training Institute and after completing my fellowship I have served as faculty and coach for the Institute. I also co-authored the Clearinghouse Review article, “Putting Race Back on the Table: Racial Impact Statements.” In addition to my race equity work, I was a supervising attorney with Central California Legal Services and a staff attorney with Legal Services of Northern California where I advised, assisted, and represented hundreds of clients with issues related to public benefits, housing, healthcare, education, consumer rights, estates, and immigration. I earned my J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 2008 with a concentration in Public Interest Law. During my time at Hastings I clerked for Bay Area Legal Aid and the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, represented clients in both the Individual Rights and the Refugee and Human Rights clinics, and was a Senior Articles Editor for the Hastings Race and Poverty Law Journal. I earned my B.A. from the University of California, San Diego with a double major in Political Science and Law and Society.

My husband and I are on a mission to bake everything from our favorite season of The Great British Bake Off!

Jess Temple – Staff Attorney, Pro Bono Clinics

I was drawn to the work of OneJustice because I emphatically agree with a core tenet of OneJustice’s work – that access to justice must not be limited to those that can readily access it. OneJustice is a thoughtful and evolving organization, which skillfully combines intentionality and creativity.

As the Staff Attorney for Pro Bono Clinics, I am predominantly responsible for leading OneJustice’s Northern California Justice Bus. The Justice Bus provides mobile legal services to rural and isolated areas in Northern California by providing one- or two-day legal clinics. I hope to partner with community organizations and legal service providers to identify legal needs in these communities, and to use the Justice Bus as a mechanism by which pieces of these legal needs can be addressed. In preparation for these trips, I am responsible for facilitating all necessary training. To a lesser extent, I am also responsible for contributing to the Rural Justice Collaborative at OneJustice.

In implementing strategic responses to pressing legal needs, I aim to build positive and productive partnerships with pro bono attorneys, law students, legal services nonprofits, and community organizations.

Prior to joining OneJustice, I completed a fellowship with the International Justice Resource Center (IJRC), where my work centered on increasing victims’, and their advocates’, effective use of international human rights law to strengthen individuals’ access to justice. Previously, I worked as a law clerk with a civil rights and human rights law firm in Venice, California and contributed to cases before the Ninth Circuit addressing police misconduct, selective and discriminatory enforcement of the law, human trafficking, child slave labor, and corporate accountability. I also worked in the Justice, Protection, and Social Rights Unit of the Special Procedures branch of the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights located in Geneva, Switzerland. Before attending law school, I participated in comprehensive eviction defense work at San Francisco Bar Association’s Homeless Advocacy Project, which sought to connect Bay Area community members to pro bono legal services, social services, and rehabilitative services necessary to address intersecting experiences of poverty, discrimination, mental illness, disability, and substance abuse.

I have always been very drawn to the water, and I’ve been swimming on recreational swim teams since I was 4 years old. There were high hopes that I would be one of the great swimmers of my generation, but sadly, my performance peaked by the time I was 6 years old. Though never the best swimmer, I have enjoyed recreational and outdoor swimming ever since!

What do a coffee drinker, cliff diver, peek-a-boo player, angsty punk, and improv performer have in common?

September 26, 2017

They all work at OneJustice now!

Yep, in addition to their expertise in fundraising, impact evaluation, pro bono design, and nonprofit management, our staff have some pretty quirky skill sets! We recently added new folks to the team, and we’re excited to introduce them to you.

We sat down with them and asked them to share a little something about themselves, including:

What drew you to OneJustice’s vision, mission, and strategies?
Tell us a bit about your position at OneJustice and what you hope to achieve?
What was your path in coming to OneJustice?
And please tell us something about yourself that not everyone might know.

We think you’ll enjoy hearing their responses below. And we know that you’ll enjoy working with them as they get up and running in their work! Join us in welcoming Aaron Chandler, Omar Corona, Pete James, Lea Volk, and Alexis Payne.

