Belmont Law student Emily Borbon has been selected for the prestigious 2022 Rural Summer Legal Corps Fellowship. She is one of 40 law students selected from 333 applications to serve in the program.
Each summer, Equal Justice Works partners with Legal Services Corporation (LSC) to support law students who want to give back to rural communities. Program participants spend eight to 10 weeks during the summer exploring a career in civil legal aid, by providing direct legal services and building capacity at the organizations where they serve.
Hosted by Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Borbon will provide direct legal services and outreach and community education to underserved populations in the Wichita Falls, Texas area.
“This summer I am working on some housing issues including evictions,” she said via email, “but my focus is on a holistic approach to economic stability. This will likely include evictions, property disputes, wills and estates, benefits, and bankruptcy law.”
Borbon says this fellowship was at the top of her list. She is eager to learn more about how Legal Aid ensures that low-income clients have equal access to justice. “Wichita Falls was my top choice of placement because I grew up in a similar rural community in Texas,” she said.
Brooke Meckler, director of law school engagement and advocacy at Equal Justice Works, says housing instability can have long-lasting and devastating effects. “We are honored to have Emily join our Rural Summer Legal Corps where she will have the opportunity to work alongside attorneys at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas to address barriers to stable housing.”
Following the completion of 300 hours of service in the program, participants earn a $5,000 stipend. You can find additional information about the program here.
