During my second year of law school at Santa Clara University, I found myself enrolled in several different social justice courses. Though I knew I wanted to pursue a career in public interest, I was still unsure of what my specific focus would be - I had little experience in public interest legal work as compared to my peers, so I wasn't particularly confident in my abilities.
Luckily, I was fortunate enough to learn about The Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County through the wonderful Eric Wright, my professor and a friend of the late Carl L. McConnell. Professor Wright recounted his time at LASSMC with high regard and recommended the McConnell Fellowship, describing it as a fantastic opportunity for students like myself to explore the legal aspects of public interest work, while actively helping underrepresented individuals with limited resources. I quickly jumped on the opportunity, and was ecstatic to hear that I had been selected for the 2022 McConnell Fellowship
Leading up to that summer, I was excited, but still nervous: I was to work with Legal Aid's Health Consumer Center, but had zero experience in the healthcare field. However, upon beginning the fellowship, my fears immediately dissipated. The HCC team was nothing but supportive and understanding - they patiently explained to me the nuances of the healthcare system, provided me with educational resources, and gave me constructive feedback. LASSMC was nothing like the intimidating, stressful work environment I'd imagined, and I quickly felt comfortable and accepted by the team.
During the fellowship, my eyes were opened to the pervasive and complex issues embedded in our healthcare system, especially aggravated by the COVID public health emergency. Not only did I get to observe the inner functions of healthcare advocacy and policy, I also was able to contribute myself. Amira, Camille and Jules helped me fashion a project focused on the financial assistance practices of local non-profit hospitals, where my research uncovered a pattern of improper charity care denials and other such disparities in health equity. Even more rewarding was my experience working directly to help clients unfairly deprived of their healthcare benefits. Assisting Camille, I was able to research and draft an argument reclaiming benefits for an immigrant couple who had been wrongfully denied Medi-Cal coverage.
Though my summer fellowship has since concluded, I can describe my time with the Health Consumer Center as nothing short of exemplary. LASSMC is home to an inclusive, invigorating environment led by those truly passionate about repairing a flawed system. The experience gave me fascinating insights into public interest legal work, all while molding me into a more confident, capable ally to the underserved of our community. It's a point of pride to have been a part of Legal Aid's invaluable work, and with deep gratitude, I look forward to carrying on their mission through endeavors to come.