(The drum roll please………)

Aaron Chandler, Senior Manager of Donor Relations (San Francisco)

My mother is a public interest attorney, and I’ve been involved with volunteering, organizing, fundraising and leadership for racial, economic, environmental and social justice for 15 years. In this time, I’ve seen the profoundly positive impact that access to justice can have in the lives of people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to receive legal assistance.

Here at OneJustice, I’m engaging our committed supporters–without which we couldn’t have gotten to where we are now–as well as prospective supporters, by working with our staff, Board, Advisory Board and Strategy Council members to tell the story of OneJustice’s impact on individuals and the legal aid sector as a whole, and to build a culture of philanthropy at OneJustice. In addition, I plan our annual gala, Opening Doors to Justice, and assist with refining the communications strategies that allow us to reach our stakeholders in the most meaningful ways.

My background has primarily been in fundraising — I really enjoy making connections between potential supporters, and impactful organizations doing meaningful grassroots and systems-change work. Prior to OneJustice, I was managing the fundraising at a human services organization in the East Bay, as well as at a national economic justice organization. I’m from Seattle originally, and went to college in Massachusetts. Eventually I moved to San Francisco three-and-a-half years ago, when I took on the role of Executive Director at a community-based HIV/AIDS organization, turned it around and guided its merger with another local HIV/AIDS agency.

I enjoy traveling, (good) coffee, baking sweet desserts, (sometimes) running, and enjoying the fact that the East Bay — where I live — is consistently warmer and sunnier than San Francisco.

Omar Corona, Pro Bono Justice Program Associate (Los Angeles)

I value OneJustice’s commitment to transforming the civic legal aid system in California by leveraging the resources of the private and non-profit sectors in order to better serve the most vulnerable. I also appreciate that working at OneJustice allows me to apply my skills in a way that positively impacts those most disenfranchised by our legal system.

I am especially interested in the exposure to the legal aid landscape in California that working at OneJustice affords me since I hope to pursue a career in public interest law.

Since joining OneJustice, I have been able to work on a variety of projects. First, I am part of the team behind the Pro Bono Training Institute which allows me to develop the training modules that we use to train volunteers for IMPACT LA and JusticeBus clinics. I’m also involved with IMPACT LA and the Southern California Immigration Capacity-Building project, which is in its early stages of development. Some of my overarching goals in working at OneJustice are to gain a better understanding of what can be done to narrow the legal aid gap in our state both through pro bono work as well as policy changes. Some more project-specific goals of mine are to: increase the number of volunteers that access the resources available through the Pro Bono Training Institute as well as contribute to the growth and expansion of IMPACT LA clinics.

Prior to joining the OneJustice team, I served as a Fellow with the City and County of San Francisco where I was able to exercise my passion for public service and gain tremendous insight into the mechanisms of local government. My interest in legal aid stems from my experience with assisting self-represented litigants in the Superior Court of Los Angeles as an undergrad, primarily with eviction defense and family law.

In addition to legal aid work, I have also been involved in policy advocacy and research around environmental protection and sustainability. I have found many parallels between my work in legal aid and environmental protection. These parallels have made me realize the importance of promoting equity and ensuring fair access to resources. I earned my B.A. in Political Science and Environmental Studies from UCLA.

As a SoCal native, I really enjoy swimming in the outdoors and after a recent trip to the island of Barbados, I’ve come to enjoy cliff diving (although my parents aren’t too fond of it yet)! I also really love to eat spicy food and as a Vegan, I especially enjoy cooking my own and learning new recipes. However, I also very much enjoy visiting and trying different vegan-friendly restaurants!

Peter James, Senior Manager of Impact Evaluation (San Francisco)

When I first moved to California, I was talking to someone at a legal aid organization and they said, “You should check out OneJustice”. Since then, OneJustice has always been on my radar as a well-respected and innovative organization. So when the opportunity came to start a new strand of work at an organization with such deep roots in the legal services community, I jumped at the chance.

My core responsibility at One Justice is to build impact evaluation capacity at OneJustice. This means helping my colleagues to understand impact evaluation as a discipline and implement evaluations across the wide range of programs that they manage. We will then use what we have learned from our own work to support legal services organizations to evaluate their own services. Over time, we want to support the legal aid community to develop a high-quality evidence-base for planning and designing services as well as demonstrating the impact and value of programs.

