In 2021, we launched an innovative fellowship program to partner with organizations working on the frontlines to pursue civil rights, racial justice and economic empowerment. Experienced Orrick lawyers spend a year working full time with these organizations.
Meet our Racial Justice Fellows and discover what they have accomplished since the program began.
The Orrick Racial, Social & Economic Justice Fellowship Program
Ben Aiken
Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Nathelie Ashby
Common Future
Andrea Mazingo
A New Way of Life
We also partnered with Howard University School of Law in 2021 to place an Orrick Scholar to teach and help lead the work of the Human and Civil Rights Clinic. Through this program, we sought to expand opportunities for Howard Law students to participate in civil rights appellate advocacy and build a pipeline for a more diverse appellate bar.
Tiffany Wright served full time in 2021 as adjunct professor and supervising attorney of the Howard University Human and Civil Rights Clinic. Tiffany also serves on the board of directors of The Appellate Project, which is partnering with the clinic to provide law students of color with resources to thrive in the appellate field. As a first-generation Black lawyer and former Supreme Court clerk, she is passionate about increasing diversity in appellate practice and regularly works with community organizations to mentor aspiring and young lawyers.
In 2022, Tiffany joined the White House Counsel’s Office as Associate Counsel to the President of the United States.
“The fellowship at Howard gave me an incredible opportunity to become a leader in the civil rights appellate community. In addition to a number of briefs and crucial litigation, I had the opportunity to testify before Congress, publish op-eds and academic articles, and develop a curriculum for a course on race and American law at George Washington University School of Law,” Tiffany said. “None of this would have been possible without Orrick's support. The fellowship undoubtedly prepared me for my next role as Associate Counsel to the President of the United States. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity.”
Tiffany Wright
2021 Orrick Fellow who joined the White House Counsel’s Office in 2022
Learn more about our pro bono program
Contact us about our fellowship program
Ciarra Carr
With experience both prosecuting and defending criminal cases, Ciarra knows the impact a single person’s actions can have on both sides of the law for generations to come – and the pressing need for policy-driven legislative efforts to address racial and economic injustice administered through the law. She supported the Civil Rights Center’s vital litigation and legislative advocacy efforts relating to police accountability, reparations and mass incarceration.
“The criminal justice system is not broken; it is working exactly as intended. I have witnessed this truth over the last seven years through both personal experiences and pro bono work in the criminal justice sphere. The criticality of federal and local policy-based support cannot be understated.”
Associate
White Collar, Investigations, Securities Litigation & Compliance
New York
Max Carter-Oberstone
Associate
Supreme Court & Appellate
San Francisco
Max brings a wide range of experiences – as a legislative aide, crafting laws that will survive judicial scrutiny; as Associate Deputy Solicitor General at the California Department of Justice, defending laws against constitutional challenge; and as a lawyer in private practice, litigating against unlawful government action. He supported the Policing Project on legislative measures and impact litigation strategies to make policing more accountable.
“Police reform is personal to me. There is scarcely a Black man in America who has not personally felt the unchecked force of police power; I am no exception. I want to be a part of reimagining how police can play a productive role in our democracy.”
Rochelle Swartz
Associate
Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution
New York
Rochelle is passionate about protecting civil rights. As a litigator, she has drafted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court defending the parameters of the Establishment Clause (requiring an analysis of the intersection of government and religion), supported public health experts in defending abortion access before three circuit courts, and championed the rights of juvenile offenders in New York. She supported the Lawyers’ Committee’s Criminal Justice Project in its mission to challenge racial disparities within the criminal justice system that result from the criminalization of poverty and contribute to mass incarceration.
“One of the main reasons I chose Orrick after my clerkship [with the Honorable Steven L. Tiscione in the U.S. District Court, E.D.N.Y.] was the firm’s commitment to pro bono. This Fellowship reaffirms Orrick’s commitment to using our privilege and skills as attorneys to better the lives of disadvantaged communities.”
