The Equal Justice Works Fellowship program creates opportunities for lawyers to ensure equal access to justice and address unmet legal needs among underserved populations across the country. Every year, the program selects a class of young public service leaders who have designed two-year projects in partnership with legal services organizations. Kramer Levin is proud to have sponsored Equal Justice Works Fellows since 1998 whose projects have brought access to critical legal services to our communities.

Our 2020 Fellow, Courtney Yaddo, worked with New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) to advocate for students with disabilities. Her achievements include launching a Turning 5 helpline to provide families with resources and support for kindergarten admissions and the individualized education program (IEP) process, representing families at Turning 5 IEP meetings and administrative hearings, and negotiating settlements with the Department of Education on behalf of families. Courtney continues to advocate for students with disabilities as a staff attorney in the Special Education Unit at the NYLAG.

Maria Garcia-Syngros, our 2022 Fellow, is working at the NYLAG, representing and advising low-income immigrant women and children placed in time-restricted proceedings in Immigration Court while pursuing impact litigation to ensure systemic failings in these proceedings are addressed. 

We congratulate our Fellows on their achievements to date and look forward to seeing the impact they continue to make.