Equal Justice Works Fellowships
The McDermott Will & Emery Charitable Foundation is currently sponsoring three Equal Justice Works fellows. To augment and support McDermott's Kids First Program, the fellowships focus on children’s issues regarding special education, a cornerstone of the program. During the two-year fellowships, the fellows have the opportunity to work with McDermott lawyers.
Equal Justice Works is a national organization dedicated to creating partnerships among public interest lawyers, nonprofit organizations, law firm/corporate sponsors and other donors to afford under-represented populations access to justice. The Equal Justice Works Fellowships program places new lawyers in two-year assignments at nonprofit, public interest organizations where they implement projects to meet community needs. Equal Justice Works Fellows have undertaken projects to address a myriad of social challenges, such as affordable housing, environmental degradation, domestic violence, rights of the elderly and many others. For more information, visit www.equaljusticeworks.org/.
2005 McDermott Fellows
Kimberly Baker, University of Southern California School of Law
Protection & Advocacy Incorporated (Los Angeles, CA)
During her fellowship, Ms. Baker will represent African American and Latino children in LosAngeles County in accessing special education services, and mental and physical health care. She willwork with community group homes and conduct outreach to older children with special education needs who often enter into the juvenile delinquency system. Ms. Baker will also conduct culturally-sensitive community outreach training on the rights and entitlements of the disabled.
Yael Zakai, Stanford Law School
The Children's Law Center, Inc. (Washington, D.C.)
Ms. Zakai will help children with disabilities, specifically children with mental health needs, to access appropriate special education services. Her project will involve direct representation, parent education and the training of pro bono attorneys.
2006 McDermott Fellow
Lori Turner, The Ohio State University Michael E. Moritz College of Law
Roger Baldwin Foundation of ACLU of Illinois
Ms. Turner's project, to begin in the summer of 2006, is focused on the identification and implementation of strategies to assure that children in the foster care system in Illinois have access to an adequate and stable education and receive the mental health care services they need.