Roza Patterson
Associate
Employment Law
San Francisco
With a master’s in human rights, Roza brings a strong commitment to pro bono service to Orrick. She has focused on helping victims of domestic violence and unfair eviction and defending clients’ rights under the Criminal Justice Act. At the Law Foundation, she continued her work on litigation advocacy and eviction defense on behalf of underrepresented individuals and families in Santa Clara County.
“My passion for social justice, and to even be an attorney, is deeply rooted in my reality as an Ethiopian-American married woman. I was born in Ethiopia, a beautiful East African country, rich with unique traditions and welcoming culture, yet plagued by poverty, political instability, and human rights abuses.”
Walter Alarkon
Associate
Energy & Infrastructure
New York
Walter began his career as a journalist reporting on the intersection between economics and policy. As a lawyer, he helps clients develop wind and solar projects and build a more sustainable energy grid. He brought that deal making and policy experience to support Common Future in its mission to create a more equitable economy and support communities of color.
“I joined Orrick because I wanted to make an impact. As a person of color,
I have felt the sting of low expectations from others as a result of how I
look. Prejudices about diverse persons and their capabilities contribute to deep-seated inequalities – I want to help shift the narrative and upend
those inequalities.”
Andrea Mazingo
Senior Associate
Securities Litigation, Investigations, White Collar & Compliance
Los Angeles
Andi has long been a passionate advocate for race and gender equity, but she developed a firsthand understanding of these issues during her work as one of Orrick’s inaugural Racial Justice Fellows. She worked with Los Angeles-based nonprofit A New Way of Life to reunite formerly incarcerated mothers with their children. The impact was so powerful
that Andi extended her fellowship for another year.
“I am committed to working with A New Way of Life Reentry Project to confront systemic biases and help protect the right to family integrity of the justice-involved parents we serve. For many formerly incarcerated women, family separation is the most significant barrier to community reintegration. It has been an honor to help women overcome this barrier.”
Learn more about how we are taking action on DEI
THE ORRICK
RACIAL, SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM
INAUGURAL CLASS:
OUR 2021 FELLOWS AND THEIR IMPACT
OUR 2022 FELLOWS AND THEIR IMPACT
Ciarra Carr
Howard University’s Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Center
Max Carter-Oberstone
NYU Law’s Policing Project
Roza Patterson
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
Rochelle Swartz
Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Andrea Mazingo
A New Way of Life
Advancing
a More Just and Equitable Society
ORRICK SCHOLAR: FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Nathelie Ashby
Of Counsel
Public Finance
Austin
As a public finance lawyer, Nathelie represents public institutions in innovative financings for the public good. As an Orrick Fellow, she brings her finance background to support Common Future in its mission to deploy capital to underrepresented social entrepreneurs in underserved communities.
“As I’ve become a more experienced attorney, I look for ways to use my legal expertise and experience to make a meaningful, positive impact in communities of color. Orrick’s strong commitment to pro bono and social justice create the perfect opportunity to help shift the balance of equity and make a real difference.”
Andrea Mazingo
Senior Associate
White Collar, Investigations, Securities Litigation & Compliance
Los Angeles
Andi has long been a passionate advocate for race and gender equity, but she developed a firsthand understanding of these issues during her work as one of Orrick’s inaugural Racial Justice Fellows. In 2021, she began working with Los Angeles-based nonprofit A New Way of Life to reunite formerly incarcerated mothers with their children. The impact was so powerful that Andi extended her fellowship for another year.
“I am committed to working with A New Way of Life Reentry Project to confront systemic biases and help protect the right to family integrity of the justice-involved parents we serve. For many formerly incarcerated women, family separation is the most significant barrier to community reintegration. It has been an honor to help women overcome this barrier.”
Natasha Harper
Managing Associate
Employment Law
Los Angeles
Natasha served in the U.S. Marine Corps for seven years, including a deployment to Afghanistan. She became passionate about racial justice while in law school and has continued her commitment to public service through pro bono work and high-impact projects. Natasha is working with the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley on litigation advocacy and representing clients with mental health and physical disabilities in obtaining services and benefits.
