At FILS, I was lucky to have many opportunities to explore my interests and expand my outlook by focusing on prisoners, a group that society so often forgets about and sometimes purposely ignores.  When asked, by family or classmates, what benefit I saw to society by “defending convicts and criminals,” I used their criticism as an opportunity to inform them about a few of the major problems faced by inmates. I made sure to stress that it may be prudent to rethink our beliefs about judging people’s worth as human beings based on one mistake or lapse in judgment.

Meeting prisoners and attempting to help them with their problems (including allegations of overcrowded conditions, prolonged solitary confinement over minor disciplinary infractions, problems with prison officials, fights with other prisoners, and lack of basic, necessary medical care to name a few) was a powerful balancing force on my conscience and a constant reminder to stop making assumptions about people based on the crimes for which they were convicted.  During my time working at FILS, I had the opportunity to interview several inmates and travel across the state to visit them at their institutions.  The exposure to the inmates, our clients, in the prison environment offered a clearer understanding of the bigger picture and the subtleties of prison society.  I quickly came to the realization that the prison walls encased a completely alternate reality from the one I was accustomed to.

I was able to help with current litigation by performing legal research on varied topics. A few research subjects involved complex federal legislation like the Prison Litigation Reform Act; Section 1983 Claims against state officials; Bivens actions against federal officials; and the Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (which severely limits inmates’ Constitutional claims against prison officials via habeas corpus petition).  I got to apply what I learned in Constitutional Law and Federal Courts classes, combining the real-world approach to bring perspective to issues covered in law school classes.

I’m extremely thankful for the experience I gained during my time at FILS and the mentorship of the firm’s attorneys and staff.   My fellowship cemented my commitment to practice public interest law at the first possible opportunity upon graduation.  Eventually, I want to start my own non-profit organization that provides a one-stop-shop for legal, medical/mental health, substance abuse and social work services of poverty-stricken Americans.  My time at FILS gave me a first-hand glimpse at the workings of race, class and gender divisions among incarcerated populations. It also was important to expand my view on the effects that one person’s incarceration has on those around them – loved ones, job prospects and friends — as well.

Nicole Safker is a 2011-12 Public Interest Law Fellow.  The Public Interest Law Fellowship Program is funded by the Florida Bar Foundation to promote public interest law, and offered at the Levin College of Law by the Center for Governmental Responsibility.

“SLC is a small firm with a big impact,” said supervising attorney Kirsten Clanton on my very first day at Southern Legal Counsel, Inc. (SLC).  The idea that litigation can be used as a vehicle to directly change legislation, policies, and practices, also known as “impact litigation,” for the benefit of those who would otherwise not have a voice in our legal system was always something I had in mind in deciding to pursue a law degree.  The Florida Bar Foundation Public Interest Law Fellowship gave me the opportunity to do this first-hand as a law student, alongside passionate and committed attorneys at SLC.

In my time at SLC, I have had the unique opportunity to work on a variety of systemic issues, including the constitutional adequacy of Florida’s education system; Section 1983 civil rights claims involving the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments; special education in public schools; affordable housing; and constitutional and tort claims on behalf of homeless people.

One of the many things my experience at SLC has taught me is that our laws should be designed to uphold the dignity of everyone in our society, regardless of socioeconomics, housing status, disability, etc.  The attorneys at SLC operate under the philosophy that regardless of ability to pay, everyone deserves access to our justice system and the benefit of high-quality legal representation.

Even if I will not work exclusively as a public interest lawyer in the future, this Fellowship has taught me the importance of carving out space in my legal career for public interest and pro bono work.  Incorporating pro bono work into any legal career was also the theme of the recent event co-fellows Nicole Safker, Yvette Wiltshire and I planned at the law school.  In March, Justice Fred Lewis of the Florida Supreme Court visited to talk about his “Justice Teaching” program, through which attorneys from varied practice areas volunteer to educate children about our justice system.

I would greatly encourage any law student reading this to get involved with public interest and pro bono opportunities while in school, and carry that commitment to equalizing access to our justice system into practice, regardless of the practice area.

Dominique McPherson is a 2011-12 Public Interest Law Fellow.  The Public Interest Law Fellowship Program is funded by the Florida Bar Foundation to promote public interest law, and offered at the Levin College of Law by the Center for Governmental Responsibility.

• Dominique McPherson
• Nicole Safker
• Yvette Ceandreas Wiltshire

• George Eppsteiner
• Camila Pachon
• Amber Seay
• Olga Shraybman
• Kimberly Thomas
• Melissa Welsh