I’m originally from the U.K. and started my career as a research consultant. I then joined the Impact Evaluation team at Citizens Advice, a nationwide network of community advice services. This experience first sparked my passion for legal services and my interest in using research methods to study how services can best be planned, designed and delivered. After moving to the U.S., I worked in the research office at the Judicial Council of California, which provided an insight into the operation of the legal system at the state level. Working at OneJustice means I can bring together these different threads to focus on the legal aid community in California.

I like to make up games, and now that we have a 15-month-old son, my repertoire of peek-a-boo-inspired routines has become wider than I would have ever imagined.

Lea Volk, Healthy Nonprofits Program Associate (San Francisco)

I was drawn to OneJustice because of its cohesive and comprehensive approach to transforming the legal aid system and aiding social change in California. The multifaceted work of OneJustice resonates with my multitude of passions I often struggle to juggle, including social justice advocacy, community empowerment, civil rights law, and the ongoing fight for justice and equality. Through this innovative organization, I feel capable of being a part of both the micro and macro components required to efficiently and successfully create progressive change and bring healing to disenfranchised communities.

As the Healthy Nonprofit Program Associate, I handle the logistics for our Executive Fellowship Program and for our annual Public Interest/ Public Service Day while assisting with consulting and technical assistance for legal services organizations. I aim to provide smooth and detailed production to these two programs as well as look for ways to improve outreach and program evaluations. As someone who loves video production and editing, I would like to also create and/or increase our video media for documentation of our wonderful work, overall outreach purposes, and to spruce up our webinar trainings.

Before joining OneJustice, I worked as a Student Activist Coordinator for Amnesty International USA where I had the opportunity of educating, training, and organizing high school and college Amnesty student groups. While working with Amnesty International, I graduated from San Francisco State University in 2015 where I received a Bachelor of Arts in both Sociology and Latina/Latino Studies with a minor in Race and Resistance Studies. While a student of SFSU, I spent my time out of the classroom fully involved in student and community activism. I co-founded a successful student organization that worked to create a statewide network of students and educators fighting the privatization and commodification of public higher education, called the Student Union of San Francisco, which operated as a local under the California Student Union (CASU). It was through these years of grassroots organizing that I found my love for direct action planning, coalition building, and creating a network of politicized activists and advocates.

While in transit to and from work I may appear rather composed and calm yet, I have angsty punk and 90’s Riot Grrrl music blaring in my head phones. I also have an inability to refuse rhythm which often leads to me dancing to terrible music, dancing while I eat, and awkwardly trying to air drum as I walk.

Alexis Payne, Law Clerk (San Francisco)

I met attorneys from OneJustice while responding to the travel ban at SFO Airport in late January. I was impressed with their innovative techniques as well as their dedication to the organization’s mission of making legal aid accessible to all. As someone who has a passion for social justice and hopes to work in corporate law, I appreciate that they mobilize corporate attorneys to bring life-changing legal help to low-income Californians.

My time at OneJustice is spent tracking important cases, helping to build networks of pro bono and legal aid attorneys, and developing a cultural humility training for pro bono volunteers. During my externship, I hope to further explore the role that BigLaw plays in bringing legal help to those in need. I am also excited to learn more about how using innovative techniques rooted in cultural humility can improve client outcomes.

I am currently a 2L at Berkeley Law. I worked at OneJustice this summer as a Law Clerk. Prior to starting law school, I worked to help meet the basic needs of houseless individuals in my community. I have also mentored young adults, started programs at local libraries, and raised awareness about racial and economic justice.

I love doing improv – I helped start the Boalt Improv Group at Berkeley Law last year. I also enjoy throwing dinner parties, spontaneous dancing, and camping.

Sundae eater, band fan girl, Rocky 2.0, political news junky, trivia buff, and food forager?

What do all of these talents have in common?

Well, all of these (somewhat quirky) folks recently joined the OneJustice team!