“I wanted to be an Orrick Fellow so I could use my skills to help make a difference in a meaningful way toward reducing racial inequality. It’s such an important time in our country to address these issues, and I’m excited to be able to devote 100% of my time toward providing legal services to underrepresented, diverse individuals and families.”
Paul Meyer
Senior Associate
Supreme Court & Appellate
San Francisco
Paul began his career as a journalist reporting on social justice issues. As an Orrick lawyer, he has an active pro bono practice focused on criminal justice and capital punishment, including litigation in the Supreme Court and courts of appeals to prevent the further restriction of federal habeas review of convictions and sentences, and ongoing litigation challenging the constitutionality of California’s administration of the death penalty. Paul worked with the Policing Project on impact litigation to make policing more accountable.
“I’ve long witnessed the disconnect between policing and communities – first as a journalist and now as an attorney. It has been inspiring to see how the conversation around police reform has changed in many corners of America in the last two years. At the same time, it has been frustrating to watch the challenges in translating that conversation into
meaningful reform.”
Ben Aiken
Senior Associate
Supreme Court & Appellate
Washington, D.C.
Ben began his career teaching English at a public high school for three years before moving to education policy advocacy for a Washington, D.C., nonprofit. During law school, he was a fellow in UVA’s Program in Law and Public Service and completed internships with Legal Aid, the Department of Justice and the New Orleans Public Defenders Office. And as an Orrick associate, he has maintained an active pro bono practice while also driving our Washington, D.C., office’s annual Legal Aid fundraiser. Ben drew on his legal and advocacy work to support the Lawyers’ Committee’s Criminal Justice Project in its mission to challenge racial disparities within the criminal justice system that result from the criminalization of poverty and contribute to mass incarceration.
“I wanted to be an Orrick Fellow because I believe that an equitable justice system is necessary for the rule of law. I'm most excited about working to ensure all people, no matter their race or background, have access to equal justice.”
THROUGH THE YEARS:
Watch Max’s video
Read Max’s opinion
article in Time
Watch Rochelle’s video
Watch Roza’s video
Read Roza’s opinion
article in Newsweek
Walter Alarkon
Watch Walter’s video
Common Future
Watch Andi’s video
Read Andi’s opinion
article in The Imprint
Natasha harper
Law Foundation of Silicon Valley
Paul Meyer
NYU Law’s Policing Project
Learn more about our pro bono program
Contact us about our fellowship program
Learn more about how we are taking action on DEI
We also partnered with Howard University School of Law in 2021 to place an Orrick Scholar to teach and help lead the work of the Human and Civil Rights Clinic. Through this program, we sought to expand opportunities for Howard Law students to participate in civil rights appellate advocacy and build a pipeline for a more diverse appellate bar.
Tiffany Wright
2021 Orrick Fellow who joined the White House Counsel’s Office in 2022
Tiffany Wright served full time in 2021 as adjunct professor and supervising attorney of the Howard University Human and Civil Rights Clinic. Tiffany also serves on the board of directors of The Appellate Project, which is partnering with the clinic to provide law students of color with resources to thrive in the appellate field. As a first-generation Black lawyer and former Supreme Court clerk, she is passionate about increasing diversity in appellate practice and regularly works with community organizations to mentor aspiring and young lawyers.
In 2022, Tiffany joined the White House Counsel’s Office as Associate Counsel to the President of the United States.
“The fellowship at Howard gave me an incredible opportunity to become a leader in the civil rights appellate community. In addition to a number of briefs and crucial litigation, I had the opportunity to testify before Congress, publish op-eds and academic articles, and develop a curriculum for a course on race and American law at George Washington University School of Law,” Tiffany said. “None of this would have been possible without Orrick's support. The fellowship undoubtedly prepared me for my next role as Associate Counsel to the President of the United States. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity.”
