What drew you to public interest law?
I was drawn to public interest law because it is very people-focused. Specifically, it is focused on the needs of people who would otherwise be shut out from accessing the justice system.
Additionally, growing up here in LA County in the Compton, Watts, and Long Beach areas, I saw the need that my friends and neighbors had; when I decided to attend law school, I knew I wanted to come back to my community and use all of the knowledge and experiences I gained to educate and better my community on their rights under the law — and to advocate for them when those rights are infringed upon.
What are some of your proudest moments at LAFLA so far?
Some of my proudest moments at LAFLA have been watching the changes that have occurred in my clients’ lives. Much of my work here at LAFLA over the last four years has been focused on removing barriers for individuals with criminal justice involvement.
Generally, when I meet my clients for the first time and we discuss their criminal records, they are embarrassed and hopeless. Often, they have heard from someone else that there is no hope for them and that they will be stuck due to their record. When they meet with me and discuss all their options, they are surprised and sometimes skeptical.
Seeing the change in their attitude and the restoration of their confidence as each case is dismissed, and as they can get the jobs and licenses that they thought they could never get, makes me proud of my work and proud to work for LAFLA. It is the fuel I use to make it through the tougher days.
What are your goals and hopes for your new role?
In this role, I hope to continue to develop our team’s development in our areas of expertise and expand the work that we do with Veterans to areas of LA County where we have yet to reach.
Additionally, I want to focus our work on the racial equity issues that plague the Veteran population and ensure that service members of color are advocated for adequately.