Cindy Avitia Immigration Justice Summer Fellowship Program

The La Raza Lawyers of Santa Clara County Charitable Foundation (Foundation) and the Katharine & George Alexander Community Law Center (Law Center) are pleased to announce the 2024 Cindy Avitia Immigration Justice Summer Fellowship. The recipient will receive a $10,000  grant from the Foundation to work full-time for approximately 8-10 weeks at the Law Center.

The Foundation and the Law Center seek a Santa Clara University Law School first or second year continuing student who has a demonstrated commitment to:

  • The legal equality of underserved communities as evidenced by community/extra-curricular activities advancing social, economic, and legal equality of Latinos, immigrants, or other communities of color; and
  • Promoting diversity in the legal field, such as through membership in a relevant bar association or law school affinity group.

The goal of the 2024 Fellowship is to provide and expand legal assistance, education, and outreach for immigrant communities. The Fellow will be housed at the Law Center. The Fellow’s duties will include development and dissemination of educational literature, legal research, community presentations and policy advocacy, development and coordination of a pro bono program to assist with immigration cases, and participation in outreach efforts that benefit immigrant communities.  The Fellow will staff the weekly Consumer Debt Clinic housed at the Santa Clara County Superior Court, and develop outreach tools specifically for immigrants. Additionally, the Fellow may work on immigration cases including but not limited to assistance and orientation regarding T-Visas, U-Visas, acquired citizenship, political asylum, deferred action for childhood arrivals, and various aspects of citizenship matters. The Fellow will work in collaboration with existing networks and community-based organizations serving immigrant populations.

Applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements:

  • Applicants must have completed an introductory course through the Law Center or have equivalent experience working with immigrant communities.
  • Applicants must demonstrate a financial need.
  • Applicants must be available to attend Santa Clara County La Raza Lawyers Association Annual Scholarship Banquet, typically scheduled in Oct/Nov (date to be announced).

The application deadline is March 31, 2024;  interviews conducted on a rolling basis. 

APPLICATION CHECKLIST

Email the following to Dianne Blakely, dblakely@scu.edu by March 31, 2024

  • RESUME
  • PERSONAL STATEMENT – Please address ALL of the following questions in your Personal Statement. We encourage you to describe your personal and family background, extracurricular & service activities, and connections and contributions to the Latino/a community. Maximum TWO (2) pages, 12-point font, double-spaced.
    1. Tell us about yourself. Describe any hardships you have overcome.
    2. Why would you like to work at the Law Center this summer?
    3. Please describe the work you did when enrolled in a course through the Law Center and any relevant work experience on immigration law matters. If you did not take a course at the Law Center, please list your equivalent course work or experience.
    4. What community activities have you participated in thus far to advance the social, economic and legal equality for Latinos or other communities of color?
    5. What are your post-graduation plans?
  • FINANCIAL INFORMATION – Please respond to the following:
    1. How much do you expect to owe in student loans upon completion of law school?
    2. Please list your total monthly income, including any income of other persons who significantly assist in your support.
    3. Please list your total monthly expenses.
    4. Any special financial circumstances or other comments you’d like to share about your finances?
  • REFERENCES – Please submit:
    Please submit the name, email, telephone and relationship for at least two references.
    Optional: Two letters of recommendation from non-relatives encouraged but not required.

For information about the organizations visit law.scu.edu/kgaclc and www.larazafoundation.org

Email application materials to Dianne Blakely, dblakely@scu.edu by March 31, 2024.