ORRICK SCHOLAR: FROM HOWARD UNIVERSITY TO THE WHITE HOUSE
Andrea Mazingo
Associate
White Collar, Investigations, Securities Litigation & Compliance
Los Angeles
Andi has long served on the front lines protecting families at risk. As an undergrad, she volunteered in an after-school program in a low-income neighborhood. During law school, she worked with children in foster care and advocated for policy changes to make the system better. And as a practicing attorney, she reunited a mother fleeing domestic violence in Central America with her child and won asylum for both. Andi draws on her legal and policy work to support A New Way of Life’s mission to reform the family law system and mitigate the effects of incarceration on families.
“It is an honor to support and promote the advancement of previously incarcerated women who deserve a second chance and who need help recovering and maintaining parenting rights after suffering so much difficulty.”
Walter Alarkon
Associate
Energy & Infrastructure
New York
Walter began his career as a journalist reporting on the intersection between economics and policy. As a lawyer, he helps clients develop wind and solar projects and build a more sustainable energy grid. He brought that deal making and policy experience to support Common Future in its mission to create a more equitable economy and support communities of color.
“I joined Orrick because I wanted to make an impact. As a person of color, I have felt the sting of low expectations from others as a result of how I look. Prejudices about diverse persons and their capabilities contribute to deep-seated inequalities – I want to help shift the narrative and upend
those inequalities.”
Roza Patterson
Associate
Employment Law
San Francisco
With a master’s in human rights, Roza brings a strong commitment to pro bono service to Orrick. She has focused on helping victims of domestic violence and unfair eviction and defending clients’ rights under the Criminal Justice Act. At the Law Foundation, she continued her work on litigation advocacy and eviction defense on behalf of underrepresented individuals and families in Santa Clara County.
“My passion for social justice, and to even be an attorney, is deeply rooted in my reality as an Ethiopian-American married woman. I was born in Ethiopia, a beautiful East African country, rich with unique traditions and welcoming culture, yet plagued by poverty, political instability, and human rights abuses.”
Rochelle Swartz
Associate
Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution
New York
Rochelle is passionate about protecting civil rights. As a litigator, she has drafted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court defending the parameters of the Establishment Clause (requiring an analysis of the intersection of government and religion), supported public health experts in defending abortion access before three circuit courts, and championed the rights of juvenile offenders in New York. She supported the Lawyers’ Committee’s Criminal Justice Project in its mission to challenge racial disparities within the criminal justice system that result from the criminalization of poverty and contribute to mass incarceration.
“One of the main reasons I chose Orrick after my clerkship [with the Honorable Steven L. Tiscione in the U.S. District Court, E.D.N.Y.] was the firm’s commitment to pro bono. This Fellowship reaffirms Orrick’s commitment to using our privilege and skills as attorneys to better the lives of disadvantaged communities.”
Max Carter-Oberstone
Associate
Supreme Court & Appellate
San Francisco
Max brings a wide range of experiences – as a legislative aide, crafting laws that will survive judicial scrutiny; as Associate Deputy Solicitor General at the California Department of Justice, defending laws against constitutional challenge; and as a lawyer in private practice, litigating against unlawful government action. He supported the Policing Project on legislative measures and impact litigation strategies to make policing more accountable.
“Police reform is personal to me. There is scarcely a Black man in America who has not personally felt the unchecked force of police power; I am no exception. I want to be a part of reimagining how police can play a productive role in our democracy.”
Ciarra Carr
Associate
White Collar, Investigations, Securities Litigation & Compliance
New York
With experience both prosecuting and defending criminal cases, Ciarra knows the impact a single person’s actions can have on both sides of the law for generations to come – and the pressing need for policy-driven legislative efforts to address racial and economic injustice administered through the law. She supported the Civil Rights Center’s vital litigation and legislative advocacy efforts relating to police accountability, reparations and mass incarceration.
“The criminal justice system is not broken; it is working exactly as intended. I have witnessed this truth over the last seven years through both personal experiences and pro bono work in the criminal justice sphere. The criticality of federal and local policy-based support cannot be understated.”
