The Klau Center for Civil and Human Rights has announced its 2019 Summer Fellowships for students working in public interest organizations that promote civil or human rights, and/or the enforcement of federal rights on behalf of underrepresented minorities. Three fellows have been chosen to receive funding for summer 2019.
Sarah Karchunas, a second-year student at Notre Dame Law School, will serve as a Legal Intern at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), in Appellate Litigation Services. Ms. Karchunas will assist appellate attorneys in cases involving employment discrimination through research, drafting of legal memoranda, and reviewing court records. She will also craft legal arguments to be used in amicus briefs on behalf of the EEOC.
Ms. Karchunas has focused much of her public service on underrepresented and marginalized communities, working with the homeless and low-income immigrant populations. "These experiences have opened my eyes to the societal effects of discrimination," she says. "The intersection of the dignity of every human being and the right to work free of discrimination will be what I dedicate my time to at the EEOC."
Chen Kuang, a first-year student at Notre Dame Law School, will intern with the Civil Practice of the Legal Aid Society of New York City, placed with the Family Law/Domestic Violence unit. There Mr. Kuang will focus on immigration issues, assisting attorneys to defend the legal rights of victims of domestic violence and human trafficking. His duties will include research on current immigration policy and drafting of affidavits. "This internship will allow me to contribute to the ongoing discourse of holistic human flourishing in an increasingly fragmented world," Mr. Kuang explains. "We tend to ignore the fact that a huge number of victims of domestic violence or human trafficking are immigrants trapped in abusive relations."
Mr. Kuang's fellowship is made possible through the generous support of the Pasquale Family Endowment for Excellence.
Klau Center Summer Fellows receive funding to assist with travel and living expenses, and upon their return to campus, share their experiences with the wider law school community. Previous Klau Center Summer Fellowship recipients can be seen here.