“I am deeply, deeply grateful to PAIR for allowing me to do what I do, and I am most grateful to the Access to Justice Fellows Program for giving me this springboard to truly use my law degree for good.”
– Irene Freidel, Detention Program Manager, PAIR; 2017-18 Fellow
“Recognize the ripple effects that come from this work and the lives that are being changed. It really is extraordinary to think about the power of this group of nearly 200 people.”
– Marijane Benner Browne, Co-Chair, MA Access to Justice Commission
On June 12 we gathered with Fellows, Partners, supporters, and friends to celebrate the 2023-2024 Access to Justice Fellows! Thank you to everyone who joined us and to our wonderful speakers:
2017-18 Fellow Irene Freidel, Detention Program Manager and staff attorney at PAIR, who spoke about how her Fellowship with PAIR inspired her to come out of retirement and pursue a rewarding new career path in immigration law.
2023-24 Fellow Vivie Hengst, who reflected on her past year as a Fellow helping coordinate PAIR Project’s Know Your Rights trainings for asylum seekers, detained immigrants, and other people involved with the US immigration system.
Access to Justice Commission Co-Chair Marijane Benner Browne, who provided a heartfelt tribute to longtime commissioner and access to justice champion Mary K. Ryan and gave an overview of the commission’s recent work on racial equity, lawyer for the day programs, and a civil legal aid directory to connect legal services organizations with potential funders.
Want to become a Fellow or host one at your organization? We’re still recruiting for the 2024-25 A2J Fellows class scheduled to start in September! Learn more.
