Fellow Profile: Marsha Perez

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Dear TLF Donors,

My summer internships in Illinois and Texas were profound. Aside from basking in the perfect weather of a Chicago summer, I led hearings before the bench, attended numerous mediations, completed rigorous child protection trainings, and represented the most worthy clients a lawyer could have: kids. Because of your assistance, I was also able to return to Texas to practice family law and experience what a non-profit organization career is like at Texas Advocacy Project.

To serve in Chicago, where the crime rates and buildings are sky high, was life changing. In 1899, the nation established its first juvenile court in Chicago, making the city an ideal frontier in which to delve into juvenile law and child protection. My clerkship with the Office of the Cook County Public Guardian surpassed every expectation I had.

I continued the endeavors I described to you in my last letter (analyzing evidence for trial, observing mediations, and preparing witnesses to testify), then obtained my Illinois Supreme Court Rule 711 Temporary License, which opened the door for my first litigation experiences. At the conclusion of 300 hours of service, I conducted seven permanency hearings representing clients adjudged wards of the state as their attorney and guardian ad litem. The unique dual role of attorney and guardian ad litem was a novel experience for me in client relations and professional responsibility. The seasoned attorney staff at the Public Guardian’s Office maintained an excellent system of evaluating the progress of law clerks and providing constructive feedback. The mentorship of the six lawyers on my assigned Calendar (or docket) helped mold my trial practice by providing honest critiques for improvement, and celebrating my achievements.

Moreover, I completed formal trainings on sensitive issues such as the effective prevention and intervention of bullying; bone fracture investigation and differentiating abusive injuries from accidental ones; emancipation planning; and a panel on restorative justice. Perhaps most rewarding, I independently conducted two interviews of our child clients in the comfort of their homes located in the widely avoided area of south side Chicago. The joy of meeting and advocating in the best interest of a child in need is far unmatched.

It is true that without your contribution, I never would have spent the summer affecting the lives of youth in the system and finding my forte in the legal field. I have applied and shared my experience at the Public Guardian’s Office every day since I began the fall semester of my last year of law school. It is my continued intention to apply this experience to advancing juvenile justice and child protection policy in Texas for the rest of my legal career.

The second portion of the summer I returned home to Texas and assisted Texas Advocacy Project in providing free legal services statewide to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. I completed 100 hours of pro bono work at Texas Advocacy Project and experienced the workings of a non-profit organization. My supervising attorneys assigned me projects bearing much responsibility, such as screening prospective clients to the organization’s legal hotline, and handling an assisted pro se protective order case from start to finish.

Perhaps the greatest opportunity for learning was in spearheading the updates to the organization’s protective order training material. Many new and amended protective order laws passed during the 83rd Legislative Session. I researched relevant bills and incorporated the updates into a formal presentation for use by Texas Advocacy Project’s development team. At the request of agencies such as local law enforcement and community service centers, Texas Advocacy Project’s development team conducts professional trainings in family law issues. I co-presented at one such training for a statewide agency in Williamson County that serves children and families. This knowledge will be practical in my future practice. My time with Texas Advocacy Project fulfilled my personal goal to work for an organization devoted to supporting families affected by domestic violence.

I am forever grateful for your substantial contribution to Texas Law Fellowships. I understand I am but one of several fortunate students who were able to serve the underserved this summer because of your exceptional support. Thank you for your generosity.

Deepest regards,
Marsha Lynn Perez

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