Paul Meyer
Senior Associate
Supreme Court & Appellate
San Francisco
Paul began his career as a journalist reporting on social justice issues. As an Orrick lawyer, he has an active pro bono practice focused on criminal justice and capital punishment, including litigation in the Supreme Court and courts of appeals to prevent the further restriction of federal habeas review of convictions and sentences, and ongoing litigation challenging the constitutionality of California’s administration of the death penalty. Paul is working with the Policing Project on legislative measures and impact litigation strategies to make policing more accountable.
“I’ve long witnessed the disconnect between policing and communities – first as a journalist and now as an attorney. It has been inspiring to see how the conversation around police reform has changed in many corners of America in the last two years. At the same time, it has been frustrating to watch the challenges in translating that conversation into meaningful reform.”
Natasha Harper
Managing Associate
Employment Law
Los Angeles
Natasha served in the U.S. Marine Corps for seven years, including a deployment to Afghanistan. She became passionate about racial justice while in law school and has continued her commitment to public service through pro bono work and high-impact projects. Natasha is working with the Law Foundation of Silicon Valley on litigation advocacy and representing clients with mental health and physical disabilities in obtaining services and benefits.
“I wanted to be an Orrick Fellow so I could use my skills to help make a difference in a meaningful way toward reducing racial inequality. It’s such an important time in our country to address these issues, and I’m excited to be able to devote 100% of my time toward providing legal services to underrepresented, diverse individuals and families.”
Andrea Mazingo
Senior Associate
Securities Litigation, Investigations, White Collar & Compliance
Los Angeles
Andi has long been a passionate advocate for race and gender equity, but she developed a firsthand understanding of these issues during her work as one of Orrick’s inaugural Racial Justice Fellows. Since the beginning of 2021, she has been working with Los Angeles-based nonprofit A New Way of Life to reunite formerly incarcerated mothers with their children. The impact has been so powerful that Andi is extending her fellowship for another year.
“I am committed to working with A New Way of Life Reentry Project to confront systemic biases and help protect the right to family integrity of the justice-involved parents we serve. For many formerly incarcerated women, family separation is the most significant barrier to community reintegration. It has been an honor to help women overcome this barrier.”
Ben Aiken
Senior Associate
Supreme Court & Appellate
Washington, D.C.
Ben began his career teaching English at a public high school for three years before moving to education policy advocacy for a Washington, D.C., nonprofit. During law school, he was a fellow in UVA’s Program in Law and Public Service and completed internships with Legal Aid, the Department of Justice and the New Orleans Public Defenders Office. And as an Orrick associate, he has maintained an active pro bono practice while also driving our Washington, D.C., office’s annual Legal Aid fundraiser. Ben will draw on his legal and advocacy work to support the Lawyers’ Committee’s Criminal Justice Project in its mission to challenge racial disparities within the criminal justice system that result from the criminalization of poverty and contribute to mass incarceration.
“I wanted to be an Orrick Fellow because I believe that an equitable justice system is necessary for the rule of law. I'm most excited about working to ensure all people, no matter their race or background, have access to equal justice.”
Nathelie Ashby
Of Counsel
Public Finance
Austin
As a public finance lawyer, Nathelie represents public institutions in innovative financings for the public good. As an Orrick Fellow, she brings her finance background to support Common Future in its mission to deploy capital to underrepresented social entrepreneurs in underserved communities.
“As I’ve become a more experienced attorney, I look for ways to use my legal expertise and experience to make a meaningful, positive impact in communities of color. Orrick’s strong commitment to pro bono and social justice create the perfect opportunity to help shift the balance of equity and make a real difference.”