We sat down with them and asked them to share a little something about themselves, including:

What drew you to OneJustice’s vision, mission, and strategies?
Tell us a bit about your position at OneJustice and what you hope to achieve?
What was your path in coming to OneJustice?
And please tell us something about yourself that not everyone might know.

We think you’ll enjoy hearing their responses below. And we know that you’ll enjoy working with them as they get up and running in their work! Join us in welcoming Ellie Dehghan, Maria Gavaldon, Dania Herrera, Stuart Johnson, Michael Palzes, and Fabiola Quiroz!

Ellie Dehghan, Staff Attorney, Pro Bono Justice

OneJustice’s mission is urgent, pivotal, and deeply personal. In 1975 rural West Texas, a legal aid attorney helped a teenage Mexican immigrant gain access to the education to which she was entitled. That teenager was my mother, and she went on to become the first in her family to graduate from college. Access to legal services produces generational impact, to which my story is a testament.

How attorneys engage in pro bono work is as critical as the number of hours they spend engaged in that work. Through the Pro Bono Justice Consulting program at OneJustice, my hope is to address and enrich the “how” portion of the equation. I will be facilitating the launch of pro bono networks, supporting stronger partnerships across the sector, and creating a space for innovation and creativity as we work to increase access to justice for Californians.

I am adamant about utilizing an equity and inclusion lens no matter what our role may be and no matter the section of the legal space in which we operate. Prior to spending three years building and implementing projects in legal aid, I spent two years as a litigator in BigLaw with a strong commitment to pro bono. Most recently, I expanded Bay Area Legal Aid’s Youth Justice project to San Mateo County, serving youth at risk of homelessness as their holistic civil legal aid attorney. I am particularly fortunate to have helped launch BayLegal’s inaugural Racial Justice Committee, spearheading racial justice and inclusion efforts not only in client advocacy, but within the organization as well.

My sense of humor is most akin to that of my eight-year-old nephew. I enjoy writing creative nonfiction but do not do it nearly enough. I used to be able to finish an entire Black and Tan Sundae at Fenton’s in Oakland – it is huge and delicious.

Maria Gavaldon, DreamSF Fellow, Pro Bono Justice

I was assigned to be at One Justice through my DreamSF Fellowship with OCEIA. I was interested in this fellowship because as a DACA student, I wanted to do more hands on work with the immigrant community. Something I often notice is that we don’t have many minority groups or people with stories like ours giving us legal representation. I hope to be the person with whom our clients feel comfortable when talking about their experiences and to be able to let them know that we are here for each other.

At One Justice, I am mostly in charge of doing outreach and scheduling appointments for Justice Bus Clinics. I also do research on future locations we are going to visit so we can know what organizations to partner up with. During the Justice Bus clinics, I interpret for attorneys and translate our paperwork for clients. What I want to gain from One Justice is knowledge about criminal and immigration law, as well as getting better at translating English legal terminology into Spanish. I hope to one day be one of the few undocumented lawyers the Latino community can relate to and confide their personal stories with.

I am currently enrolled at San Francisco State University starting my third year as a Political Science major. Previously, I was an ASI Project Connect intern at SF State where I did outreach to current and future students from underrepresented communities. I was also involved on campus with our new Food Pantry where we gave groceries exclusively to SFSU students. During the Spring 2017 semester, I received recognition for my community service hours and I hope to eventually have a position in the student board to bring more awareness to the undocumented students on campus.

I am a hardcore fan girl and my friends always make fun of me. When I graduated high school, they would tell me it was time to grow up and get rid of my posters and stop tweeting about bands all the time. I haven’t stopped because there’s so many college girls who are just as obsessed as me so I don’t mind. I’m still waiting for One Direction to come back from hiatus.

Dania Herrera, Program Associate, Pro Bono Justice

OneJustice works to make legal representation accessible to all Californians. In college, I studied Sociology with a special focus on the problems within the legal system that could affect access to legal representation. After learning about OneJustice’s mission and their body of work, I knew OneJustice would be a good fit for me because they do legal accessibility work every day.

