Student Spotlight: Miranda Dore Named Akin Gump Pro Bono Scholar


Second-year evening student Miranda Dore has been named a 2016 Akin Gump Pro Bono Scholar. She is one of four Scholars in Washington, DC, nine nationwide, from a pool of over 200 applicants nationwide, and the first to be selected from AUWCL. Miranda will work at the Children’s Law Center this summer.

Started in 2008, the Akin Gump Pro Bono Scholars Program is a two-summer program for top law students who show a strong interest in making pro bono an integral part of their Akin Gump careers. Pro Bono Scholars work both at the law firm and at a public interest organization during the first summer. The following summer, the Scholars are members of the firm’s regular Summer Associate Program.

After the announcement of this year’s Scholars, we spoke to Miranda about the importance of service and what this accomplishment means to her.


Q:  Where does your interest in public service stem from? Did you pursue any public interest opportunities before and during law school?

A: My interest in public service was instilled in me as a child—my parents engaged my brother and I in community service from a very young age and started traditions where we collected food and other necessities for the homeless, and we remained active in volunteering at homeless shelters and food banks. I also participated in volunteer activities in high school and throughout college, volunteering at hospitals, food banks, the American Red Cross and the YMCA. In law school, I have been working with Adjunct Professor Gregory Gardner on various criminal cases, including several death penalty cases. All of my work has been pro bono, and I have not received course credit. Professor Gardner works as a Criminal Justice Act (CJA) attorney and specializes in post-conviction work and has taken up several death penalty cases and one clemency case. I have learned a lot doing this work for Professor Gardner and in my full-time position at Stephen R. Bruce Law Offices. I work as a Project Manager for Stephen during the day and have benefited from his mentorship and commitment to ensuring that thousands of retirees receive their pensions. These opportunities and the trust given to me by Stephen, Professor Gardner, and many others at AUWCL encouraged me to pursue this pro bono opportunity with Akin Gump and to ensure that I keep doing pro bono work throughout my career.


Q:  How did you find out about the Akin Gump Pro Bono Scholars Program? What motivated you to apply?

A: I found out about this program from another law student and friend, Erica Santamaria, who graciously shared the opportunity with me! She thought it would be a good fit for me, and after reading the program description and learning more about Akin Gump and its commitment to pro bono work, I applied. I could not be more thrilled to spend two summers at Akin Gump. By next summer, I will have had invaluable experience that I will be able to use as a Summer Associate at Akin Gump.
 

Q:  Did you choose a placement with Children’s Law Center? What type of work are going to be doing and what are you most excited about?

A:  I chose placement with the Children’s Law Center (CLC) after learning more about it and because Akin Gump had previous Pro Bono Scholars work at CLC. At CLC, I will be working as a Law Clerk in the Family Services Division where I will assist primarily with custody cases. I will conduct extensive research, draft motions and petitions, conduct client interviews, and attend court as needed. I am most excited about this opportunity because I have always enjoyed working with and for children, and this program is widely known and highly praised in DC because the work the CLC staff does is unmatched and so necessary in the community. I am excited to be able to advocate for children in this capacity—children who need legal assistance the most because they and their parents cannot afford it.

 

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