Justice for All Summer Clerks are law students funded by the Foundation to expand opportunities to work in civil legal services.
2024 Clerks
Vinny Boraggina
Host: Legal Aid of Western Ohio
Law School: University of Toledo College of Law
Q: What has been one of the most impactful things you’ve learned in law school so far?
A: One of the most impactful things I have learned in law school so far is time management. Although this is not something they teach us in the classroom, I believe that it is crucial to being successful in law school.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in this upcoming year of law school?
A: This upcoming year of law school I am most looking forward to working on Board 56 of the University of Toledo Law Review.
Q: What are you most excited about clerking with legal aid this summer?
A: The thing I am most excited about clerking with legal aid this summer is working with the clients. I want to aid the people who truly need help, and that is what legal aid strives to do each day.
Q: What is your favorite TV show or movie?
A: My favorite TV show has to be The Office.
Q: If you could only eat one dish for every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A: If I could only eat one dish for every meal for the rest of my life, it would be chicken and rice as I eat it for lunch every day and am never tired of it.
Q: Do you like cities or rural areas better?
A: If I had to pick city areas or rural areas, I would pick cities as downtown Chicago is one of my favorite locations.
Santiago Garcia-Mata
Host: Legal Aid of Southeast and Central Ohio
Law School: OSU Moritz College of Law
Q: What are you most looking forward to in your summer clerkship?
A: This summer I am looking forward to learning more about housing law, and doing the most I can to help our clients undergoing eviction. I’m particularly excited about getting to use my new legal intern’s license and to gain experience with clients.
Q: How do you hope this experience will shape your career goals in law?
A: I hope that this experience will teach me more about being a public interest attorney, and that it will connect me with the network of people doing public interest work in Ohio.
Q: What is at the top of your bucket list?
A: Getting to visit to every continent is at the top of my bucket list. I love travelling, and there’s many places I really want to visit, especially in South America.
Q: How would your friends describe you?
A: My friends would describe me as outgoing, compassionate, caring, and maybe a little bit stubborn.
Michelle Hampton
Host: Pro Seniors
Law School: University of Cincinnati College of Law
Q: Describe your journey to law school. What got you interested in becoming an attorney?
A: I was always interested in pursuing the law. But I wanted to make sure that I was willing to make such a commitment – both personally and financially. I decided to begin navigating the legal field from a paralegal role and perspective and I loved it. And frankly, I was good at it. I then decided to take my legal experience a step further and work to obtain my Juris Doctor.
Q: What’s one goal you have before finishing out law school?
A: Before I graduate from law school, I hope to have found a fun and interesting hobby and picked up few healthy habits along the way!
Q: If you could choose any one superpower, what would you pick and why?
A: Hmmm … tough choice between being able to read my dog’s mind and being able to fly. Although, I am terrified of heights.
Q: What does a perfect day look like for you?
A: Crisp, slightly chilly, fall day. The windows opened just enough to smell the pine trees and neighboring bonfires. With the leaves in the trees appearing to be a mixture of dark reds, orange, brown, and yellow. Snuggled up on the couch with my dog, Cooper, and surrounded by friends and family. Eating tons of good tailgate football and comfort food and watching the Cincinnati Bengals effortlessly add another “W” to the win column in the battle of Ohio against the Cleveland Browns.
Aubrianna Jones
Host: Equality Ohio
Law School: Capital University Law School
Q: What drove you to spend your summer doing public interest work with Equality Ohio?
Public interest is something that I have always been interested in being a part of. Service is a big part of my life and it is exactly how I would like to spend my summer working towards bettering myself towards my legal career.
Q: What is one major goal you’d like to accomplish before finishing law school?
I would like to organize a legal service project for the community that my law school peers can participate in that would uplift everyone involved.
Q: What is your favorite quote?
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ― Maya Angelou
Q: What is your favorite book?
Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
Q: If you could only eat one dish for every meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A really good reuben sandwich!
Maya Kapur
Host: The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland
Law School: Case Western Reserve University School of Law
Q: Describe your path to law school. What got you interested in becoming an attorney?
A: I have always been passionate about advocacy. Throughout college, I explored avenues in which I could use that passion to help people. I knew that when I graduated, I wanted to use my education to fight for justice. I decided to go to law school so I could gain skills that would help me defend and protect the rights we are entitled to as Americans and as members of humanity.
Q: What area of law interests you the most?
A: I am most interested in constitutional law and litigation, specifically First Amendment Law and Civil Rights Law.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming year?
A: I am looking forward to working in the First Amendment Clinic at CWRU Law. I can’t wait to get litigation experience in an area I am passionate about!
Q: What’s your favorite book?
A: Beloved by Toni Morrison.
Q: Are you an early bird or a night owl?
A: Definitely a night owl!
Q: What’s your favorite thing about living in Cleveland?
A: It’s a tie between the pasta at Valerio’s in Little Italy and seeing Guardians games with friends!
Lauren Wall
Host: Advocates for Basic Legal Equality
Law School: University of Toledo College of Law
Q: Describe your journey to law school. What got you interested in becoming an attorney?
A: I graduated from the Ohio State University in 2019 with my bachelor’s degree in psychology. After I graduated, I had no idea what I wanted to do, but I knew I wanted to help people and make a difference. I started working for the Lucas County Department of Job and Family Services where I determined eligibility for government benefits such as Medicaid, SNAP (food assistance), and TANF (cash assistance) and became very familiar with the state hearing appeals process. After working for almost 2 years, I decided I wanted to go back to school and make a bigger difference for my community. While a lot of recent social welfare reform has made great strides for people in need, there is still much more work to be done. I chose to go to law school to be at the source of change, ensuring that this work is done and securing a future for the next generations.
Q: What are you most looking forward to in your summer at ABLE?
A: I’m looking forward to getting first-hand experience at a law firm, observing court proceedings, and learning about legal advocacy.
Q: Aside from necessities, what one thing could you not go a day without?
A: Diet Coke
Q: If you could meet anyone in the world, living or dead, who would it be?
A: The inventor of Diet Coke
Q: Do you have any fun hobbies?
A: In my free time, I love to play volleyball, make music, draw, and spend time with my furry family.
Kanisha West-Thomas
Host: LegalWorks
Law School: Cleveland State University College of Law
Q: What drove you to spend your summer doing public interest work at LegalWorks?
A: I grew up in Cleveland and I love my community. So many people I grew up around, friends, family, and associates, have had some sort of run-in with the legal system and have needed the help of an attorney. I love the fact that I can assist those attorneys who are lending themselves to the community that raised me.
Q: Which area of law do you find yourself most interested in?
A: I am currently most interested in Family and Juvenile law. I had a career before law school in the social work field and have also advocated for former foster kids in Congress, so issues surrounding juveniles will always have a special place in my heart. My interest in Family law surprised me because I was not expecting to genuinely love learning the ORCs and reading the case law associated with family law.
Q: How do you hope this experience will shape your career goals in law?
A: I know this experience will continue to foster the idea that lending yourself to your community, regardless of the heights you achieve in your law career, should always be a main priority. That we should remember everyone deserves comprehensive legal representation, regardless of their economic standing.
Q: What song would you say best sums you up?
A: Anti-Hero by Aliah Sheffield
Q: What is your favorite season?
A: I cannot pick a favorite season because I love them for different reasons and despise them all whenever they inconvenience me in my everyday life.
Q: Are you a coffee or tea person?
A: Cold coffee, hot tea.