2026

SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 27, 2026—Santa Clara University School of Law has selected Ha Neul “Trinity” Chung, '27 as the inaugural recipient of the newly established Manaster-Stevens Public Interest Fellowship, awarded to one student annually to support their summer work in the public interest.

The Manaster-Stevens Public Interest Fellowship is one of several offered through the national Justice John Paul Stevens Fellowship Program. The program was created in honor of Justice John Paul Stevens, who served as an Associate Justice on the Supreme Court of the United States from 1975-2010, and provides professional development opportunities and financial support through public interest summer internships. Seventy-four percent of participants go on to work in public interest legal positions.

Chung is a 2L Public Interest J.D. Candidate, focusing her studies on land use law, environmental protection law, and administrative law. In addition to her studies, Chung has held leadership positions across various student organizations. She is an incoming Co-President of the Environmental Law Society and the 2L Representative for the Korean American Law Student Association. Chung also co-led Santa Clara Law’s inaugural participation at the 2026 California Water Law Symposium as a Panel Chair. 

“I am beyond thrilled and grateful to be the inaugural Manaster-Stevens Fellow. As a first-generation law student and daughter of immigrants, commitment to public interest work can be difficult financially. However, this Fellowship affirms my commitment to public interest legal work, especially in the field of environmental protection law. I am excited to intern this summer at Santa Clara County's Office of the County Counsel, in the Environment and Land Use team, and this stipend will definitely fuel me to better serve my community,” said Chung. 

Chung has previously interned at Tri-Valley Communities Against a Radioactive Environment, a nonprofit organization fighting against nuclear weapons development, and the nonprofit law firm, Public Advocates, working on tenant protections and general housing law. She holds an undergraduate degree in Sustainable Environmental Design and a minor in City Planning from University of California, Berkeley's College of Environmental Design.

Named after Professor Emeritus Kenneth Manaster, the Manaster-Stevens Public Interest Fellowship focuses on environmental, gun control, and voting rights law. It was created by Skip Paul, J.D. '75, who served as a law clerk for Justice Stevens and helped establish the Stevens Foundation and Fellowship Program, to recognize Manaster's decades of work in creating and scaling the program nationwide and in recognition of his long and close friendship with Justice Stevens. 

Manaster taught environmental law, administrative law, and torts at Santa Clara Law from 1972 to 2021. In 1969, he worked with then-attorney Stevens on a historic investigation of corruption in the Illinois Supreme Court.

“I am honored and grateful that Skip Paul has generously created this Fellowship. As the first recipient, Trinity Chung is remarkably well-qualified and deserving. It is particularly gratifying to me that she is committed to working in environmental protection law,” said Manaster.

The Stevens Fellowship Program is one of several hands-on learning opportunities available to students at Santa Clara Law, supporting the school’s mission to foster commitment to social justice and public service through the practice of law.

About Santa Clara University School of Law

Santa Clara University School of Law is dedicated to educating lawyers who lead with a commitment to excellence, ethics, and social justice. Santa Clara Law offers students an academically rigorous program including certificates in high tech, international, public interest and social justice, privacy, and sports law, as well as numerous graduate and joint degree options. Located in the heart of Silicon Valley, Santa Clara Law is nationally distinguished for its faculty engagement, preparation for practice, and top-ranked programs in intellectual property and international law. For more information, see law.scu.edu.

Media Contact

Pamela Nonga Ngue | Santa Clara Law Marketing & Communications | pnongangue@scu.edu | 408-551-1763