Reflections From a Summer Justice Fellow
This fall, I will begin my final year at the University of Kansas School of Law. Before returning to classes, I spent my break with Kansas Appleseed as a Summer Justice Fellow working on their impact litigation. This experience helped me to connect my legal education with my interest and experience in public policy and advocacy.
I was drawn to Kansas Appleseed because I missed working directly on issues that affect people’s everyday lives. During undergrad, I worked in legislative advocacy on issues such as public university policy and youth tobacco use prevention. During these advocacy experiences I gained a passion for working towards positive change. The communities that I have been a part of significantly impacted my love for this work, and this fellowship offered an opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in law school to real-world projects grounded in equity and justice.
Over the course of the summer, I have had the chance to contribute to multiple initiatives at Kansas Appleseed. One major area of focus this summer has been voting rights and combatting attempts at voter suppression. Kansas Appleseed is currently engaged in litigation that challenges policies threatening to restrict access to the ballot. I assisted in research related to these efforts, which included examining statutes from different states to compare voter protections.
Another project I have been involved in is Kansas Appleseed’s work to implement a statewide court text reminder system. With support from a recent grant, the organization is exploring how technology can be used to reduce failure to appear rates in court. Failure to appear is an issue that, if addressed, could significantly decrease the number of warrants issued and reduce the use of cash bail for missing court. It was exciting to be involved in this project in its early stages, and am eager to see how the initiative will impact Kansans in the coming years.
Working alongside the team at Kansas Appleseed was a highlight of my summer. Their commitment to advancing justice, equity, and opportunity across all parts of the state is very motivating. I’ve learned a lot from watching their approach to policy advocacy, collaboration, and work that is centered on community values. I’m proud to have played a part in their work this summer.
As I look ahead to my final year of law school and beyond, this experience has reaffirmed my commitment to using the law as a tool to advocate for the policies I believe in. To future fellows, my advice is simple: bring your curiosity, your skills, and your commitment to bettering Kansas. You will be in excellent company!