I am in charge of legal clinic planning and logistics along with other members of the Pro Bono Legal Clinics Team; my main responsibilities are to make sure our legal clinics run smoothly from beginning to end by helping to recruit volunteer attorneys, interpreter volunteers, and conduct outreach to clients. I hope to identify and fill legal accessibility gaps in California by working with the rest of the OneJustice team.

I previously worked as a legal assistant at different immigration law firms in the city. I also interned for the Kamala Harris for Senate campaign because her campaign platform focused on repairing different accessibility issues in California. I was also able to bridge my love of the law and books by working as a law library clerk at the UC Davis Law School.

I can’t find people like Liam Neeson can, but I sure know how to guess the endings of movies and TV shows. I am also accidentally good at playing soccer. When I exercise, I workout by doing a weird hybrid of running and jumping rope. Rocky can eat his heart out! I am also weirdly good at staying upright on a runaway crowded Muni bus in heels.

Stuart Johnson, Executive & Operations Coordinator

I am passionate about public service and serving the common good. OneJustice’s mission to expand access to the civil legal aid system for all Californians is inspirational to me and motivates me to do my very best every day.

At OneJustice I provide executive support to the CEO and Board of Directors. I am also a member of the Development and Communications team and provide office management support. Most recently I have started building our media relations plan for the year. While at OneJustice, I hope to learn more about nonprofit management and pro bono law.

Most recently, I worked in former California Senator Barbara Boxer’s communications office. I have also worked as a grassroots organizer on a few political campaigns and as an immigration services coordinator at Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Communication with a minor in Economics from The George Washington University.

I really love (unfortunately) consuming an excessive amount of political news, playing adult league baseball, and visiting the Lost Coast!

Michael Palzes, Staff Attorney, Pro Bono Justice

I am concerned that civil legal aid is currently facing unprecedented challenges, and want to do more to help protect access to justice. I think OneJustice’s commitment to building capacity and expanding access to indigent legal services is both exciting and critically necessary. By joining OneJustice I hope I can make the kind of broader systemic impact that is not always possible in direct services legal aid work.

I am taking over primary responsibility for the IMPACT LA project, and spearheading a new immigration pro bono capacity building project with my Pro Bono Justice Team colleagues. In both projects a substantial portion of my focus will be on delivering legal services to low-income survivors of domestic abuse and other forms of severe trauma. I hope to continue the good work of IMPACT LA and build on the successes I have inherited with that project. I further hope to build a long-term sustainable network for providing legal services to immigrant communities that can help people overcome the fear and uncertainty of our current immigration climate.

Before joining OneJustice, I was a staff attorney at Nevada Legal Services in Reno. I coordinated the state’s legal aid program for low-income HIV positive individuals, and before that served as an Equal Justice Works Fellow in criminal justice re-entry and record sealing. In both positions with Nevada Legal Services I focused substantially on providing services to survivors of human trafficking and domestic abuse. Prior to that, I worked at the Montana Department of Justice where my duties included service on that state’s Access to Justice Commission and its Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team.

I am a huge trivia buff, and generally love odd facts and useless information. For the last two years in Reno I co-hosted and wrote the questions for a local pub trivia night. Growing up I played on competitive school-sponsored trivia teams in the National Academic Quiz Tournaments league, and did multiple screen tests for Jeopardy! (though have yet make it on the show). I also love National Parks and historic sites, where I usually spend way too much time reading plaques and collecting new bits of trivia. I’m looking forward to finding a new trivia night as I get more settled into Los Angeles.

Fabiola Quiroz, Program Associate, Pro Bono Justice

As a mentor for the Latino Peer Program at Humboldt State University, I advocated for DACA legal assistance for students and people in our community. Our organizing efforts painted a picture of how limited resources are in rural communities, and the partnership that developed with OneJustice truly made our vision of a DACA legal clinic a reality in Humboldt County. This community organizing effort has led me to be a part of a team that seeks to innovate our current legal aid system.