Advancing
a More Just and Equitable Society
Watch Max’s video
Read Max’s opinion
article in Time
Watch Rochelle’s video
Read Roza’s opinion
article in Newsweek
Watch Roza’s video
Watch Walter’s video
Watch Andi’s video
Read Andi’s opinion
article in The Imprint
Planned Parenthood
OLADOYIN OLANREWAJU
NYU Law’s Policing Project
SARAH SLOAN
Lawyers’ Committee for
Civil Rights Under Law
NUNU LUO
MacArthur Justice Center
RACHEL SHALEV
Common Future
Nathelie Ashby
OUR 2023 FELLOWS AND THEIR IMPACT
As a cyber & privacy lawyer, Oladoyin helps companies develop best-in-class privacy compliance programs while mitigating and addressing cyber risks. She brought those skills to Planned Parenthood in a Racial Justice Fellowship to address issues at the intersection of privacy and reproductive health care.
During her fellowship, Oladoyin was instrumental in supporting Planned Parenthood’s privacy practices, including ensuring compliance with privacy laws and advising on the applicability of changing state privacy laws.
Associate
Cyber, Privacy & Data Innovation
Seattle
OLADOYIN OLANREWAJU
Rachel represents clients in high-stakes, complex litigation. She has argued successfully in federal and state appellate courts and has focused on tough questions of constitutional and administrative law as well as statutory interpretation. Rachel’s pro bono impact has ranged from a successful Fourth Amendment case before the U.S. Supreme Court dealing with unreasonable seizures to a successful First Amendment challenge to New Orleans’s fines-and-fees regime.
She drew on this experience to support the MacArthur Justice Center’s mission to make the justice system fair, accessible and accountable to all. Rachel worked on a variety of trial matters during her fellowship, including a challenge to solitary confinement in Florida, an excessive force and municipal liability case in Florida, a wrongful conviction damages suit in Illinois, an excessive lethal force and municipal liability case in Florida and a mandamus suit challenging denial of access to phones and attorneys for people in Chicago police custody. She also taught a seminar of MacArthur’s Civil Rights Litigation Clinic at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
“I am grateful for Orrick’s support of my pro bono efforts and am eager to take that work to the next level, supporting a talented team at the MacArthur Justice Center that works tirelessly to transform aspirations of a more just legal system into a reality.”
Senior Associate
Supreme Court & Appellate
New York
RACHEL SHALEV
Nunu’s practice at Orrick focuses on representing financial institutions in complex commercial disputes and enforcement matters. She also has handled a variety of pro bono cases, including asylum and claims for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
As a Racial Justice Fellow, Nunu worked with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to try to secure equal justice for all. She played an integral role in a fines-and-fees lawsuit in Oklahoma that reached a favorable settlement. She also worked on an investigation in Florida, assessing the impact that legislation had on restricting access to education and educational materials.
“Through my work, whether defending a bank or working on an asylum petition, I have come to understand just how effective and powerful a tool storytelling can be in bringing about legal reform.”
Senior Associate
Financial & Fintech Advisory
Washington, D.C.
NUNU LUO
During her fellowship, Nathelie helped to organize an action lab to preserve Black/BIPOC-owned land and worked on a project to increase access to family childcare providers. She also supported Common Future with mergers and acquisitions, conducted legal due diligence for investments, and provided
day-to-day legal and regulatory advice.
“As I’ve become a more experienced attorney, I look for ways to use my
legal expertise and experience to make a meaningful, positive impact in communities of color. Orrick’s strong commitment to pro bono and social justice creates the perfect opportunity to help shift the balance of equity
and make a real difference.”
Of Counsel
Public Finance
Austin
Nathelie Ashby
Paul Meyer
Senior Associate
Supreme Court & Appellate
San Francisco
Paul began his career as a journalist reporting on social justice issues. As an Orrick lawyer, he has an active pro bono practice focused on criminal justice and capital punishment, including litigation in the Supreme Court and courts of appeals to prevent the further restriction of federal habeas review of convictions and sentences, and ongoing litigation challenging the constitutionality of California’s administration of the death penalty. Paul is working with the Policing Project on legislative measures and impact litigation strategies to make policing more accountable.