As one of the Pro Bono Justice Program Associates, I am responsible for managing the Justice Bus Project and Rural Justice Collaborative legal clinics. As an “outsider” organization hoping to help rural communities, I strive to forge strong relationships with organizations in the communities we hope to serve to ensure a better understanding and accessibility to the legal help we provide.

I volunteered at the student-initiated and student-led Youth Educational Services (Y.E.S.) whose mission is to serve local community needs. Within Y.E.S. House, I volunteered with the Homelessness Network which offers assistance to homeless families. Our focus is on educational exposure for the children to nurture their creativity and love of learning. I also volunteered my time to help facilitate the 3rd Annual Resource Fair at the San Francisco County Jail #5. Our hope was to engage participation of organizations that cater to the needs of re-integration and provide the incarcerated men resources upon release. One of the most impacting moments was during a group session inside the jail and hearing incarcerated men give advice to an incarcerated man who was being released in just two days.

I enjoy foraging for food, especially nutritious chicken of the woods mushrooms in Humboldt County!

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Meet our summer law clerks! Part 2

OneJustice welcomes four new summer law clerks in its San Francisco office.

Welcome back! This week, we are welcoming four law clerks to the OneJustice network. Each year, summer law clerks join the team to assist with current projects and apply the skills they’ve learned in law school. Today, we’re excited to introduce you to the other two summer law clerks, Kyle and Chris! Please join us in welcoming them!

Summer Law Clerk Kyle Edgerton will be helping with the new Rural Immigrant Connect project.

Welcome, Kyle! Tell us, what drew you to the work of OneJustice and what will you be responsible for at the organization?

One assumption underlying our adversarial legal system is that both parties make it through the courthouse doors. However, millions of people in California and beyond are prevented from vindicating their rights because of systemic barriers unrelated to the merits of their claims. The challenges of “access to justice” are diverse and dynamic, but OneJustice’s work with a large coalition of legal aid programs positions it to confront those challenges in innovative ways, to develop and workshop solutions, and to disseminate its models so all communities can thrive.

I know the unparalleled satisfaction – and hair-pulling frustration – of direct-service work. Partnering with OneJustice exposes me to a new dimension of legal aid and challenges me to reinvent myself as an agent of social change operating at a different layer of the problem.

I will be part of a team continuing to test and iterate OneJustice’s new Rural Immigrant Connect project, which uses virtual technology to bridge the gap between urban-based pro bono attorneys and the Central Valley youth who need immigration representation. The project is off to an exciting start, and we are working to expand its reach and improve its function.

Thinking big-picture, I want to work with all segments of the legal profession to create – and fulfill – opportunities for pro bono service. A disturbingly small share of California attorneys are currently pitching in to shoulder the heavy burden of legal aid needs, and I want to learn more about the barriers and bottlenecks that create this shortfall so I can help to remove them.

Can’t wait to hear about your upcoming work! What did you do before coming to OneJustice?

I just finished my first year at UC Davis School of Law (King Hall). Before starting law school, I was the Director of the Immigration Assistance Program at Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada for almost five years; That work was engaging, meaningful, and provided a great mix of direct service and some systemic work and advocacy. My journey toward becoming an attorney grew out of my growing recognition of how great the scope of unmet legal need is, and I am excited to mark OneJustice as a waypoint along that path.

We’re excited to be working with you too! And finally, tell us something quirky about you.

My son, Asher, will turn 2 in September 2016. I think I’ll lose major Dad Points if I don’t list him as my number-one hobby. Other recent hobbies include homebrewing, a weekly short story club, and trying to build up a bicycle from scratch. In college, I took the Flag Football course for eight semesters in a row. (Seriously.)

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Summer Law Clerk Chris Gordon will be assisting with the Justice Bus Project.

And now, let’s welcome our last law clerk, Chris! Tell us, what drew you to OneJustice and what will you be doing here during the summer?

I was drawn to OneJustice’s focus on helping Californians in need by connecting rural communities with legal resources. Programs like the Justice Bus Project‘s expungement and housing clinics allow clients and their families to substantially improve their lives. Additionally, OneJustice’s commitment to forming lasting relationships with local organizations and communities is a major reason why I am excited to join this organization.

This summer, I will be working with Pro Bono Justice and the Justice Bus team to provide free legal services to underserved Californians; Groups such as California’s rural Asian Pacific Islander communities who are often not aware of beneficial legal programs or legal steps they may take. I hope to increase the availability of free legal resources within these communities.

Thank you for working on the Justice Bus Project — we look forward to hearing about your work! What did you do before coming to OneJustice?

I finished my first year of law school at the University of Michigan in May. Before attending law school, I volunteered as a teacher for homeless youth in Manila and worked as an educational consultant with students in Beijing.

Sounds like a great abroad experience! Last question: what is something quirky about you?

I attended a Cantonese elementary school here in San Francisco.

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Thank you for joining us, Kyle & Chris — and welcome to the OneJustice network! We’re excited to have you all here this summer!

P.S. Missed our other two law clerks, Grant and Erika? Click here to meet them!

Meet our summer law clerks! Part 1

Join us in welcoming Grant, Erika, Kyle, and Chris to the OneJustice team!

Each summer, we’re excited to have summer law clerks join the OneJustice team. These law clerks will be responsible for assisting with a variety of our Pro Bono Justice projects and will use their skills at mobile legal clinics. Please join us in welcoming the first two summer law clerks, Grant and Erika!

Summer Law Clerk Grant Lehner will be assisting with the Justice Bus Project.

Welcome, Grant! Tell us, what drew you to the work of OneJustice and what will be you be working on?

I was initially drawn to OneJustice because of our desire to bring access to high-quality legal aid to everyone, not just those who can afford it. Justice doesn’t work if it’s only accessible to some. In order for a society to actually work, everyone has to be playing by the same rules, on the same field, and OneJustice’s desire to bring life-changing legal help to those individuals who wouldn’t be able to afford it otherwise helps balance out the scales of justice. This is something I absolutely love.

I’ll be working on the Justice Bus Project, assisting in the organization and implementation of clinics in rural parts of California. These are places where people almost never get to access lawyers, and I am extremely excited to help bring a little assistance into their lives.

Sounds like great work ahead! What were you up to before coming to OneJustice?

I currently go to school at Georgetown University Law Center (GULC), and have worked for a few environmental nonprofits during my gap. At GULC, I’ve helped with the International Migrant’s Bill of Rights, a submission to the United Nation’s High Commission for Refugees. I have also helped folks with Special Immigrant Visas pass through the immigration process as part of the International Refugee Assistance Project.

Wow — both sound like very rewarding experiences! Finally, what’s something quirky about you?

In my spare time, I really enjoy sleeping on the ground in sleeping bags, and walking very long distances with a heavy backpack for no particular reason. I also love to slather rocks with white powder and fall off of them in dramatic fashion. Back in DC, I volunteer at Catalyst Climbing clinics, helping folks with various disabilities get up on the rock and kick some major boulder booty.

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Summer Law Clerk Erika Villaseñor will be helping with Rural Justice Collaborative and the Justice Bus Project.

Thank you, Grant! And welcome, Erika! Why did you choose OneJustice for your summer clerkship? What will you be responsible for at the organization?

I was immediately drawn by OneJustice’s mission to increase access to high-quality legal services for individuals living in rural parts of California. As someone who grew up in the Central Valley, I understand the needs and share experiences with some of the underserved populations OneJustice serves. I am passionate about reforming both our immigration and criminal justice systems, so I look forward to being part of an organization that serves as an innovation lab and is currently working to transform the civil legal aid system.

As a Summer Law Clerk, I will be supporting the Pro Bono Justice Program in Northern California. I will have the opportunity to provide various types of legal assistance to Californians living in rural parts of the state through OneJustice’s Rural Justice Collaborative and the Justice Bus Project. I will be using the skills I learned during my first year of law school and my experiences to help make legal aid services more accessible to underserved and unserved populations.

Great to have you on the team! Tell us, what did you do before coming to OneJustice?