“I’ve long witnessed the disconnect between policing and communities – first as a journalist and now as an attorney. It has been inspiring to see how the conversation around police reform has changed in many corners of America in the last two years. At the same time, it has been frustrating to watch the challenges in translating that conversation into meaningful reform.”
NATHELIE ASHBY
Of Counsel
Public Finance
Austin
During her fellowship, Nathelie helped to organize an action lab to preserve Black/BIPOC-owned land and worked on a project to increase access to family childcare providers. She also supported Common Future with mergers and acquisitions, conducted legal due diligence for investments, and provided day-to-day legal and regulatory advice.
“As I’ve become a more experienced attorney, I look for ways to use my legal expertise and experience to make a meaningful, positive impact in communities of color. Orrick’s strong commitment to pro bono and social justice creates the perfect opportunity to help shift the balance of equity and make a real difference.”
NUNU LUO
Senior Associate
Financial & Fintech Advisory
Washington, D.C.
Nunu’s practice at Orrick focuses on representing financial institutions in complex commercial disputes and enforcement matters. She also has handled a variety of pro bono cases, including asylum and claims for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status.
As a Racial Justice Fellow, Nunu worked with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law to try to secure equal justice for all. She played an integral role in a fines-and-fees lawsuit in Oklahoma that reached a favorable settlement. She also worked on an investigation in Florida, assessing the impact that legislation had on restricting access to education and educational materials.
“Through my work, whether defending a bank or working on an asylum petition, I have come to understand just how effective and powerful a tool storytelling can be in bringing about legal reform.”
RACHEL SHALEV
Senior Associate
Supreme Court & Appellate
New York
Rachel represents clients in high-stakes, complex litigation. She has argued successfully in federal and state appellate courts and has focused on tough questions of constitutional and administrative law as well as statutory interpretation. Rachel’s pro bono impact has ranged from a successful Fourth Amendment case before the U.S. Supreme Court dealing with unreasonable seizures to a successful First Amendment challenge to New Orleans’s fines-and-fees regime.
She drew on this experience to support the MacArthur Justice Center’s mission to make the justice system fair, accessible and accountable to all. Rachel worked on a variety of trial matters during her fellowship, including a challenge to solitary confinement in Florida, an excessive force and municipal liability case in Florida, a wrongful conviction damages suit in Illinois, an excessive lethal force and municipal liability case in Florida and a mandamus suit challenging denial of access to phones and attorneys for people in Chicago police custody. She also taught a seminar of MacArthur’s Civil Rights Litigation Clinic at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.
“I am grateful for Orrick’s support of my pro bono efforts and am eager to take that work to the next level, supporting a talented team at the MacArthur Justice Center that works tirelessly to transform aspirations of a more just legal system into a reality."
OLADOYIN OLANREWAJU
Associate
Cyber, Privacy & Data Innovation
Seattle
As a cyber & privacy lawyer, Oladoyin helps companies develop best-in-class privacy compliance programs while mitigating and addressing cyber risks. She brought those skills to Planned Parenthood in a Racial Justice Fellowship to address issues at the intersection of privacy and reproductive health care.
During her fellowship, Oladoyin was instrumental in supporting Planned Parenthood’s privacy practices, including ensuring compliance with privacy laws and advising on the applicability of changing state privacy laws.
As a high school teacher in New Orleans, Sarah saw the legal system ensnare her students in a way that fueled her desire to become a lawyer. As a lawyer in Orrick’s Supreme Court & Appellate group, Sarah handled high-stakes appeals across the United States. Her pro bono practice has also included work on death penalty cases.
Through her Orrick fellowship with NYU Law’s Policing Project, Sarah worked on a wide range of projects, particularly in state courts in South Carolina and Oregon, including a case challenging the constitutionality of racial profiling and coercive stops in jet bridges at Hartfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. “I am deeply committed to the Policing Project’s goal of encouraging transparency and racial justice in policing. I believe that the system can and must be changed, and I am eager and ready to do the work to create that change.”
Senior Associate
Supreme Court & Appellate
Washington, D.C.
SARAH SLOAN