I am currently a rising 2L at University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall). As a first year student, I was involved in the La Raza Workers’ and Tenants’ Rights Clinic at Centro Legal de La Raza in Oakland and the Immigrants’ Rights Student-Initiated Legal Services Projects. Prior to law school, I worked alongside community organizations, a state government representative, and grassroots organizations in Bakersfield.

And, final question: what is something quirky about you?

I love gummies! Sprouts Farmers Market has the best ones — 12 Flavor Gummi Bears.

Thank you so much for joining us this summer — we’re excited to have you aboard!

Paving a path for a just life

OneJustice’s newly appointed Board Chair Jennifer Chaloemtiarana tells us about her work in providing a helping hand to fellow Californians.

This week, we’re honored to introduce you to our recently appointed Chair of our Board of Directors, Jennifer Chaloemtiarana! She currently leads the legal function of Castlight Health as its General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, and has served on our Board of Directors for over 5 years. Thanks to our Board’s guidance, the OneJustice network is able to continue bringing help, hope, and justice to Californians in need.

We asked Jennifer to share with us a little bit about her new role and why equal access to justice is so important to her. Please join us in welcoming Jennifer!

Jennifer Chaloemtiarana, OneJustice Board of Directors Chair.

Welcome, Jennifer! Tell us about how you became involved with OneJustice? What is your role as the new Board Chair?

I have always been involved in social service in some manner, including full time summer jobs in nonprofits serving low-income individuals all throughout college and then significant levels of volunteering as I entered the workforce. As a lawyer, I kept this connection through active pro bono work supported by the law firm I worked for. When I went in-house, pro bono work became harder to incorporate into my work life. I had become familiar with the work that OneJustice does through colleagues and friends, and the approach and business model of the organization really appealed to me. I attended several Opening Doors to Justice events before engaging with Julia Wilson, the CEO, about coming onto the Board. It was just the right fit at just the right time.

I have been so pleased to be on the Board with so many smart, motivated people. I just completed a term as a member of the Governance & Nominating Committee and then moved into the Board Chair role. At a high level, my role as chair is two-fold. One function is to lead the Board in making sure that the organization’s actions are in line with its mission and that the organization is appropriately managing the assets to which it is entrusted. Secondly, my role is to provide resources and assistance to management. Are there tools, skills, or knowledge that they might need that the Board can provide? How can the Board be an extension of staff in promoting the goals of the organization? There are a lot of sub-parts to each of those primary functions, and fortunately, OneJustice has a very engaged Board and skilled staff that make the work seem easy.

Thank you for all of your hard work and support, Jennifer! We look forward to working with you as our Board Chair! Can you now tell us why you support OneJustice?

The level of unmet need for legal resources and access to justice in the state of California is overwhelming. There is only 1 lawyer for every 351 low-income persons in the state, and only 100 legal aid organizations in California. There is just no way for all of the needed legal services to be provided. OneJustice does so many things to fill in those gaps, including linking law firms and law students to legal aid organizations which expands their reach without stretching their limited resources, providing training and tools so that the organizations can do more with less, and serving as a center for innovation and ideas to move the entire legal aid industry forward to do more, better, and faster. The unique set of strategic services that OneJustice provides really appeals to me as a business lawyer. And the “prize” is really worth going for: if we could level out the playing field for the 8 million low-income individuals in California, think about how the quality of life for our entire state would be lifted!

We couldn’t agree more! Every individual should have access to legal help. Finally, what does justice mean to you? Why is equal access to justice so important?

One of my favorite quotes comes from Cornel West: “Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” We have all experienced it, that moment where we put aside our own troubles, challenges, and prejudices and reached out to another person, whether friend or stranger, offering our hand for no other reason than simply being available when help was needed. To me, justice is what happens in that moment, when we recognize that we are all equally worthy of a chance to simply live a satisfied life. Legal barriers can be especially daunting and can compound other challenges that low-income individuals may be facing. Lawyers are uniquely equipped to help remove those barriers; we can pave that path to a satisfied life. It is our honor, opportunity, and responsibility to provide a helping hand to fellow Californians.

Category Archives: Meet the OneJustice Team